poorly boxer

Question
QUESTION: hi, my 5 months old boxer has just this afternoon came down with something, shes has a really bad snotty nose, she has vomited 3 times today, she hasnt eaten much and genrellay doesnt want to know and isint her normal jumpy happy little pup. she does eat socks if she manages to get hold of them could this be causing her sickness??

thank you for your help danielle

ANSWER: Hi Danielle,

Eating a sock could be causing the vomiting and lack of activity/appetite.  If the vomit is brownish in color and foul-smelling, it could mean she has an obstruction, which is an emergency.  The snotty nose is probably not due to a sock, though.  

If she's vomiting foam or mucus, it may be simply a bad case of kennel  cough, but it may be the more serious canine influenza (which often mimics kennel cough symptoms) - and at her age it may be something like parvo as well (though that often is accompanied by diarrhea).  

Without knowing exactly what's she's vomiting, how her stool is, and whether she's drinking or not, it's hard to really say what might be going on, but if this came on as suddenly as seems I would probably not take any chances and get her to the vet as soon as you can.  (Even if it came on more slowly, if you don't see any improvement by tomorrow, or if she's not drinking or has a fever, I would get her to the vet.)   Her immune system isn't fully developed yet, so you do need to be proactive about things, and vomiting (especially if it's combined with diarrhea) can bring on dehydration very quickly in a pup.  

Good luck!

~Jennifer

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi thank you for replying so soon, her stools are normal and she has just drank a small bowl of water, and her sick was the colour of her food (she still has it mixed with water)thanks again danielle

Answer
Hi Danielle,

Well, that's better news. :)  I would still keep a close eye on her and be prepared to take her to the vet if you don't see any improvement, but if her stools stay normal and she keeps drinking then it may just be a transient 'bug'.  You might want to withhold her last meal tonight, or give her something like broth (low-sodium or watered down) or baby rice cereal - something easy to digest - and then feed small amounts more frequently throughout the day tomorrow, and see if she can keep them down.  Keep water available for her (as much as you can, I'm sure you're working on potty training right now, too!).  Watch for changes in her stool, fever, etc. as well.

(As a side note, I'd try to curb that sock-eating habit, or at least make it impossible for her to get them - it can have devastating results!)

~Jennifer