Q. Our Silky Terrier mix has been vomiting brown liquids for the past 12 hours. His last meal was yesterday evening and still has energy. What’…

ANSWER : A. If he is still vomiting despite starving then you need to see your vet as soon as possible.

It could be a gastroenteritis, blockage, pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, or even cancer.

ANSWER : A. Vomiting is a common symptom of many illnesses which can range anywhere from minor digestive upset, to mores serious problems such as disease, illness or even bloat.

If your Dane Mix has only vomited once or twice, it may just indicate a minor stomach upset. Picking up food for a few hours then feeding a bland meal of boiled chicken and plain rice can help soothe the stomach and entice eating. However, if the vomiting continues or symptoms persist for more than a day, it may indicate something more serious going on and should be looked at by your vet.

Large and giant breed dogs are more prone to a condition called Bloat, which is considered a medical emergency. Signs of bloat in a dog include a large distended abdomen, pain in the abdomen, signs of distress such as heavy panting, pale gums or tongue, vomiting and diarrhea, or attempting to vomit or defecate without success. If you suspect your dog may be experiencing bloat, contacting your vet or emergency clinic immediately is best.

ANSWER : A. That’s a great question. As responsible pet owners we need to be aware of food items that can be harmful to our canine or feline companions. Here are some of the most common foods proven to cause illness in our animals at home:

Chocolate: A favorite and irresistible treat amongst most humans, chocolate is considered toxic to dogs. In very small amounts it is usually not a huge issue, but with larger volumes and with darker chocolates pet owners should be concerned. Chocolate contains methylxanthine theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. Chocolate ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, issues with normal heartbeats, seizures, and in some severe cases, death. It is best to keep your favorite chocolate treats in a good hiding spot and out of reach of your dog or cat.

Grapes and raisins: Dogs should not consume grapes and raisins because of the risk of acute kidney failure. Most dogs experiencing grape or raisin toxicity will begin to have vomiting and/or diarrhea within 6-12 hours of ingestion. Other abnormal clinical signs include lethargy, abdominal pain, dehydration, and tremors. Kidney failure develops within 24-72 hours of the initial ingestion. There are some dogs that do not experience these devastating side effects. It is best to contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency facility if you believe your pet has ingested grapes or raisins.

Garlic and onions: We often forget that our meals contain these two popular ingredients and will allow our furry companions a few bites or licks. Onion and garlic both can cause a type of poisoning that results in damage to red blood cells, making them more likely to rupture. They can also cause stomach upset and mouth irritation. Look for pale gums, increased breathing or drooling or any vomiting or diarrhea.

Bread dough: Unbaked bread dough is considered poisonous to our pets. The bread dough, when ingested, expands in the stomach because of the warm and moist environment. This can lead to a bloated or even twisted stomach. In addition yeast is often added to our baking products to help get bread to rise, and when this yeast is fermented it produces both carbon dioxide and alcohol. The alcohol produced can be absorbed into the bloodstream and causes dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Common clinical signs include vomiting or retching, distension of the stomach, weakness and collapse.

Macadamia nuts: Ingestion of these nuts are not proven to be fatal in dogs but can cause them to experience uncomfortable clinical sings, including fever, joint stiffness, vomiting, tremors and difficulty walking, especially in their hind legs. Often your pet will start to feel better after about 48 hours, but supportive veterinary care (such as pain medication) may help ease their discomfort.

Xylitol: The most common ingredient used in sugar-free gum is xylitol, which is a non-caloric sweetener. It is also found in some oral rinses, toothpastes and vitamins. Xylitol and dogs do not mix – it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugars levels. Dogs will often display signs of disorientation, black tarry stool, tremors and seizures. If severe enough some dogs have developed liver failure. Keep your gum away from your canine companion.

Avocados: Avocados are not actually poisonous to dogs or cats but as many veterinarians can tell you the avocado pits can cause a foreign body obstruction. Avocados contain persin, which is actually toxic to the majority of pet birds. The abnormal clinical signs associated with avocado ingestion in birds include, respiratory distress, inability to perch, liver and kidney failure and sudden death.

Go forth and enjoy your favorite foods, but keep in mind which foods you should avoid sharing with your furry family members. Whenever in doubt, contact your veterinarian for healthy and safe food suggestions.

ANSWER : A. You can try with holding food for 12 hours. Offer unflavored Pedialyte if she’ll drink. If she doesn’t vomit or have diarrhea for those 12 hours you can then offer small amounts of a bland diet such as boiled white meat chicken (25%) and boiled white rice (75%) without flavoring or fat added. Offer about 1/4 cup every 2 hours. If she continues to do well and has an appetite do this for 12 hours, then transition back to a normal diet slowly. If she continues to have vomiting or diarrhea I think it’s important that you seek veterinary care, since continual loss of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea while nursing is very dangerous to any dog, but especially to a very small dog like a chihuahua.

ANSWER : A. If the vomiting has only occurred once, it may be due to the fact that there was something causing a minor upset stomach in your pup. Yellow foam is often acid, and tummies that are upset or that have been empty for too long can cause this to appear in vomit. It may just be that your puppy needs an extra meal in the day to help keep her stomach happy. Eating a meal too quickly can also cause a pup to vomit up undigested food and foam, and feeding smaller meals more often, or slowing down your dog’s eating can help.

If the vomiting has only happened once, pick up your puppy’s food for an hour or two and then offer a bland meal of plain boiled chicken and plain rice. These bland ingredients can help settle upset stomachs while being enticing “people food”. If the vomiting does not occur again, you can return to a normal feeding schedule.

However, if the vomiting continues, worsens, or new symptoms appear along with it, then it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet to rule out any more serious causes.

ANSWER : A. Stress from moving or too long between meals can certainly cause vomiting on an empty stomach. If the vomiting has only happened once, it may be best to remove regular food for a few hours and then offer a bland meal of boiled chicken and rice to settle any minor digestive upset. Feeding smaller meals more frequently may also help resolve tummy upset from an empty stomach. However, if the vomiting continues for more than a day or you see other signs of illness such as diarrhea, lethargy or loss of appetite, it may indicate something more serious is going on and should be looked at by a vet.

ANSWER : A. If your dog threw up yesterday and hasn’t eaten normally today I’d say that’s about 24 hours of GI distress, which is starting to get concerning. You can try feeding a bland diet – boiled white meat chicken and boiled white rice mixed 25% chicken:75% rice – in small (1/2 cup) frequent (every 2 – 4 hours) feedings. If no more vomiting, attitude is improving and he seems to be feeling well, transition to normal diet in 12 hours. Otherwise – no appetite, vomiting continues – take him for an exam. He could have an intestinal blockage. I’d watch him very carefully.

ANSWER : A. If your dog’s general appearance is otherwise normal – active, alert, no diarrhea – you can withhold food for 12 hours. If no more vomiting, start feeding small/frequent amounts of a bland diet, like boiled white meat chicken and boiled white rice – 25% chicken, 75% rice. Feed very small amounts to start, like 1/4 cup. Feed every 2 hours, and continue if no more vomiting. Transition back to a normal diet after 12 hours.

If at any time your dog continues to be sick – more vomiting, can’t hold down water, lethargy, etc. – seek emergency veterinary care.