Dog vomits every week

[wannabapro]

Guys this has been going on since she was 8 weeks old when I brought her home.

Dog gets the "urka gurkas" every 5-7 days. You can almost put it on a calendar. Never pukes up any foreign materials just what appear to be stomach bile. Always in the morning before she eats any food. She is somewhat of a picky eater and often does not eat her breakfast until 2 or 3 pm but usually eats her dinner at 6 pm right after wife and I are done with ours. Does not always eat the entire 4 cups per day that I offer her. May eat 1-3 cups and leave the rest for the next day on occasion.

Pukes 2-3 times per 3 minute event, and then is fine for another week.

Dog has no other known health issues.

I am at my wits end. Vet has no explanation. It has been that the wife and I are home when dog pukes so one of us has always been able to get dog to the kitchen floor so as to not stain carpet. This is getting frustrating b/c dog is over 1 year old now and is probably time to leave her out of her crate more often while we are away from home, but I hate to risk damage to the house. Dog can't eat grass if she wanted to b/c of the snow.

Any ideas? Anyone have similar issue?

[Rustyaxecamp]

What kind of dog?

Even though it is before she eats, have you tried switching foods? Several brands make a sensitive diet blend.

Up to date on all shots and vacs?

[Gina Fox]

My Cocker does the same thing...and he is on free feed...I hear the sounds of puke coming and shout OUTSIDE and he runs to the door to complete the cycle...I have no idea why either...

Is it always on an empty stomach?
like in the morning 12 hours AFTER her biggest meal?

If so perhaps its too long of a time and she gets queasy with nothing in her belly...

Have you tried putting a couple table spoons of canned meat in with the dry in the am feeding?

If she doesnt eat it in 15 min pick it up and then do not offer it until the 6 pm time...try to get her on every 12 hours...by picking up the food you are encouraging better eating habits. It will take a few days to get her into the routine...see if dividing her daily ration into 2 or 3 meals so she never sits on empty too long helps...

[kek25]

I'm having the exact same problem with all 4 of my dogs this year (3 setters at the house and my daughter's 13 month old yorkie). Every week and a half or so one of them vomits bile -- no food in it. Only happens once in the given time period (i.e. they don't vomit multiple time within a given period of time) The stuff stains and smells!

I don't know if they're eating vegetation (i.e. leaves I didn't get up before the snows hit) out in the kennel on the side of the house or if there is some type of dog virus going around this year causing it. But I've never had this issue in the past and just mentioned to the wife yesterday what a problem it's been this year. They're eating well, drinking well, playing well, and showing no signs of an illness. Strange and a real pain.

[wannabapro]

Dog is a GWP, 15 months old.

Dog started as a puppy on Neutro Nat Choice Large Breed Puppy and always had bad (clear the room!) gas. At ~ 8 months I tried (I believe) Purina Pro Plan, but gas continued. Gave up after a few weeks of that and went back to a Neutro product, Lamb and Rice adult. No gas (YEAH!!!!!), but dog has always had these puking episodes since the day after I brought her home at 8 weeks of age and have been consistent in their timings regardless of the food. Just last week I told the wife "well, the dog hasn't puked in a while - I suppose it's about time for that again". 30 minutes later dog is puking.

She weighs ~ 48 lbs and her weight does not fluctuate except that she will drop a couple lbs. on a hunting trip. She is kind of leggy and you can easily feel her ribs. Vets all say that she is not overly skinny and comment that she is in great shape compared to most dogs.

Dog gets adequate exercise, hunts well, always has food and water available, and is NEVER out of my sight unless she is in her crate. She will get an occasional, small table scrap like 1 or 2 bites of a steak, or part of a scrambled egg. Never any significant people food and never any material in her vomit except what I assume is bile (deep amber/yellowish color).

She is up to date on all shots, and is in otherwise perfect health. Eyes and ears are good, and I know she had a good sniffer b/c she points birds :lol:

She is a beautiful dog. Maybe she is just a moderate Bulimic? :lol:

[wannabapro]

My Cocker does the same thing...and he is on free feed...I hear the sounds of puke coming and shout OUTSIDE and he runs to the door to complete the cycle...I have no idea why either...

Is it always on an empty stomach?
like in the morning 12 hours AFTER her biggest meal?

If so perhaps its too long of a time and she gets queasy with nothing in her belly...

Have you tried putting a couple table spoons of canned meat in with the dry in the am feeding?

If she doesnt eat it in 15 min pick it up and then do not offer it until the 6 pm time...try to get her on every 12 hours...by picking up the food you are encouraging better eating habits. It will take a few days to get her into the routine...see if dividing her daily ration into 2 or 3 meals so she never sits on empty too long helps...


