Throwing up but all better now??

[Arron (Shadow)]

We were up at a northern cabin all weekend that Shadow just loves to explore.  For you southerners it was a balmy -4F when we got there but warmed right up to 20F by the weekend - perfect Doodle weather and Shadow, who just turned 12 months, absolutely loved it!  My brother from Montana also had his dog up there who is a wire haired pointing Griffon, a 14 month old named Mocha, and she was not quite suited to that type of cold - Mocha really loved the fireplace.  The dogs were exploring on Friday and having a pretty good time, had a couple of fights over a particular great stick and generally just rambled around the cabin, the woods and the ice fishing shack.

Now to the point of my post, on Friday evening, just after both dogs had supper they each threw up.  They both were eating their regular food so nothing unusual there.   Mocha threw up first, went outside for a bit, came back in and appeared to be OK and was fine the rest of the night.  Shadow threw up most of her supper about 7 pm and also appeared OK shortly after.  She then threw up again at about 9pm but tried to eat it right after and displayed no other ill effects so again I was not too worried.  And then about 11:30pm she started throwing up again, this time it started with green bile in the cabin, and then went outside and threw up some frothy bright red blood a couple of times.  Now that had me really worried!  However, it was almost midnight and we were up in a northern cabin with no phone service and the nearest vet would be almost 4 hours away.  After debating what to do for a bit with family, we decided to just put her back in her kennel but keep a close eye (ear) on her through the night.  She slept as well as she ever sleeps (a little tossing and turning) but woke up bright eyed and high tailed.  I gave her a small breakfast and she kept that down fine.  She was her usual self acting like an excited Doodle.  The rest of the weekend she got her regular food and water and there were no more issues with either her or Mocha.  We got back to the City last night and she has been great at home and excited to see her boys.

Questions are: 

What should I have done\would you have done?

Any thoughts on what might have caused both dogs to throw up?

Anything else I should be looking for?

Any follow up required?

[Becka]

Were they eating the same food? It sounds to me like they got into something they shouldn't have--an animal carcass, perhaps?--and Shadow had a worse reaction than Mocha did. Did you happen to check around the cabin for anything that looked suspicious?

[Arron (Shadow)]

Different food as each had their same food that they normally eat.  Yup, checked around the cabin and area and didn't find anything that looked suspicious.

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This certainly is a mystery, but the only thing that seems to make sense is that they got into something.  I'd just watch for any further symptoms.  My Vet is really good about letting me call with any questions.  Since there was blood in the vomit I would probably call her to just get her thoughts over the phone.  That is probably not necessary, but I tend to be pretty overly cautious.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This is quite a mystery to be having both of them sick at the same time!! I agree with the others that is sure sounds like they found something on one of the adventures!  Tara was vomiting one day and ended up vomiting pools of blood. We rushed her to the vet and he said she probably ruptured a blood vessel from the straining, etc. He just recommended we keep her calm (Ha Ha Ha!!!) for a few days and allow things inside to heal. We did our best...:) But he didn't do anything for her and she ended up being fine.

I'm glad to hear that they both seem to be doing well now!

[Arron (Shadow)]

That ruptured blood vessel would make a lot of sense - thanks for mentioning that.  The other thing is that Shadow is a gulper whereas Mocha is a nibbler so if they found something it is likely that Shadow got more of it than Mocha did which would explain her throwing up more.

She is doing great now and so is Mocha.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Glad they are feeling better!

[BG and Gavin]

Any chance they could have gotten into mouse/rat poison?  That could cause blood.  If you cabin area is like ours, lots of people bait the mice outside of the cabin during the off season in order to discourage them from coming inside.

[Arron (Shadow)]

Actually thought of just that but ours is the only cabin there and checked with Dad to see if he had placed anything out and he had not so that should poison out.  Great thought though!