Vomiting

[ZACHI]

We have a five year old chihuahua who has been throwing up about once a week for the past few months.  This week she has thrown up about three times.  We had blood work and a fecal exam done.  Everything came back fine.  She was also tested for heartworms, and that test came back negative as well.  She also had an x-ray which didn't show anything either.  She is eating and drinking normally, and she still gets excited to go outside for walks.  She does sleep alot, but has always done that.  Her urine is kind of dark bright yellow, and she has loose stools but not diarrhea.  Our vet said it is probably nothing to worry about since all of her tests were okay.  Do you agree with this, or should we push for further testing?  If you think we should continue testing, what do you suggest the next step be?  Thank you!  

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

There are a few things that you could have your veterinarian try that are cost effective, not invasive and may very well help.

1. No fecal test is 100% reliable because most parasites are intermittent shedders.  In other words due to their variable life cycles they may only be detectable part of the time.  Therefore, your dog may still have parasites and I would treat for them just in case.  

2. Your dog could also have food hypersensitivies (food allergies), or a sensitive stomach. Food hypersensitivities can cause intermittent vomiting and soft stool and/or diarrhea alternating with constipation.  
Dogs can have food allergies to any ingredient in their present food.  Your veterinarian can prescribe a special hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks as a clinical trial.  If the vomiting stops you can assume that your dog was allergic to an ingredient or more than one ingredient in her old dog food.  There is no reliable blood or other test for food allergies.  

3. Your dog could have bacterial overgrowth; a short course of antibiotics and probiotics (acidophilus and other good bacteria) could be helpful.

If  all of the above fail than your veterinarian may have to have an abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy with biopsy performed.

Additionally, I would have a urinalysis performed to check for early renal disease or a urinary tract infection.

Hope this helps!  Let me know what happens.

Dr. Cheng

[ZACHI]

I forgot to add the vomit is yellow and frothy sometimes with food particles.  She has not had a change in her diet.