Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 13th, 2008, 12:06 PM
hbk hbk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3
Dog eats grass - vomits frequently - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden

My 10 year old min. poodle, Josie, has been eating grass and vomiting for years, but relatively infrequently (maybe once a month). I have had her checked out at the vet (blood tests, physical exam) with no positive results for any problems. Recently (within the past month or so) she has been doing this at least three times a week. She doesn't act like she feels bad, she will ring to go out and then eat grass, sit down and throw it up (yellow), and come back in and go back to her normal business (sleeping, mostly, but if she throws up first thing in the morning she then eats her breakfast). She has been eating the same food for 1-2 years (NutroMax senior mixed with weight control). She was 3-4 pounds overweight but has lost that since I added the weight control and quit letting her lick dishes. I am concerned that she may be damaging her esophagus. Also, my younger poodle, Annie (1 year old), who learns from Josie, has started copying the grass eating (maybe once every two weeks). Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old January 13th, 2008, 12:10 PM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
I think most dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach,,,my guy eats a certain type of grass only and not all the time...but thank dawg! he usually doesnt throw it up! I usually know because his tummy makes funny noises..

Cindy
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old January 14th, 2008, 05:16 AM
rainbow's Avatar
rainbow rainbow is offline
-
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Beautiful BC's Kootenay Country
Posts: 34,757
I wouldn't worry about the grass eating but I would change her food. There have been lots of cases of dogs being fed Nutro that vomit bile several times a week. My previous dogs did this and once I switched their food the vomitting stopped. Many other people reported the same thing. Please check out the Food Forum here for some great information on what to feed your dog.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old January 14th, 2008, 03:33 PM
hbk hbk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3
Thanks for the info, I'll look at the Food Forum.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old January 25th, 2008, 10:45 AM
petdr's Avatar
petdr petdr is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 262
Chronic vomiting/regurgitation need to be addressed, because, yes, she may be suffering from esophageal/dental damage/metabolic disease if there is a gastric acid component.

Vomiting is different than regurgitation: vomiting is the stomach violently contracting to expel contents, regurgitation is the passive return of esophageal contents--there is no stomach component involved.

Routine blood work may not show any abnormalities, however further testing such as fluoroscopy/endoscopy may reveal the answer.

Alternatively, hypoallergenic/bland low-fat food trial may be of benefit if the situation warrants. There are numerous antiemetic (anti-vomiting) drugs available, but a firm diagnosis before medication makes the most sense.

Please consult your veterinarian for further diagnostics/assessments/treatment plans.


Dr. Van Lienden

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM
The Animal Clinic of Clifton
12702 Chapel Road, Clifton
Virginia, U.S.A. 20124
703-802-0490
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old January 27th, 2008, 03:06 PM
hbk hbk is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3
Update to "dog eats grass-vomits frequently"

Thanks for the replies. I started Josie on Royal Canin Special 30 for "sensitive, fussy" dogs. I started mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 with her previous food and after two weeks she's on the Royal Canin straight. No vomiting (self-induced or otherwise) since we started the switch! I wonder if there is something in the food that settles her stomach enough that the Nutro doesn't bother it anymore. I hope that takes care of the problem!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:05 PM.