2 year old Golden Retriever vomiting

[JacquelineN]

Hi My almost 2 year old Golden Retriever (not spayed) eating mostly raw food diet) and generally good BEAM has vomited for the past two mornings. Her appetite seems good though after vomiting this morning it took her a little while to get excited to eat but she eventually did. She’s been eating SmallBatch raw Lamb, Turkey or Duck sliders (more lamb as she likes it, mixed with some 1cup) of Canine Cavier —one ingredient kibble (alternating kibble of salmon, venison, Buffalo). She also gets raw goat milk on top. We are aiming to reduce the kibble, though unfortunately she really likes it. She gets raw pork heart, liver or other organ meat treats throughout the day. I have introduced some other treats that she loves but are not raw, (more like a biscuit with oats, salmon, cod and blueberry) but maybe these are not agreeing with her. I’m mentioning it because this is the only thing that is newish in her diet. Though she gets only a very small amount of these…..The vomiting occurred both mornings occurred before getting up in the morning (at about 5:00 AM). Everything else seems normal except one behavior is that as we have been cleaning leaves from our yard, she has been grabbing more sticks and even small rocks (though she is not trying to swallow them)! But we consistently grab the sticks and other things out of her mouth. She just finished her third heat cycle, so I attributed her slightly lower energy to this. Any thoughts would be very helpful. Thank you, Jackie

 

[NancyK]

I would be careful of excessive liver treats, especially since she is likely getting enough liver already through her diet. Liver is extremely high in vitamin A and beef liver is also extremely high in copper. Both vitamin A and copper are stored in the liver. Excesses of these nutrients can cause problems. I personally never feed liver treats because mine get plenty of liver at meal time. The other organs are rich also but there is not the danger of toxicity as with liver. One of my dogs was bile vomiting for awhile. I cut back on liver and it resolved the issue. Many commercial dog foods contain way too much copper because AAFCO has no maximum set. You could check the full nutrient analysis of the foods you feed and try to stick close to the minimum. Also, please do research on copper toxicity in dogs.

Nancy

 

[NancyK]

Examples of the huge difference in copper between pet foods.
Nancy

 

[GinnyW]

I would look at not focusing on lacks, but upon varying her diet overall, to introduce more flexibility from her digestive processes. Perhaps also vary amounts and timing, and skip or postpone a few meals now and then. Canids are not designed to eat all day long, even in small amounts - and they ARE designed to fast occasionally. And it would seem to me that eating so early and so soon after arising may not be the most natural timing, either. Just some thoughts, but adapting to variety is always a useful tool, and fasting is a natural state for them, too.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Thanks for the great advice Ginny and Nancy!

.The vomiting occurred both mornings occurred before getting up in the morning (at about 5:00 AM). Everything else seems normal except one behavior is that as we have been cleaning leaves from our yard, she has been grabbing more sticks and even small rocks (though she is not trying to swallow them)! But we consistently grab the sticks and other things out of her mouth. She just finished her third heat cycle,

Ah, the 'ole am bilious vomiting syndrome. One of the common but abnormal early warning signs of an energetic imbalance.

How to Use Clues From Your Animal Companions to Promote Optimal Health - Holistic Actions!

www.holisticactions.com

so I attributed her slightly lower energy to this.

Yes! And the vomiting may also be associated with her heat cycle.

Now might be a good time to add a vet homeopath to her vet care team (if you haven't already done so).

 

[JacquelineN]

Hi My almost 2 year old Golden Retriever (not spayed) eating mostly raw food diet) and generally good BEAM has vomited for the past two mornings. Her appetite seems good though after vomiting this morning it took her a little while to get excited to eat but she eventually did. She’s been eating SmallBatch raw Lamb, Turkey or Duck sliders (more lamb as she likes it, mixed with some 1cup) of Canine Cavier —one ingredient kibble (alternating kibble of salmon, venison, Buffalo). She also gets raw goat milk on top. We are aiming to reduce the kibble, though unfortunately she really likes it. She gets raw pork heart, liver or other organ meat treats throughout the day. I have introduced some other treats that she loves but are not raw, (more like a biscuit with oats, salmon, cod and blueberry) but maybe these are not agreeing with her. I’m mentioning it because this is the only thing that is newish in her diet. Though she gets only a very small amount of these…..The vomiting occurred both mornings occurred before getting up in the morning (at about 5:00 AM). Everything else seems normal except one behavior is that as we have been cleaning leaves from our yard, she has been grabbing more sticks and even small rocks (though she is not trying to swallow them)! But we consistently grab the sticks and other things out of her mouth. She just finished her third heat cycle, so I attributed her slightly lower energy to this. Any thoughts would be very helpful. Thank you, Jackie

I would be careful of excessive liver treats, especially since she is likely getting enough liver already through her diet. Liver is extremely high in vitamin A and beef liver is also extremely high in copper. Both vitamin A and copper are stored in the liver. Excesses of these nutrients can cause problems. I personally never feed liver treats because mine get plenty of liver at meal time. The other organs are rich also but there is not the danger of toxicity as with liver. One of my dogs was bile vomiting for awhile. I cut back on liver and it resolved the issue. Many commercial dog foods contain way too much copper because AAFCO has no maximum set. You could check the full nutrient analysis of the foods you feed and try to stick close to the minimum. Also, please do research on copper toxicity in dogs.

Nancy

Hi Nancy, I did wonder about that possibility, so I will take a look at the liver especially to see how much she’s actually getting….and will also look at the copper, too. I really appreciate your suggestions! Thank you very much, Jackiei

Examples of the huge difference in copper between pet foods.
Nancy

this is really helpful, Nancy. Thank you for putting this together. I really appreciate it!!!!

 

[JacquelineN]

Thanks for the great advice Ginny and Nancy!

Ah, the 'ole am bilious vomiting syndrome. One of the common but abnormal early warning signs of an energetic imbalance.

How to Use Clues From Your Animal Companions to Promote Optimal Health - Holistic Actions!

www.holisticactions.com

Yes! And the vomiting may also be associated with her heat cycle.

Now might be a good time to add a vet homeopath to her vet care team (if you haven't already done so).

Thank you, Dr. Jeff. And Nancy and Ginny, I’ll be looking at all of the above….

 

[Dr. Jeff]

You're welcome Jacqueline!