My 11 month old bichon threw up bright (neon) yellow watery vomit this morning and has not eaten all day. He did eat regularly yesterday evening. He's also been laying down and not moving much at all. He doesn't feel warm -- his temperature feels ok but he does shudder every once in a while. Is this something serious and should I take him to the vet?
Sami Mieir says:
August 26th, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Deacon, it's never a wasted visit to the vet when it comes down to the health of your pet. Your veterinarian has diagnostics and medication to help your baby feel better.
Small pets, under 20#, are subject to something called hypoglycemia. This is known as low blood sugar. If your baby isn't eating, his blood sugar can drop rapidly. Above all, if he becomes tired and barely responsive--you need to take him to your vet promptly. Vomiting can also lead to dehydration, it doesn't take very long with small, young pets.
What could be ailing your pet is a long list. Young ones are subject to chewing and swallowing things that they shouldn't which can upset their stomach, get stuck in their intestines, etc. Intestinal parasites can also cause an upset stomach, sometimes vomiting accompanies. The parvo virus is another worry for owners of young pets, especially those that have not received 3-4 DHLPP (combo) vaccinations when they were young puppies (usually administered at 8 weeks and every 3 weeks until about 5 months of age).
If your pet does not eat or he vomits today I would highly recommend taking him in and having your vet do an examination to see what could be ailing your baby. Sometimes it's an easy fix with a few injections and some observation, sometimes its more indepth with a few days of hospitalization. Only the vet that examines your vet will be able to determine exactly what it is that is making your pup sick.
I hope treatment is quick and easy on you both. Good luck!
Sami
User says:
August 26th, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Thank you for the quick response. As it's already so late here (my time is 9:10pm), would it be ok to see how he's doing tomorrow morning or do you think that we should bring him in this evening?
Sami Mieir says:
August 26th, 2008 at 11:20 PM
If you can keep an eye on him this evening and he's still responsive when disturbed and isn't profusely vomiting, I would expect that he should be able to wait until morning. If he vomits before the AM and/or doesn't hold food/water down in the AM or express any interest in consuming food, I would recommend taking him in for an exam during the morning hours that your vet holds. If at any time he stops being responsive, is vomiting more than once per 3-5 hours...I would recommend taking him in tonight. Again, never a wasted visit when it comes to the health of your pets. Good luck!
User says:
August 27th, 2008 at 12:08 AM
He hasn't vomited since I came home this evening but I will keep a close eye on him tonight and in the morning. Thank you again!
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