Feline vomiting and regurgitation

Instructional Guide

In this lesson students will explore the difference between vomiting and regurgitation in cats. Students will also learn how a veterinarian treats a regurgitating cat.

Intended Grade Level

This lesson is for students in 3rd- 5th grade. Students should be familiar with the basic process of digestion.

Learning objectives

• Students will be able to explain the basic differences between vomiting and regurgitating.
• Students will be able to give possible reasons for why cats regurgitate.
• Students will be able to tell the differences between vomiting and regurgitating through physical signs.
• Students will be able to explain what a veterinarian would do to help a regurgitating cat.

Lesson Format

This can be done in any size group. The material can be printed and disseminated for the read-aloud. Activities require a laptop

• Students will popcorn or independently read the differences between vomiting and regurgitating .(5 minutes)
• Students will play a game, assigning a trait to either vomiting or regurgitating (5 minutes)
• Students will then read about potential causes of regurgitation, including diagnostic tools and treatments (15 minutes)
• The assessment will focus on answering three short questions to check their learning throughout the lesson (5 minutes)

Lesson Background

Regurgitation and vomiting are two different processes in which the animal may appear to be “throwing up,” but these are two distinct processes. Regurgitation is quiet and involves undigested food matter as the food has not passed into the stomach yet. Vomiting is a more vigorous process so it can be heard, abdominal muscles can be seen in use, and the vomitus looks digested.

To diagnose what is going on, veterinarians may take radiographic images, in order to see what the organs of the animal looks like.

Activities

Students, in a drag and drop manner, will separate attributes by whether they pertain to vomiting or regurgitating. 

Common misconceptions and challenge points

The differences between regurgitation and vomiting may be difficult to understand. To combat this, emphasize the things that students can see and hear in these two process, and have them contrast them.

Students may also be confused about how to look at radiographs. Remind them that these are just to illustrate what a radiograph may look like, as it shows the insides of the animal, and that they do not need to be able to read them.

Assessment

Students will answer three short multiple choice questions to check what they have learned throughout this lesson.

Further exploration

Other chapters within this textbook may be of interest. Check out the following link(s):

Owl Pellets- They’re regurgitastic

Tabitha’s terrible tummyache

Chicken Nugget’s Tummy Troubles