Dog refusing to eat

[kamilb1998]

I caught him throwing up yesterday, and after he went indoors he was drinking happily. This morning, he was let out to pee at 6am and his food was given to him for when he came back indoors. I checked half an hour ago and the food was still there, with some of it thrown up at the other end of the room. He's still refusing to eat, but is still as jolly as ever.

My first guess was that he's swallowed something?

ETA: He's a 14 month old Cocker Spaniel

[Piglet]

Topical, we've been up most of the night with our springer, she's been sick, was very restless and appears to have abdominal pain. I've phoned the emergency vet and we're going in a minute. Really quite worried about her as she's had a complicated history for a young dog.

Sorry, that doesn't help you

I'd get yours to the vet as soon as you can, he's only a baby still and a spaniel not eating is always a bad sign, hope he's ok.

[kamilb1998]

The thing with ours is that he seems happy, relaxed and doesn't seem to be in pain. I finish at 12:30 today so will try to get him to the vets ASAP.

[Karyn]

I'm not a vet or nurse, but if the dog doesn't seem distressed and is still drinking (and not excessively) and poos are relatively normal (i.e. no diorrhea diarrha runny poo), try starving for a day, then plain food (chicken/rice) for a couple of meals. If no better after day and a half, then take to the vet. As you say, it might just be something odd he's eaten.


(AFAIK, dehydration is the concern in young pups when vomiting/runny-poo-ing simultaneously for more than a day, which is why prompt vet trip is advisable in that instance.)

[kamilb1998]

His poos are normal, if maybe a touch darker than usual. I have been out to look and the stuff that he threw-up yesterday was just grass. When he was sick this morning it was just dog food.

I'm not certain now that he is drinking at all, I left the house this morning and left a little water in his bowl and it doesn't look like the level has gone down at all.

He is still very happy and willing to run around and play. If anyone has read any of my previous thread you'll probably know that I'm 14 and don't have a licence, so I'll attempt to persuade mum to take him to the vets. I did speak to her this morning and she said that he will be fine

[kamilb1998]

I have just given him a little cooked rice, and he seemed happy enough to eat it. Just have to keep an eye on him now in case he vomits.

[bexVN]

If he vomits again he should be seen, however if he is bright and happy and no diarrhoea, you could starve him for 24hrsa then intorduce a light diet. If his poo gets any darker or becomes diarrhoea again he should be seen. If he vomits whilst being starved or on light diet (eg chicken, white fish rice) again I'd advise getting him seen. It may be just a 24hr bug but it's right to be cautious in case he becomes more poorly with it.

Wish all 14yr olds were a on the ball re: their pets well being

[PRTVR]

My dog from time to time eats grass to make herself sick, then she will not eat for a day or two, do not know if it is a dogs way to cure an upset tummy,I would give it a few days a see how it goes before going to the vet so long as it appears in no pain or distressed. as others have said try something light, cooked chicken or rice but not to much it may get in the way of the dogs own cure.

[Piglet]

It must be national sick spaniel day. Ours is still under the weather, she's had an injection to stop her being sick but is now just lying still looking very sorry for herself, poor girl .

There was myself and a Cocker spaniel owner queuing outside the vets door first thing this morning - his had scavenged something in the field and looked to have something stuck in his throat.

[bexVN]

PRTVR said:

My dog from time to time eats grass to make herself sick, then she will not eat for a day or two, do not know if it is a dogs way to cure an upset tummy,I would give it a few days a see how it goes before going to the vet so long as it appears in no pain or distressed. as others have said try something light, cooked chicken or rice but not to much it may get in the way of the dogs own cure.

Not really normal to go off food for a couple days after v+ grass, suggests colicky type upset, not always very pleasent for the dog and sometimes tx can speed up the recovery.

[PRTVR]

bexVN said:

PRTVR said:

My dog from time to time eats grass to make herself sick, then she will not eat for a day or two, do not know if it is a dogs way to cure an upset tummy,I would give it a few days a see how it goes before going to the vet so long as it appears in no pain or distressed. as others have said try something light, cooked chicken or rice but not to much it may get in the way of the dogs own cure.

Not really normal to go off food for a couple days after v+ grass, suggests colicky type upset, not always very pleasent for the dog and sometimes tx can speed up the recovery.

Just passing on my experience of 14 years with spaniels , both dogs have eaten grass to make them self sick, they both were very fussy about the grass they chose, it did appear like they knew what to eat to make them sick and not to eat for a few days.

[kamilb1998]

PRTVR said:

Just passing on my experience of 14 years with spaniels , both dogs have eaten grass to make them self sick, they both were very fussy about the grass they chose, it did appear like they knew what to eat to make them sick and not to eat for a few days.

That's worrying, our cocker spaniel often eats grass, and is then sick. But he has never yet refused to eat.

[Karyn]

kamilb1998 said:

PRTVR said:

Just passing on my experience of 14 years with spaniels , both dogs have eaten grass to make them self sick, they both were very fussy about the grass they chose, it did appear like they knew what to eat to make them sick and not to eat for a few days.

That's worrying, our cocker spaniel often eats grass, and is then sick. But he has never yet refused to eat.

Don't panic, Kamil. Lots of dogs are known to eat grass... and no-one knows quite why, although most assume it's some sort of doggy-tummy-settler. They don't seem to be able to digest it easily, though, so expect to see it reappear from one end or other... I know I have with our dogs!

<remembers pulling blades of grass out doggy bumholes too many times for comfort>

Sicking it up is preferable, IMO!



Did the rice stay down?

[bexVN]

Yep eating grass very common and very normal for most, it's just not so usual for dogs to then not eat for a few days after, which is what I was trying to differentiate earlier but not very well!!

[kamilb1998]

That's alright then, I read your post as they eat grass to make themselves vomit. He has just been given his evening meal and, unsurprisingly, refused to eat that too. We'll wait until tomorrow and see if he starts eating normally. He doesn't appear to have thrown up the cooked rice he was given earlier.

[Rouleur]

Karyn said:

<remembers pulling blades of grass out doggy bumholes too many times for comfort>

I'm so relieved I'm not the only person to have done that, I thought I must have been mad to have resorted to dragging it out!

Piglet said:

It must be national sick spaniel day.

My Springer's got colitis ATM, this is all very odd

[B17NNS]

My Weim used to do this now and again.

Starve for a day and then something gentle was the advice I was always given. Rice and chicken.

Always did the trick.

[Karyn]

Rouleur said:

Karyn said:

<remembers pulling blades of grass out doggy bumholes too many times for comfort>

I'm so relieved I'm not the only person to have done that, I thought I must have been mad to have resorted to dragging it out!



Grass and hair. Couple of times a month, at least! Boke.

[bexVN]

kamilb1998 said:

That's alright then, I read your post as they eat grass to make themselves vomit. He has just been given his evening meal and, unsurprisingly, refused to eat that too. We'll wait until tomorrow and see if he starts eating normally. He doesn't appear to have thrown up the cooked rice he was given earlier.

They do that aswell (though my dog often eats grass and rarely vomits it!) but I wouldn't expect a dog to go off food every time after vomiting up grass they've eaten. we'd have lots of poorly (and hungry) dogs if they all went off their food for days every time they ate grass to vomit!

[kamilb1998]

We were going to call the vets when I got home, but there was no need. He's thrown up what he appeared to have stuck in his gut and is now eating and drinking again. What a relief it wasn't anything too serious!