Dog gagging - and throwing up

[Jake]

My 3 year old cocker spaniel has always had a sensitive gag reflex - he very rarely wretches and throws up - mostly just gags and "spits up". Lately - within the last 2 weeks he has gotten much worse at least twice a day almost every day. It doesn't only happen if he is excited - sometimes in the middle of the night I hear him get up and gag. I have taken away any extra treats, chew toys, and have (for the last 3 days) been feeding him by elevating his bowl and breaking his meals into smaller portions.(this is what my vet had suggested) So far I have not seen a real difference. He doesn't seem sick - still has alot of energy and wants to play. He does try to eat anything that the parrot drops - birdseed, but that is not what he throws up. He eats extremely fast - he was rescued from NYC and he was starving when they found him but he has always eaten fast and it is just recently getting much worse. Does anyone know or had any similar experience?

[Lucky Rescue]

What does the vet say is causing this? What tests have been done? Is it a physical problem - malformed esophagus.....??

How many times a day do you feed him? Some dogs vomit if their stomach is very empty.

If the problem isn't physical, you might try feeding him 3 or 4 small meals a day, by taking his usual ration and breaking it up. This way he won't gobble large amounts at once, and his stomach won't be empty for long.

[Jake]

The vet said to split up his meals and elevate his bowl suspecting a problem with his esophagus. - he spits up probably at least twice a day not always food. Also she said to give him a pepcid every day. Because he has no other symptoms and does not look ill, he eats and drinks normally and plays she has not suggested any tests yet - but we are due to go back in 2 weeks.
(He just saw her on Tues)
It's just that it seems to have gotten worse lately - he does pull on his lease when I walk him - a problem that even training didn't help - so maybe he has done some damage.

[Luba]

Get him a harness instead of a leash that goes around his neck

Take a look here:

http://www.thedogmen.com/harness.htm

A worthy investment if there's a throat condition and he pulls on the lead.


When he spits up what does it look like? Is it foamy and yellow?

[Jake]

I thought maybe a halti would work too - when he spits up it is sometimes food, sometimes yellow but mostly clear and a little foamy with a piece or 2 of food or if he was playing outside maybe some dry grass (he doesn't eat grass - but when he grabs his toy he gets some grass in his mouth) fyi - he eats california natural dry - lamb & rice