Vomiting and diarrhea.

Dr. Marie replied:

Sorry to hear that your dog is not feeling well. While I won't be able to say for certain what is going on I can give you a few ideas that will hopefully help you know whether you need to see an emergency vet.

There are lots of things that can cause a dog to have vomiting and diarrhea. Fortunately, most of them are not serious. The most common reason is if a dog has eaten something unusual. But, often we don't find out what the culprit is.

There are also some more serious issues that can cause vomiting and diarrhea including pancreatitis, ingestion of a foreign object or toxin ingestion.

Here are my criteria that would say that an emergency visit is necessary:

-If you felt that Baliey was really uncomfortable and couldn't get settled, then yes, I would have her seen today.

-Have a feel of her belly, right behind her ribs. If you push on this area (i.e. put a hand on either side and then push your fingers together towards the center of her body), is she really sore? If she fights against you and tenses up then this could be a sign if pain. This could indicate pancreatitis which can be fairly serious.

-If you think it's possible that she has eaten a foreign object (like swallowed a toy or clothing, etc.) then I would have her seen today.

-Is she spayed? If she is not spayed, then when she was in heat last? If she has had a heat within the last 2 months then a pyometra is possible. This is a serious uterine infection. If you think this is possible then the sooner she is seen the better.

-If diarrhea and vomiting has been going on for 2-3 days, this is usually my criteria to have the dog looked at, even if she doesn't seem to be uncomfortable. So, if she is not better by tomorrow she should definitely be seen.

-Also, follow your gut. If you really feel that something is not right, then it never hurts to have an emergency visit just to be sure.

From what you have described, I am guessing that it should be alright to wait until tomorrow. Until then, make sure she has plenty of water. Also, you can try feeding a very small amount of boiled chicken and rice. There is nothing "magical" about chicken and rice but they are very bland foods that shouldn't make things worse. Don't try to entice her to eat by offering unusual foods. If she doesn't want to eat, then it means she is not feeling well.

I hope she feels better soon!

Dr. Marie.


Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?

---

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.