Yes Gina always in the morning on an empty stomach 12 hrs after her last meal (dinner). But she puked this morning at 8 am and I offered her food at 7 am while I was fixing coffee and that same food is still in the kitchen as of now (11:30), so she always has the ability to eat. If I put some wet food in there she would eat it up right away. She does not appear to be a fan of dry food, but like I say she will usually (but not always) eat her 4-5 cups per day - it just depends on when she feels like eating it.

I assume you have have tried your own advice yet your pooch still has the same issue. Maybe it's just a dog thing that we'll never understand.

[GSP Gal]

I had an Australian Shepard that would do the same exact thing. I finally had to confine him to the vinyl floor area when I wasn't home. He got good about running for the door, or at least the vinyl floor when I was home. Over the years, I tried different things/food/timing. No consistancy in any changes.

He lived to be about 15 yrs, and in exceptional health. I often wondered if dogs get acid reflux? You wouldn't be able to find that out unless you could get more info from the dog.

[wannabapro]

You wouldn't be able to find that out unless you could get more info from the dog.

I'll ask her! ;)

Good to know that others have has a similar or exact issue, just wish we had an answer. I suppose I could start supplementing with some wet food like Gina suggested as I know Greta will eat that right away, and see if that morning feeding eases the issue. The only thing though - I would expect the puking to be an every day issue if the morning's empty stomach was the root cause, as she almost never eats before 2 pm, and pukes only once every 5-7 days...

[wally-eye]

My beagle used to do that religiously every morning, usually right before we left for work......:rant::sad:

Vet said the dog food was too high in protein. We switched to a lower protein lamb and rice formula.................bingo stopped almost immediately. Not sure if that works for all dogs but it sure worked for this beagle....... Vet also said feed half her daily ration in the morning and then the other half "later" in the evening......vet said we were feeding her too early in the evening.......we switched up to about 8PM and ... it worked like a champ....no more urps....

[wannabapro]

Walleye - that's pretty much the same program my dog is on. The food is lamb and rice adult. The protein content is listed at 21%, fat at 12%. She is offered 2 cups at ~ 7 am (eats it in the early afternoon). Offered another 2 cups after wife and I eat at ~ 6 pm, and she usually eats the dinner fairly quickly but occasionally leaves it until as late as 10 pm just before I hit the sack. I would say her eating times are fairly regular.

2 cups offered at ~ 7 am 2 cups eaten - 2 pm
2 cups offered at ~ 6 pm 2 cups eaten - 6 - 8 pm

Pukes one/week ~ 8 am.

[wally-eye]

Walleye - that's pretty much the same program my dog is on. The food is lamb and rice adult. The protein content is listed at 21%, fat at 12%. She is offered 2 cups at ~ 7 am (eats it in the early afternoon). Offered another 2 cups after wife and I eat at ~ 6 pm, and she usually eats the dinner fairly quickly but occasionally leaves it until as late as 10 pm just before I hit the sack. I would say her eating times are fairly regular.

2 cups offered at ~ 7 am 2 cups eaten - 2 pm
2 cups offered at ~ 6 pm 2 cups eaten - 6 - 8 pm

Pukes one/week ~ 8 am.



Can't rightly say what was the key because we did two things, switched from a 21% protein to a lower one about 14% and then switched to the lamb/rice formula. But between the two one of them worked. What I forgot to mention was that the dog also had a problem losing hair which the vet said was also because the protein was too high......but after switching the puking and also the hair problem quit.

I wish you good luck as it can be challenging at times to figure out the right formula.........

Dan

[wannabapro]

Hmm. Ok I will consider the protein content. What food are you using? When I went to the lamb and rice the gas stopped, so now maybe I can try a slight variation to stop the vomiting. I think that protein content has been discussed before, so I'll try a search and see if I can find some threads on that subject to see what some other folks recommend.

No hair issues btw with mine. No skin issues, no scratching, etc.

[Gina Fox]

the high protein in the foods now a days causes quite a few issues. I had a GSP that had digestive enzyme problems, back in the early 80's you could get a product called Kenl Ration Kennel Biscuit it was high in carbs and had very very low protein if any. Of course they stopped making it! It worked great but of course discontinued! But I would look to find the lowest you can.

[wally-eye]

Hmm. Ok I will consider the protein content. What food are you using? When I went to the lamb and rice the gas stopped, so now maybe I can try a slight variation to stop the vomiting. I think that protein content has been discussed before, so I'll try a search and see if I can find some threads on that subject to see what some other folks recommend.

