How much should you worry when your dog starts vomiting? If your dog vomits once and acts like nothing is going on, it’s likely not a concern. Vomiting repeatedly with signs of abdominal pain, however, is a different story.
Mort is an Australian Kelpie and he was 3-years-old at the time. Mort is an agile, high-energy dog who loves any challenging activity.–always full speed. Is there a fence to jump over? Is it too high? Not for Mort.
Mort never holds back no matter what he does which also makes him an aggressive chewer.
His transgressions include socks, blankets, cardboard–anything his parents forget to put away. Even the most diligent parent cannot watch their dog all the time. Mort, getting himself in trouble by eating something that could hurt him was an ongoing concern. Hence, you would expect a dog like that to vomit some of these things back up often enough.
Yet, when Mort threw up this time, there was something unusual about it.
Mort vomited where he never does and his posture indicated he had a stomachache.
Mort’s mom did what I often do to evaluate how concerned I should be about my dog–go for a quick walk. It can be an unorthodox but useful diagnostic tool. Should my dog refuse a walk, I know it’s an emergency. Outside, it is also easier to observe how unwell my dog is.
Mort threw up again but otherwise, he was eager to enjoy the walk.
Mort’s vomit contained mostly bits of bark that he managed to swallow on his evening walk. That seemed to explain his stomach upset and put his parents on heightened alert. While it didn’t seem to be an emergency at this time, it could quickly turn into one.
Later that night, Mort puked again.
This time, though, he looked unwell. He stood hunched over, clearly in pain. It was time for an emergency vet visit.
Physical examination and x-rays revealed an abdominal upset and gas, and couple bone fragments in Mort’s belly. Because Mort was on a raw diet, pieces of bone in his system wouldn’t be a surprising finding. Eating bones has never caused any problems before.
The veterinarian prescribed pain medication, antacid and hydration.
Mort slept through the rest of the night without further vomiting but when he woke up, he was still unwell. He didn’t even go down the stairs to go potty.
Mort was in a lot of pain.
He still wanted to go for his morning walk but had great difficulty. Before 10 AM, Mort was back at the veterinary hospital.
What do you think was wrong with Mort? What would you do if it was your dog?
Learn what was wrong with Mort here.
Related articles:
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog: Vomiting
What’s in the Vomit?
Why Examine Your Dog’s Vomit
Further reading:
Vomiting in Dogs