[gracieownsme]

For about the past week, Gracie has been vomiting in the morning. Nothing has changed. She is eating the same and has the same routine. She doesn't seem sick at all... playing and doing what she normally does. Just a pile or two of vomit in the mornings and she's fine. She hasn't done this every morning. Probably four out of seven... Any ideas as to why this is happening all of a sudden? Thanks!

[Lunareclipse]

Is it before or after she eats? Sometimes Buster will throw up in the morning if he ate too much.

[gracieownsme]

I give her a treat when she comes in from her morning pee... either a scooby snack, beggin strip or fortune cookie... None of these have ever caused her to get sick before... and that's pretty much all she eats in the morn.

[cigwyllt]

Dogs will throw up if they eat too much too quickly but they can be sick if they are hungry too! Could you give her a dry biscuit or two just before bed time? That could settle her tum and make her more comfortable.

[Todd]

ok, so you're saying the dog vomits before she eats correct? How long has this been going on? Is she throwing up food or just bile? If possible, describe what the vomit looks like for this will make it a lot easier to pin point the cause.

Here's some helpful info i found online that includes discussion about a dog vomiting before their meal first thing in the morning;

Many dogs are prone to chronic stomach problems involving a clear yellow liquid vomit, which often occurs on a regular basis – daily in many dogs. Fortunately, this form of upset stomach in dogs is often solved very easily, with some basic changes in feeding frequency and pet care.

“It’s not uncommon to see a liquid yellow or light brown vomit in dogs. It’s typically clear, sometimes a bit frothy and dog owners usually see this type of vomit first thing in the morning, or shortly before a scheduled meal,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.

He continued, “Generally speaking, dogs vomit a yellow liquid when they have an empty stomach. The bile and stomach acids accumulate in the empty stomach and this upsets the stomach’s lining, resulting in inflammation and discomfort.”

A variation of this form of chronic vomiting occurs when the dog’s body produces an excess of bile and stomach acid. This can result in symptoms such

as stomach upset and vomiting, even after the dog has eaten.

Pet owners can also see vomiting in their dog immediately after a meal. This occurs because the bile and gastric fluids irritated the stomach beforehand, and adding food to the equation is simply too much for the already-upset stomach to handle.

In some cases, canine stomach ulcers can form due to the chronic stomach irritation, resulting in even more discomfort and frequent emesis. Medications like Pepcid AC, Zantac and Tagemet (active ingredient famotidine, cimetidine) are often prescribed in these cases.

There are several solutions and treatments that can help a dog who experiences chronic vomiting and stomachache.

Feed more frequently. Instead of feeding one or two large meals per day, divide the dog’s daily food portion into three or four smaller meals. This will help keep the stomach fuller, longer, preventing the accumulation of bile and gastric fluids.

Give Pepcid AC. Pepcid or other similar medications like Zantac and Tagamet contain a drug (cimetedine, famotidine or ranitidine) that helps to control the production of bile and stomach acids, thereby reducing the volume of the fluids that are the source of the dog’s stomach problems. Your veterinarian can prescribe a dosage based on the dog’s weight. The typical dosage for Pepcid is .25 mgs per each pound of body weight, given every eight to 12 hours. Always consult a veterinarian before giving medications, particularly if the dog is already on another drug, as drug interactions can be deadly.

Give wet food or hydrated kibble. Providing wet dog food or hydrated kibble will help reduce the chances of stomach upset and vomiting in dogs. When dry, dehydrated kibble is fed, the food absorbs fluids and expands once it reaches the stomach. If the dog eats until full, the further expansion of the food in an already-upset stomach can lead to vomiting. Adding hot water to the kibble and allowing it to sit for about ten minutes will allow the bits of kibble to absorb the water and expand beforehand.

Keep your dog's meals stress-free. Feed your pet in a quiet, stress-free location. Dogs are instinctively protective of their food and stress and anxiety that can result from the presence of other pets or even humans during mealtime. This stress can worsen existing stomach problems, so feed your pet in a quiet, isolated area.

Limit activity following meals. Activity like running, playing or even taking a walk around the neighborhood can lead to stomach discomfort and upset. In a dog whose stomach was irritated by excess bile and stomach acids, this activity is even more likely to lead to vomiting. So limit activity for the two hours following a meal to limit the potential for vomiting.

In the event that the aforementioned remedies do not lead to an improvement in the dog’s symptoms, a visit to the veterinarian is in order. A vast array of canine health problems can lead to vomiting in dogs, including (but not limited to) tumors and masses and other growths, gastritis, food allergies, pancreatitis and intestinal obstructions.

Dr. Levine concluded, “Most cases involving a dog who is vomiting a yellow fluid can be solved with more frequent feedings, medication and a couple other measures. But in a few instances, an underlying problem is to blame. So if you don’t see improvement, additional investigation will be required.”

[millsandbones]

Try to decrease the amount of food that you give her at night. Probably her stomach has not digested yet the food that she ate the night before.

[Lara's mom]

Is she throwing up undigested food or bile - a yellow liquid?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Is she throwing up undigested food or bile - a yellow liquid?

Probably is. Look at the bolded paragraph I posted above.

