Dog Community

RAW feeders - vomiting question...

Posted : 9/15/2008 8:09:06 AM

Several people have told me that vomiting is fairly common if you feed raw, but I'm a little concerned. I've been feeding raw for a while now, and Rafe just started vomiting yesterday. He vomited once (yellow bile and a small bone), then a second time (just bile), and again this morning (just bile, that I know of, but I couldn't get to him fast enough to keep him from swallowing half of it). Everything else has been normal (eating/drinking fine, pooping normally, etc.). Any input to ease my mind would be appreciated. ;)

Anonymous

Posted : 9/15/2008 8:22:41 AM

Do you mean vomiting bile or vomiting raw food?

I've fed raw to a variety of dogs and have never had vomiting issues. Rosco's body processes raw much faster, so I would often give him a bedtime snack, so he didn't vomit bile from having an empty belly.

Workingdoglover

Posted : 9/15/2008 9:44:53 AM

It's definitely bile (and the little bone piece yesterday, also in bile). You think it could be that he has an empty stomach? I've heard of dogs doing that before...but that also doesn't really make sense for this morning because he just ate last night at 7ish. I think he's just not chewing his food enough and it's coming back up so he can chew it more (lol, how gross).

brookcove

Posted : 9/15/2008 10:26:03 AM

Make sure he's on a schedule that suits his energy needs. Raw food doesn't hang around like kibble does so if you only feed once, or if he's a really active dog and you only feed rmbs, and only twice a day, the bile can be a result of the empty tummy.

My really active dogs can't do just rmbs. I do a meal with carbs, veggies/fruits, and fish and meat in the morning, and rmbs at night. On heavy work days the working dogs get a snack midday.

mudpuppy

Posted : 9/15/2008 11:39:34 AM

but that also doesn't really make sense for this morning because he just ate last night at 7ish.

that's classic empty-stomach puking- puking up yellowish liquid 12 or so hours after the last meal.

whtsthfrequency

Posted : 9/15/2008 1:27:41 PM

Bilious vomiting, yep. I'd try feeding a small, late night snack right before bed - that'll fix up most mild cases. My dog does it too on occasion.

Workingdoglover

Posted : 9/15/2008 6:32:48 PM

Thanks, all! :) I'll just make up a late night and early morning snack so he's not running on empty for so long. Yay! I love simple solutions... ;)

whtsthfrequency

Posted : 9/15/2008 8:55:02 PM

The food is out a dog's stomach in four to six hours in most cases, although sometimes faster or slower depending on the meal. I free feed mine (I don't advocate free-feeding, it just works for her because she is a nibbler) but occasionally I will not fill up the bowl in the evening until the morning, and sooometimes she'll do some retching if she hadn't eaten since the early evening or afternoon. I usually give her a small bit of an easily digestible treat before bedtime, 11 pm-ish (I'm up and let her out at around 6 or 7 am) and that helps.

RaceProfessor

Posted : 10/2/2008 2:39:29 PM

I've had that happen one or twice but it's seldom. I do a small snack (raw eggs and cooked veggie) in the morning and RMB's at night.