Dog Vomiting Daily

[tiffloon]

I have an 11 year old Jack Russel Terrier. She has been healthy her whole life. Recently over the last 4 days I have noticed that she has been vomiting daily. Usually a yellow, foamy bile. I doesn't happen always at the same time everyday. She sometimes does it in the morning when I take her out other times it is when she gets over excited when I or someone else comes home. She seems to eat and drink normally and passes food. She doesn't get fed on a schedule. She gets food and water in her bowls and eats as she likes and I just fill them up when they are empty. She is not overweight at all and her mood (happy and energetic) seems unchanged. What could be causing this do you think?

[Dog Dancer]

The best thing for you to do would be to take her to a vet for a check-up. When my lab was throwing up bile every day it was because she had swallowed a candy bar wrapper and couldn't pass it either way. My other dog is very nervous and when she hasn't eaten properly she will vomit bile. For your pets health and your peace of mind a vet trip is in order. It could be nothing or it could be very serious.

[kandy]

Vomiting for no reason needs to be assessed by a vet. It could be lots of things or perhaps she's not eating as much as you think.

It sounds like bile, which normally happens when a dog's stomach has been empty too long. Since you free feed, do you have any idea how much she is actually eating and when?

I would suggest a visit to the vet to rule out any health issues and if nothing is found then perhaps you need to switch to a routine food schedule so that you know when she has eaten and how much.

[tiffloon]

I may not be able to tell how much she is eating, but I see her eat. She is a social eater and won't eat if no one is home. I also am able to see her fecal matter which tells me that she is eating. The amount she secretes hasn't changed from the norm. If something were stuck in her stomach and she couldn't pass it, my question is do you think she could be okay for another week. My vet is in another state and she is supposed to get her annual vaccinations in a week. Just don''t know if it is necessary for me to make a special trip if she is going in a week and there are no signs of illness other than vomiting.

[kandy]

Vomiting is a sign of illness. If this isn't resolved by then, having vaccinations while a dog is sick could bring on some nasty side effects. Just something to consider.

If she won't eat while no one is home - do you notice that this vomiting happens after you've been gone for awhile? Does she seem to get stressed easily?

[Dog Dancer]

If your dog doesn't eat when nobody is home then you don't need to free feed. Measure the amount of food you put out for her (once or twice a day) and let her eat. After 20 minutes remove what she hasn't eaten. Then you will know how much she is eating. My older dog often doesn't eat and that is when she's vomit bile and I need to entice her to eat something. When my younger one had something stuck in her belly she was still eating and pooping normal also, the vomiting bile was the only symptom she had. As to whether you should wait a week - would you wait a week if it was you or a skin baby?? Kandy is right, if your dog is sick you should not get the shots done on a sick dog.

[ScottieDog]

I don't want to scare you, but when my 14 1/2 year-old dog started doing this it was due to liver cancer.

When the stomach gets too empty, the dog can vomit bile. In my case, my dog was vomiting each morning and giving a few treats at bedtime helped. This was before we knew his diagnosis. A tooth infection can also cause this type of problem since the dog swallows bacteria, in addition to the bacteria going into the bloodstream.

Given your dog's age, I would really suggest having a senior blood panel done to check the liver enzymes. I know that you provide food to the dog at all times. Liver and kidney issues frequently cause anorexia and the appetite falls off. In my case my dog just quit eating, first dry food, then canned, then treats. They are nauseated and just are sickened by the food and will avoid it. Signs of nausea include licking lips and drooling. Organ failure causes toxins to build up in the body causing nausea.

I free-fed my dogs for years, but due to a different dog's illness, I began measuring food. Knowing when the appetite and eating habits change is a good way to know when there is a health problem; the same with changes in elimination. With free-feeding it isn't as obvious as quickly. We aren't scolding you, just trying to explain why we feel scheduled feeding is a good thing. My dog wasn't eating well, but was still having normal eliminations up until the last couple of days--he just couldn't absorb and process the nutrients he needed.

Right now, the most important thing is your dog's health. Honestly, if she vomited again, I would schedule the appointment sooner than later. Please let us know how she (and you) are doing.