Hi, I wondered if anyone can help? Poppy is a 6 year old Border Terrier and for the last few mornings her stomach has been making terrible noises when she first wakes up and she goes in the garden to eat grass.She hasn't got diarrhoea and the grass doesn't make her sick but she won't eat her breakfast,which is very unusual and is very restless. About an hour or so after she's been awake she's fine and plays with her toys and has her food as normal and then is ok for the rest of the day.
Has this happened to anyone else's dog? I wondered if it could be a psychological problem or if it's something to with her sleep? She has her tea at 5 o'clock so I don't think it's anything to do with her food.I don't like seeing her so uncomfortable every morning and would be very grateful for any advice.
Thank you
              Sue xx

I've had a couple of older dogs who get a bit billious in the morning, I find that giving them a little snack first thing settles their stomach. Something tasty like a little digestive biscuit will do the trick.

Hi Sue,

My cavalier girl Gypsy had this once and it was my fault...I forgot to feed her at night time! She was exactly as you say your Poppy is, no upset stomach or anything. She sleeps in our room and I was woken by her stomach growling and gurgling, as soon as I woke up she rushed to the door so I thought she had an upset stomach but she just raced outside and started eating grass. She hasn't done it since but I have never forgotten to feed her since, bless her!

I would suggest perhaps adding a little appetiser to your girls breakfast to encourage her to eat it...if it is because she's hungry the problem will hopefully stop :-)

Think it might help if you gave a small meal a bit later on in the evening?  Funny that it's only just started at that age though.

She may have eaten something in the garden or elsewhere that caused an upset or irritation.   Rudi, one of my dogs does exactly the same thing once in a while - and it always goes away in two or three days, at most.  If it keeps up I would take here the vet - basically to check that her tum is not swollen or tender and probably for something like the equivalent of an antacid.

I give my dogs a small treat immediately before I go to bed, btw.  If I do not Abby will throw up bile in the morning.  So I would probably start that now with yours and you just might find the morning problem goes away without the need for a vet visit.

Hi,Thanks so much for your advice. I tried to tempt her with a bit of chicken and she wouldn't even eat that but I'm going to try feeding her a bit later in the evening or giving her a light snack before she goes to bed. The funny thing is she was fine this morning! back to her old self again! Hope it lasts!!
   Sue xx