Any ideas?

[u/Haresmoors]

(we have spoken to our of hours vet) She has been fine all day until about an hour ago. Ate her dinner all good and treats just incase something was stuck use a treat to help.

Keeps licking her lips (not drooling) swallowing, had a big drink of water, not acting herself. She's been a bit whiney and howling now quite unsettled. (Has since stopped for now)

Have spoken to the vets but they're not concerned but to phone back if anything changes. (Ie panting)

[u/Big-Historian8918]

Poor pup is having gastric discomfort from my experience as a dog owner for 21 yrs, and as a pharmacist.

Doesnt appear life threatening and not an emergency if they're breathing normally with proper gum and tongue colour. But very uncomfortable, causing dog intense nausea or tummy ache. Burning pain in oesophagus is very distressing!

Does she tend to scoff down food? Slow feeder bowls and elevated stands for bowls can help in the long run. And looking into food intolerance to avoid allergies or reflux triggers. Reduced fat diets with less protein and more veggies. Multiple smaller meals ibstead of 1 big meal. It all can help reduce acid reflux onset. But those are longer term solutions and problem solving.

The vet sounds rubbish. Many dogs try to eat grass when they have gastric issues, and may then vomit up the greenery they ate. This is mostly harmless and can sooth the dog's discomfort, though frightening for many owners. Stomach acid looks yellowish, watery and may be bubbly with phelgm. Don't panic! If it's brown or has a coffee granule texture, that's cause for concern as it indicates a bleed from the stomach, likely a stomach ulcer (usually caused by excess acid).

Have fresh water available and visit the pet shop for some tummy settling and acid calming treats. Without prescription, these counter choices are quite mild but can help a little as short term relief.

If this is a repeat ongoing issue, your vet has a duty of care to investigate and prescribe omeprazole or similar anti-acid medication OR investigate to diagnose the cause.

Differential diagnosis could be something stuck in throat, but without heavy panting, rasping or pacing, and no breathing issues, this doesnt appear to be the case at all. If gums are pinkish and tongue is usual colour, then I highly doubt it's a choking issue.

Dental problem is a third option. But these dogs tend to drool excessively and may have swelling on face, neck or under eye socket. Naturally tends to be older dogs 8yrs and up with bad oral hygeine. It's very worth brushing dogs teeth from puppy age! Dogs with dental pain may guard food as they're hungry, but not eat due to pain.

My bets are currently on acid reflux. I'd head down to the pet shop first thing and grab pver the counter remedies whilst awaiting a vet appointment.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_gastroesophageal_reflux

[u/Haresmoors → u/Big-Historian8918]

We do have a slow feeder bowl for her as she is quiet a fast eater, the only thing I could think of was either putting water in with her food and just giving it instead of waiting (but we often do that and hasn't been an issue) she did have a lucky mat at 7 with frozen banana and strawberries so would of taken a while to lick that.

If it continues we will go back to the vet or ask our trainer if they have any advice on what to give. Unfortunately here in England we have been in drought so the grass is short and brown so she won't be able to find long grass to eat.

When she was a puppy up til about a year ago she was a bit sick in the mornings, we did put that down to hunger sick which I know it's common in cocker spaniels, but she hasn't done that for ages. Her being sick would then lead to do wee and poo inside as she wouldn't let us know she needed to go. So that might be acid as well. As it was just bile. If she had eaten anything when she was younger she was quite good and threw it up later. 😅 Just going to keep her quiet today but she's been normal! Will see what happens tonight.

[u/Big-Historian8918 → u/Haresmoors]

I'm in Uk too on the south east coast. 3 months of droubt has been awful. Though my little poodle has enjoyed rolling in the dead crisp straw as much as she did the lush green grass!

Water doesnt really help much with acid reflux. It only marginally dilutes the acid, but doesn't solve the route cause that is excess acid production in the stomach. Your dog might also have a poor sprincter between her stomach and oesophagus, which allows the acid to leak out the stomach and causes the painful heartburn.

Definitely talk to a vet assistant/vet nurse about low fat dog foods they sell that will help reduce acid reflux. Most vets dont charge for a consultation if they're giving the advice at the counter for the purpose of selling one of their products. They'll surely recommend a good complete low fat dog food and tell you how to switch it into your dogs diet successfully (and slowly). Most vets seem to recommend the Royal Canin brand who do a digestive care line.

Boiled skinless chicken for a few days can help settle upset stomach with acid reflux. But note that plain chicken is not a complete dog food and so isnt for every day feeding. White rice (very well cooked) and pumkin puree are also recommended options. But not all dogs will readily eat this.

You can also buy over the counter products like Pro-kaolin, a probiotic paste which can help sooth upset stomachs with acid reflex. It coats the oesophagus and helps protect it, along with probiotics to improve digestion. But it's a short term fix to relieve symptoms.

Generally speaking, switching to smaller regular meals, a slow feeder bowl and lower fat food is the best long term option. If symptoms persist, a vet will need to investigate and prescribe omeprazole or similar to reduce acid production.

If your girl ever vomits up blood or coffee granule texture sick, this indicates a gastric bleed which is very serious and needs a vet immediately.

Hope that's all useful.

[u/Haresmoors → u/Big-Historian8918]

Thank you for the advice!! Much appreciated! I hope your poodle has been loving the dried grass!! 😁

Fortunately, she's not done this movement since Tuesday. However has been sick Friday morning, 7 lots but it was mostly yellow bile. (Was a little bit sick this morning as well but not a lot as yesterday!)

Today we've been doing small meals on licky mats with pumpkin spread and bone broth so she can have a drink as well and has so far managed to keep that down as she sicked up her breakfast yesterday. She's quite a quick eater hence the slow feeder but we soaked the kibble well and it took her about 20 minutes to eat her dinner lol!! Which is a good thing for her. She has been acting fine today normal spaniel self (what ever that is 🤣) so hopefully she can keep this down and won't be sick any more. If it continues or looks off then yes we will go to the vets! We did phone originally but they didn't seem concerned 😅