My puppy keeps throwing up!?

Question

I just recently got a 5 month old yellow lab mix and I moved to Florida with him and my other dog. For the first few days he was normal and playful. But the night before last I had taken them on a 2 mile walk. When we arrived back home they were fine just very tierd. The next day the puppy threw up a yellow mucus. I called the vet to get him an appointment, because I was worried he had parvo. They were of no help and can't see him till next week. So I've been keeping him hydrated, and I feed him canned food every few hours. He has the desire to eat and drink but he can't seem to hold down the food. Today he seems to be doing better, but is still having trouble holding down food. He slept all day yesterday, but today he has more energy and wants to play with our older dog. My question is, how can I help him get better? I have antibiotics for dogs, that I've been giving him, and I've given him plenty of fluids. It doesn't seem like parvo, but I'm still worried! Could it be a flu?

I also wanted to add that I've been giving him pedilyte and boiled rice and hamburger meat. He doesn't have diarria or blood in his stool, which is a sign of parvo. So you can see why I'm so confused as to what's wrong with him! His throw up is no longer a yellow mucus, just the food he's been eating. This is so frustrating! Please help!

Thanks for all the help! I'm going to stop the antibiotics. I also wanted to add I was very sick with the flu and maybe being stuck in the car with me for all those hours he got something from me.

Well thanks again to everyone for all your help! The puppy is doing fine, and is acting like he was never sick. He's a 100% again!

Answer 1

Have you been sick lately? Believe it or not dogs can catch human viruses sometimes. I wouldn't worry too much if the vet wasn't worried. It is probably the flu or a virus that will pass in a few days. The most important thing is that you are keeping him hydrated and he has some energy. Just don't let him over do it and relax, animals are a lot like children, they get sick for no apparent reason and bounce right back.

Answer 2

Sounds to me like the puppy ate something it shouldn't have, like a sock or a washcloth. It was able to pass through the stomach but is now lodged in the lower digestive tract. His body is trying to get it out by vomiting, but it's not working.

In the case of a 5 month old yellow lab, the dog should be pretty good sized and hopefully will will either successfully vomit it up, or pass it out the other end. In any case you will need to keep a close eye on the pup. If he's eating and drinking he'll probably be OK. If not you may have a medical emergency requiring surgery on your hands. If this is the case you will be faced with one of the most painful decisions of your life. The surgery is very, very expensive and even afterwards chances of a normal life free of complications are 50-50 at best.

Answer 3

Find another vet. If he's been lethargic and throwing up, there is definitely something going on. If you are able to you should rectally take his temperature and see if it's high. 101-102 degrees is normal for a dog.

You should not be giving him any antibiotics until you know what the problem is. They could be upsetting his stomach also.

Personally, I would go to the emergency vet in the area if you're regular vet isn't willing to squeeze him in to be seen. If you are speaking to the receptionist and they are not putting you in, ask that the vet call you back and speak directly to him/her. Tell them you are worried and that the puppy has been throwing up for however many days and that he is lethargic. The vet will then be able to let you know the next course of action.

As a receptionist/vet assistant at my clinic, we always manage to squeeze a client in. Either the doctor sees the patient between surgeries, or he just double books. And when a client wants to speak to the vet, we always take a message and he calls them back either during lunch or after hours. You need to call your vet back and make a stink, because I can tell you the squeaky wheel does get the oil. It would be worth it in this case.

Answer 4

All I can really say is he needs to see a vet. There could be any number of things wrong. First of all, the hydration is the best thing you can do on your own. I wouldn't worry as much about parvo unless you also have diarrhea. Parvo causes bloody diarrhea as much as vomiting. He could have ingested something poisonous on your walk, or swallowed something that is caught in his digestive system.

It does sound good that you said he feels better today and has more energy. He may have just had some kind of short lived virus or something... my dog did that when he was a pup.

I kind of doubt that antibiotics would help. Most things that would induce vomiting (virus, blocked digestive system, poisons, or just eating something that didn't agree with them) do not respond to antibiotics.

I would seriously doubt the flu... while the dog flu does exist in the US, it is very rare. It mostly occurs in dogs who have high contact with other dogs, such as racing greyhounds or show dogs.

Good luck, and I hope your little one feels better soon.

Answer 5

I can't believe of all these answers and even those from people who work with animals that nobody knows that when a dog or cat is vomiting you WITHHOLD FOOD AND WATER FOR 24 HOURS! Everytime you give it something it will throw up. Okay, would YOU keep eating if you were puking? The digestive system first needs to settle down and it can't do that when it continues to get aggravated.

He should be seen by a vet, this we know. In the meantime, please stop giving him food and water for at LEAST 24 hours. Then you would start with a little water and if he throws up, you stop and wait again. Once he can keep down water, then add a little boiled hamburger and rice but only if he can keep it down. As long as he is throwing up - nothing orally!

Jambo, Jambo, where have we all been when we're at work?

Answer 6

Dogs can get stomach bugs! Sounds like your doing the right things to help calm down his stomach but you may also want to try ground chichken or turkey instead of the hamburger. Feed the dog 1 cup at a time several times a day, see if that helps. Also you can go and get baby food in meat flavors and add that to his meat and rice mixture 1 teaspoon at a time.
Your in a new place and probably have new animals running thru your yard. Labs are good for eating strange things, so check your yard for wild animal poop and try to pick it up so your dogs can't come in contact with it. Also check around for a new vet. sounds like the one you found isn't that great!

Also the medication could also be making him throw up. Stop giving it to him and see if that helps.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Feed him boiled rice with beef broth and keep him on this bland diet until his stomach and stools are normal.
Get him into the vet as soon as possible also.
I am glad to hear you are giving him rice but just use the beef broth not the beef next time. I am not sure if a dog can get the flu from people. I know they can get the mumps, I have seen that first hand. I have also had a dog with bloody stools and vomiting and it wasn't parvo. She swallowed a bee and it stung her inside. I saw it happen, fortunately . Her eyes rolled back in her head and she had a moment like seizure. Then she got nauseated and the bloody stools. The boiled rice with beef broth got her through, but it was scary. I sure hope yours get well soon.

Answer 8

First you are feeding this puppy too much if you feed it every couple of hours. Has the dog been to the vet for it's shots yet? Don't just give it antibiotics if you don't know what's wrong with the puppy. Cut back the feeding of him to just twice a day (morning and night) and if the problem continues try and find an emergency vet in you area.

Answer 9

This happened to my puppy. I couldn't get him to the vet so I took him to an emergency animal hospital. I thought he had parvo as well. But, they told me he didn't because he was moving around and was alert. They said he probably ate something with bacteria on it during our walk the night before. They ended up giving him some anti-biotics, hydrating him (shot of liquid in the back), and giving me a diet to put him on. After a day he was fine. I would definetly take him to the hospital if he is still throwing up.

Answer 10

i dont think it is nething serious... if he really looks really sick, he wouldnt play at all. it maybe something small like a hair caught in his throat r something... because when my dog had a piece of hair caught in his throat, he starts throwing up as well... it is just a way to get the hair out. it is either that or he's not used to canned foods. try feeding him dog kebble... it maybe better... the best thing is feed the dog whatever the previous owners r the pet store feeds him with before u got him. because he maybe used to eating the foods they gave him instead of urs. and give him lots and lots of water.

hope this helps u in any way.

-joy