How long to wait before vet?

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

Hello,

My Dagny seemed to have an upset stomach yesterday, a bout of diarrhea in the afternoon and vomit which had several pieces of undigested kibble from earlier in the day (probably 5 hrs or so before). This happened when I was at work and my kids called me to report mid-afternoon. They said that prior to her getting sick, she had done quite a bit of whining. They claimed that she hadn't eaten anything (no poisons or anything laying around she could get into or the cat's food), no walks, no rowdy play (I had let her out in the morning and her stool and behavior was totally normal).  Up until she got sick, it was just a normal, lazy day.  By time I got home at 5PM, she was fine. I'd fed her dinner and let her out to go to the bathroom - nothing seemed out of the ordinary last evening.  And, she never acted like she was in any distress at all - normal/healthy activity and did not act sick or get sick.  

Today, normal intake (food and water) in the morning, but the diarrhea came back with a vengeance - became explosive toward the afternoon.  I fed her boiled chicken and rice at dinner and thought everything was fine.  Several hours later, she had an accident on the floor and vomited undigested food.  Now she's kenneled.  She looks normal!  Bright eyed, no whining! She wants to play, normal water intake.  

How long do I let this go on?  She has never been sick before (knock on wood)...neither of my dogs have.  I tend to overreact to things and run to the vet unnecessarily, so I'm trying to wait this out a bit.  Or should I not?  This is definitely acute - whatever it is, it's not normal.

Thank you so much for your insight!

Theresa 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

She needs to see the vet, IMO. Dogs don't just develop explosive diarrhea or vomit undigested food two days in a row if there's nothing wrong. I hope it's nothing serious. 

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

I was just in your shoes! Totally thought I was over reacting but took yeti into the vet anyways. He's being tested for a couple parasites and ended up needing fluids for dehydration. I agree with Karen! Better safe than sorry. Also you'd hate for whatever it may be to get worse!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would take her to the vet at your first opportunity.

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

Thanks so much for your advice - all.  I really appreciate it.  I called the vet this morning and took in a fecal sample. When I explained the symptoms, and as long as intake and behavior have been normal, the vet suggested we wait for tomorrow's results unless her symptoms become more severe (lethargy, weakness, blood, etc).  Without seeing her, obviously, he wouldn't give me any medications, but he did give me some gastroentric bland, canned food.  She's had a serving for breakfast and dinner today without any vomiting - so I feel a little better - and her diarrhea has become thicker and not "explosive."  Incidences of diarrhea have also decreased.

I keep racking my brain to figure out where this all could have started and the only difference in our routines (and without exposure to other animals outside of our home) is that she was groomed last Thursday.  Perhaps she picked up something there while she was kenneled, waiting for pick up and it possibly incubated for a few days?

I'll keep you posted!

Theresa

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's hoping it was just some sort of virus and she's doing better today.