Sorry to ask such a horrid question at tea time but what does it mean when vomit comes out (sorry for the description) in the shape of a poo as opposed to a puddle?

My mums cat used to do this when she had a fur ball and my dog has been sick 3 times in 24 hours in this way. He is completely fine in himself and as he gets very stressed at the vets I am going to starve him for 24 hours before reintroducing rice and eventually his own food and see how he goes on that before taking him to the vet. This is what I have been advised to do by the vet in the past. However, he has never been sick in this way before and as he seems perfectly fine apart from the vomit I wondered if this signalled that he has perhaps eaten something he shouldnt rather than a tummy bug.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe he'd been eating a poo?

No definately not. Its definately food that he has bought up but its just poo shaped :) I guess its one of those things that unless you have seen it before you probably wont understand what I mean. Its only that I have seen it with my mums cat that I havent freaked out!

His food was just undigested :) so comes out 'sausagey' or 'patty'........not to be confused with pate!!!.. lol

I would starve him as you said and make sure he has water (and is drinking it) then take him to the vet if his condition worsens.

Angela x

Thanks for that. Any ideas why it would be undigested though? He was sick yesterday morning when I wasnt here so I cant pinpoint exactly when it was but was withing 4 hours of eating. Then again in the afternoon but he hadnt eaten anything before vomitting that time. He then ate his dinner at about 7 yesterday evening and didnt vomit until quarter to five this morning so it seems quite a long time to go and for his food to be undigested still. Dont get me wrong im not a digestion expert or anything and im certainly not questioning your advice but id just like to know a little more.

Thanks ever so much for that.

My bitch did this when we were weaning her litter - she'd regurgitate her undigested meal for her pups. It's that shape because it's still mainly solid matter, not liquefied by digestive juices.

Usually food is out of the stomach and into the gut within 5 hours or so. If your timings are correct I'm not sure why your boy's stomach isn't functioning at normal speed. 

Thanks JG.

Not altogether sure why he would be doing this anyway as he certainly hasnt had a litter! but your comments about timings are interesting. Another poster suggested that maybe he ate some of the first lot (yuk) which could be why he chucked again in the afternoon but my timings are definately right for the vomit in the early hours this morning. Could it be that his system slowed during the night I wonder? Who knows? I probably never will, you know what dogs can be like I bet he will be right as rain by the morning where as I will probably have a sleepless night worrying myself sick!

Thanks

PS I like your description of 'sausagy' more than mine of 'poo shaped' lol :)

Hi Caroline :)

Food is usually out of the stomach in 6-8 hours. If he had the chance to eat any of his vomit (maybe when you weren't around?) then he could vomit it again later, still partially digested. If he has a 'tummy bug' then the food can sit in the stomach and 'ferment' before being thrown up, so would have 'cow pat' appearance. He would only have 'sausagey' vomit if he was regurgitating not long after a meal, in this case the vomit is usually slimy or mucousy - this is a favourite for cats :D

HTH
Angela

Edited to add: I'm definitely not an expert :D

Thanks for that Gabrieldobe. You seem to have some experience of this. Any ideas of possible reasons he could be doing this?

A miriad of reasons - just the same as when we get bugs etc.  I wouldn't worry at all if the vomiting stops when you starve him and if he stays bright. Do make sure after 24hrs starvation that you start him on a light diet e.g. scrambled egg, boiled chicken, white fish or rice, but not altogether ;)  do this for 24hrs then start mixing in his usual food and see how it goes.

Angela

Probably a really silly question but I have to ask. Starving for 24 hours - Is this from the time of the last meal he had or from the last time he chucked?

The reason being that he threw up yesterdays brekkie and tea meaning that he wont have eaten a meal that he has kept down since Monday. Will it be ok to feed some rice this eveing or is it too soon?

I wouldn't try more than about a tablespoon of thoroughly overcooked rice tonight. Make sure he drinks, though.

Sorry JG - I'm a slow typist ;)

IMO tomorrow is a better idea, although he probably won't think so....bless him.

Angela

Thanks to you both...you are angels!

I think this site is a godsend for these types of things. I dont mind paying whatever the vets bills cost but I am a worrier when it comes to my boy and tend to overreact about things and would therefore have him down the vets every week if I had my way :) and like I said he gets stressed at the vets so its difficult for me to make a balnced decision sometimes. It really helps to speak to people who have been through similar things, even if you dont get a definitive answer. I think its ultra hard when hes ok in himself as if he was down in the dumps I would have him straight down to the vet as I have done in the past. But when they are still mad as hatters its so hard!

Thanks again, Like I say he will probably be right as rain tomorrow (she says as he comes skidding past on the laminate, toy in mouth) but im not sure I will!