My dog is throwing up

Question
Hi Patti,

Hi, my name is Edgar, and I have a miniature pinscher who is a little over 1 year old.  Over the past month, she has been throwing up some sort of white substance.  It doesn't happen on a constant basis.  It happens once every 3 or 4 days.  I thought it had passed until this evening when it happened again.  I am very worried.  I love my dog so much.  I am limited on money, not sure if I could afford a vet visit.  Any advice would help.  Thank you.

-Edgar

Answer
Hi Edgar,

Most vomiting on an empty stomach produces sticky white froth which is a mixture of gastric secretion and excess saliva.

You can try dividing the amount your feed your dog into smaller, more frequent meals during the day. Sometimes giving a dog an extra milkbone or treat just before you go to bed at night helps, especially if the vomiting usually happens first thing in the morning.

Using an elevated dog bowl can help with digestion, even for a small dog.

You can brew some Chamomile Tea, and give it to your dog once it cools down, you can even add a about half a teaspoon of honey, if you'd like. Chamomile has been used for centuries to treat irritable bowel problems and various gastrointestinal complaints, and also calm nervous stomachs and improve digestion.

If nothing seems to help, then you should have your dog examined by your vet. Many dogs that vomit frequently have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or some other condition that causes a decrease in gastric mobility. Gastric reflux causes some dogs to vomit. Sometimes this can be controlled by diet or by giving an antacid before meals, but other diagnostic tests may be needed.

If finances are a concern, speak to your vet about paying the bill off over an agreed upon period of time, or contact your local shelter or Humane Association. Many times they know of reduced cost vet clinics in the area.

Best of luck,
Patti