[Lara's mom]

If the dog is vomiting bile, the easy solution is to get something into the stomach as soon as it gets up. A couple of biscuits should do it.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

If the dog is vomiting bile, the easy solution is to get something into the stomach as soon as it gets up. A couple of biscuits should do it.

Also there could be something the dog swallowed. My friends dog swallowed a small plastic squeeker and vomited bile for a few weeks. Might want to have the vet check things out if all else fails.

[gracieownsme]

It was a yellow frothy liquid that she was vomiting. Nothing had changed... her feeding schedule was the same.... I always keep dry food in her bowl and cook her a beef hotdog w/ cheese at dinner. Mornings I give her a treat after she comes in from potty. She vomited before her treat usually.

She did quit the vomiting... for about 5 days I believe. But this weekend my family came to visit and my bro. who LOVES her and wishes to spoil her the entire time he's here was constantly passing her treats... which included bologna which she devoured. No surprise to me that she was sick with diarrhea and vomiting for three days after. He and I had a talk. She's bounced back and has the sparkle in her eyes again.

Ok. Here's another thing: Last week we had our roof replaced and a shed tore down. Shingles, nails etc. were flying everywhere. Although the guys cleaned up quite nicely, Gracie is obsessed with being in the back yard and investigating... And she is burying her nose into the ground eating something??? I bring her in right away when I catch her doing it... By the way, I don't know if any of this is related at all but ...... anyway....
Yesterday I came home from work to THREE huge spots on the rug. Assuming she had diarrhea again I got my cleaning supplies ready and began to scrub. It had no smell to it at first. Then I got a whiff of what smelled like... DIRT. It was dirt! lots of it. What's that all about? why would she eat dirt? She is back to normal and seeming to feel just fine. But .... dirt?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by gracieownsme

It was a yellow frothy liquid that she was vomiting. Nothing had changed... her feeding schedule was the same.... I always keep dry food in her bowl and cook her a beef hotdog w/ cheese at dinner. Mornings I give her a treat after she comes in from potty. She vomited before her treat usually.

She did quit the vomiting... for about 5 days I believe. But this weekend my family came to visit and my bro. who LOVES her and wishes to spoil her the entire time he's here was constantly passing her treats... which included bologna which she devoured. No surprise to me that she was sick with diarrhea and vomiting for three days after. He and I had a talk. She's bounced back and has the sparkle in her eyes again.

Ok. Here's another thing: Last week we had our roof replaced and a shed tore down. Shingles, nails etc. were flying everywhere. Although the guys cleaned up quite nicely, Gracie is obsessed with being in the back yard and investigating... And she is burying her nose into the ground eating something??? I bring her in right away when I catch her doing it... By the way, I don't know if any of this is related at all but ...... anyway....
Yesterday I came home from work to THREE huge spots on the rug. Assuming she had diarrhea again I got my cleaning supplies ready and began to scrub. It had no smell to it at first. Then I got a whiff of what smelled like... DIRT. It was dirt! lots of it. What's that all about? why would she eat dirt? She is back to normal and seeming to feel just fine. But .... dirt?

So besides the vomiting incident after the visit have you solved the vomiting problem?

Some dogs will eat ANYTHING! My dog is like that but hasen't really ever eaten dirt. maybe she was licking something that had been in that spot previously in the dirt? probably wouldn't be enough to make her sick though. Do you have any chemicals or pesticides in your yard?

[Yogi]

As Todd noted, if you have had the yard treated then you need to worry. Many dogs actually eat dirt, it is not so much dirt but there is a small root that grows in seeded lawns that dogs find tasteful. Unfortunately in order to eat the small root they also have to ingest the dirt. Mine have done this for years. When I first noticed it some years back I caught them and realized what it was they were after. Since then, I just let them have at it. The other concern is whip worm. These live in the top 6 inches of soil and can be dangerous to dogs.
The only way to alleviate those is to remove approx 6 to 8 inches of top soil.
So long as the dog is not showing signs of worms and not pesticides on the lawn I would not worry much. As Todd noted, dogs will eat just about anything.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

As Todd noted, if you have had the yard treated then you need to worry. Many dogs actually eat dirt, it is not so much dirt but there is a small root that grows in seeded lawns that dogs find tasteful. Unfortunately in order to eat the small root they also have to ingest the dirt. Mine have done this for years. When I first noticed it some years back I caught them and realized what it was they were after. Since then, I just let them have at it. The other concern is whip worm. These live in the top 6 inches of soil and can be dangerous to dogs.
The only way to alleviate those is to remove approx 6 to 8 inches of top soil.
So long as the dog is not showing signs of worms and not pesticides on the lawn I would not worry much. As Todd noted, dogs will eat just about anything.

Now that you mention it, I have caught Lucky tugging on roots in the dirt before. She doesn't eat them to my iknowledge but chews and tugs on them nevertheless.

Lucky also probably ingests some dirt when playing fetch because her tennis ball gets so dirty.

[Yogi]

It is actually very normal for dogs to eat dirt due to the amount of time spent playing in it or with things found in it. It is generally passed with no problems.
Just part of dog ownership. :mrgreen: