poodle that vomits everytime he eats.

I have a 8y/o toy poodle who is in good health. About 5 days ago, he started vomiting daily about 1-2x.  This is usually about 5-6 hours after he has eaten or in the middle of the night. The vomit usually consists of his food, no blood. His stools are completely normal and otw he is acting normally - very energetic and playful. I haven't changed his food.  Any suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I like the fact that your dog is still playful, and acting normally; however, I would take your dog to the veterinarian soon.  It has been going on a bit too long to be a stomach virus.  At 8 years of age, although still relatively young for a toy poodle, he is in late middle age and this is when things begin to go wrong.

The causes of acute vomiting are numerous and include:  foreign body ingestion, kidney disease, liver disease, parasites, hormonal diseases (such as Addison's disease), food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, helicobacter-related gastritis, bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, some cancers, toxins, side-effects to medicines, ear infections, and the list goes on and on.  

Your veterinarian should begin by doing a CBC/Chemistry, Thyroid test, fecal and giardia test, urinalysis, abdominal X-Rays, and a heartworm, Lyme, Erlichia, and Anaplasmosis test to begin with.  More involved tests may follow after this one, if necessary.

Hope that helps!  Good luck.  Dr. Cheng