No hair issues btw with mine. No skin issues, no scratching, etc.


Can't remember the name of the feed but we bought it from the vet and was very expensive. After that 20 lb bag was empty we then purchased a cheaper lamb/rice and lower protein food from Sams club.....truthfully I can't remember the name as this was a few years ago......I want to say Kenl Ration brand but I could be wrong on that........but the cheaper brand worked just as good.........

[NittanyDoug]

We were recommended to mix some pumpkin in with our dogs food. Just a little like a tablespoon per meal. She was puking about once a week, of course when we weren't home and usually on the carpet. Same bile stuff. Now she might puke about once every two months. I know we had some treats that guaranteed a puke the next day. Those are gone now. She won't eat her food willingly without the pumpkin. She waits on it. Of course she's no high power hunting dog, more of a treat hound....

[wannabapro]

Can't remember the name of the feed but we bought it from the vet and was very expensive. After that 20 lb bag was empty we then purchased a cheaper lamb/rice and lower protein food from Sams club.....truthfully I can't remember the name as this was a few years ago......I want to say Kenl Ration brand but I could be wrong on that........but the cheaper brand worked just as good.........

Thanks all for the ideas. Keep em coming. I'll let you know what I decide on and the resulting outcome as it sounds like others could benefit.

[hehibrits]

I have the same problem with a five year old male. He has done it since he was a pup. Doesn't matter what feed, he is a finicky eater. You can hear him wind up for 30 seconds before he blows, so we can get him outside now. Vet has no answers, we just live with it.

[Acts 11:7]

I must say, my wife and I at times thought something was terribly wrong with our beagle. She puked all the time it seemed. It took about four years, but we figured out the cause. She was allowed on a runner chain in the back yard so she wouldn't run away. She will not stop hunting! Well, she would eat her own poop. I didn't know this because the runner was around the house so we couldn't see her once we let her out. Due to a landscape change we decided to use a different door to let her out and caught her eating "poop sickles". Know we only let her out for short periods and watch her. If she does eat poop we put her in her kennel in the garage for a day or so, because she is gonna hurl. Hasn't been much of an issue since. Do any of your dogs eat their pooh?:tsk:

[wannabapro]

Am happy to say that is not the issue!

[NittanyDoug]

Not a pooh eater on my couch next to me right now either.

[Zarathustra]

Guys this has been going on since she was 8 weeks old when I brought her home.

Dog gets the "urka gurkas" every 5-7 days. You can almost put it on a calendar. Never pukes up any foreign materials just what appear to be stomach bile. Always in the morning before she eats any food. She is somewhat of a picky eater and often does not eat her breakfast until 2 or 3 pm but usually eats her dinner at 6 pm right after wife and I are done with ours. Does not always eat the entire 4 cups per day that I offer her. May eat 1-3 cups and leave the rest for the next day on occasion.

Pukes 2-3 times per 3 minute event, and then is fine for another week.

Dog has no other known health issues.

I am at my wits end. Vet has no explanation. It has been that the wife and I are home when dog pukes so one of us has always been able to get dog to the kitchen floor so as to not stain carpet. This is getting frustrating b/c dog is over 1 year old now and is probably time to leave her out of her crate more often while we are away from home, but I hate to risk damage to the house. Dog can't eat grass if she wanted to b/c of the snow.

Any ideas? Anyone have similar issue?

That is exactly the same thing that happens to me after eating my wife's tuna casserole.

[bearmak]

Well I don't have a cure for the dog, but on the carpet use Capture powder. You can get is at Home Depot. Wipe up the bile with a paper towel and sprinkle on the Capture. Wait 24 hours, vacuum. If there is still yellow spot spray on water and sprinkle with Capture again, wait, vacuum...Still yellow? Oxy Clean works but you have to be careful not to over scrub or you'll have the brightest spot on the carpet.

Been using Capture for years. People still think the carpet is new.

[wannabapro]

Thanks for that tip. Sure will come in handy sometime down the road.

[snowman11]

I often wondered if dogs get acid reflux? You wouldn't be able to find that out unless you could get more info from the dog.

Yes they do, and it can cause esophogitis. One of the symptoms is early morning vomiting prior to a meal. Eating is generally curative. Diagnosis is made by esophagus biopsy, but diagnosis is largely academic anyway. Treatment it largely (in it's early stages) through control of diet and antacids. Feed final meal later in the evening as it will reduce the amount of time the acid in the stomach is just churning. If that alone doesn't help, your vet can prescribe pepcid or use a drug such as sucralafate to develop a protective coating on the inflamed tissue.