Lexi has thrown up bile twice in 24 hours ... any ideas?

[Shari Becker]

Hey everyone,

This morning Lexi woke up at 4:30 and threw up on my bed. It was just bile. Later, we went for a walk, her poops were 100% normal. I fed her breakfast - she seemed starving. She ate. No problem.

I gave her half her breakfast and then half again two hours later just to be safe. She was totally fine!

Then at 5:00 this afternoon, she threw up bile again (three times in a row), and it was more than just a puddle. When she was done, she went to the door, so we went for another walk, stopped by the bank where they give her her favorite Mother Hubbard cookies. She inhaled them. She came home and started banging her bowl for food. I just gave her half her dinner. Am thinking I'll give her the other half closer to "bedtime."

Aside from having a lot of trouble walking up and down our hills in the summer weather (and being more lethargic than usual, which we've attributed to the city heat), she seems totally, totally fine.

It does not seem like she has a stomach virus. Not even loose stools, only throwing up bile.

We are going to the vet tomorrow first thing, but I would like to get her (and me) through the night without throwing up again. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Shari

[Susan and Bentley]

Bentley has been doing that on and off.  He did have some breathing problems, almost like he had mucous.  He's better now, feeling fine, but he also threw up bile again yesterday, and was fine after.  It could just be something she ate outside, but I don't know how to prevent it from happening again.  I'm not sure there's anything you can do tonight to keep her from throwing up again.  sorry :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When they throw up bile, especially if it's first thing in the a.m., it's usually due to having an empty stomach. I've also noticed it happens more in warm weather when they've been exercising a lot and drinking more water than usual. 

Can you try giving Lexi a snack above half an hour before bed, and maybe one between breakfast and dinner? It sounds like she just may need a little more food, more often.

[Shari Becker]

Thanks Karen! To me 4:30 AM is still night time! But then she did it again at 5:00 PM between lunch and dinner. Yes, I am planning on giving her another little snack before bed right now. And more snacks tomorrow. She was running around like a crazy dog this evening with her balls and stuffed animals. So I'm quite sure it's not viral. We are going to the vet just to be safe because we are going to visit my parents in their very clean, very lovely, "no dogs vomit here" house tomorrow. I think she may also be stressed out because my husband is traveling, my kids are away, and I've been packing for two days. I don't think dogs like suitcases. :-)

[Shari Becker]

Just a little update. Lexi was diagnosed with anxiety this morning (probably around me packing and everyone else being away.) Vet is also taking her off her Honest Kitchen food. She says it is a miracle food for dogs with constipation or loose stools, but it can actually upset stomachs, too. She said most dogs do great on it for 3-5 months and then have to come off. Lexi is at month two. She said she'd rather her have the raw with quinoa and green beans than the honest kitchen. Giving her some pepcid today and tomorrow, and she is supposed to have small treats throughout the day for the next few days, too. Vet thinks she should be back to normal when my kids come home from camp next week. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glad to hear the great news.