My dog isJA: I'll do all I can to...

Hello! Welcome to Just Answer! My name is***** please give me a moment while I check your conversation with Pearl. May I have your name please?

Hi Jill. I am happy to help you with this question. I understand how important an answer is to your question, so I will work on this for you until it is resolved. Approximately how many times has Coal vomited in the last 24 hours? 

Thank you. Approximately how much does Coal weigh?

Have you observed any blood or mucus in the stool?

Does Coal have a chronic or sporadic history of vomiting or diarrhea prior to today?

One of the biggest concerns we have when this happens is the risk of dehydration. This could require treatment by a veterinarian, so I am going to recommend a few ways to measure the hydration status.

There are two methods to check the hydration level. The more accurate method is to feel the gums. They should feel wet and slippery normally. If they feel dry or sticky then that is a sign of dehydration. The second method is called the "skin tent test." This is performed by gently pulling up on the skin behind the shoulders and letting go when you feel resistance. Count how long it takes for the skin to return to a normal position. Normal is less than 2 seconds. Please let me know what you find.

Thank you for doing that. As long as the hydration test is normal, then you can continue to treat at home. There are many causes of vomiting, but some of the most common reasons are a sudden change in diet, swallowing a foreign object, intestine parasite, or internal organ inflammation. A veterinarian might need to be seen. In the meantime, there are some over-the-counter treatments we can try first.

Treatment for vomiting is first recommended to withhold all food for the next 4 to 6 hours. Water should be withheld for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This allows the stomach to rest. You can also give an over-the-counter remedy to help reduce nausea. A good over-the-counter medication you can give is Prilosec (i.e. omeprazole) or Pepcid AC (i.e. famotidine). The amount to give is 10 mg.

If no vomiting occurs after 6 hours, then you can offer a low-fat diet, which consists of things like low fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken, white rice, or sweet potatoes. Offer this in small amounts. You can also add a little fiber to the diet to help bulk the stool. Psyllium husk such as Metamucil or Benefiber are safe fiber options you may add to the diet. Canned pumpkin can also be given, but it has less bulking effects compared to the others. Water may always be offered. Pedialyte is safe to give. Kaolin & pectin and probiotics are helpful adjuncts to treatment of diarrhea. Imodium can also be given in the amount of 2 mg every 8 to 12 hours as needed for a period of only 2 to 3 days. If diarrhea persists for more than 48 hours, then a veterinarian should be seen.
Keep monitoring the hydration status 1 to 2 times per day. If vomiting continues, or if you notice a worsening of the hydration status, then a veterinarian should be seen.

We do not have an established dose of Nexium, but it is labeled for use when given intravenously. We can assume the dose is similar when giving it orally. The dose is 40 mg every 12 to 24 hours as needed.

It is my pleasure. Do you have any other questions for now?

I hope I have given you a satisfactory answer. If you have any follow up questions, please reply here and I will be happy to assist you.

It is my pleasure. I am happy to help.

This is Dr. Perry and I just wanted to check in to see if you have any follow up questions. Please let me know if you do and I will do my best to help.