My dog is swallowing repeatedly and eating grass. What should I do?

Hello. I am sorry that Zeus isn't feeling well. Hard swallowing/licking can be a sign of nausea and an upset stomach. Eating grass and fur is also a sign of an upset stomach. It is not surprising that he did this on a raw food diet (especially if there were bones) as this often causes gastritis. Now that he is on a kibble he is likely feeling much better most of the time. If he is having another episode now, it could be that he is having a bit of gastritis again. It is firstly important to make sure he doesn't have something stuck in his esophagus, this can be done with an x-ray. Alternatively, at home you can feed him some boiled boneless chicken, and see if he will eat it and not vomit or regurgitate it back up. As a general rule, if they eat food and it stays down for an hour it is unlikely to have an esophageal blockage. If you feed some food and Zeus either regurgitates/vomits/or does not want to eat the treat, I would recommend a visit to the vet. If Zeus is eating, and not vomiting, and is otherwise bright and happy, a simple gastritis can usually be treated at home with boiled boneless/skinless/chicken breasts, and boiled rice, in small frequent meals for 2 days, and then re-introduce his kibble slowly. At any time if there is vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, or inappetance, I would recommend a visit to the vet ASAP for radiographs, possible bloodwork, and possible hospitalization and treatment depending on what they find. I hope Zeus feels better soon!

It's possible Princess may be feeling a bit nauseated or have some GI upset if she is choking or gagging/drooling. Bringing her to your vet for a checkup to rule out GI upset, allergies, etc, and bringing along a stool sample to test for any common issues such as parasites, etc that can cause GI upset may help.

I am so sorry to hear about Maddie! It definitely sounds like she is battling nausea in the evenings. Dogs often eat grass to try to settle their stomach. The question is why? Have you changed foods? Have you started going to the dog park after dinner? Is she nauseous at any other time of day? Losing weight? Pregnant? Getting into the trash/cat litter every afternoon? Because so many things can cause nausea, I would highly recommend you see your vet as soon as possible. He or she will ask many more questions, do a good physical exam and potentially recommend x-rays and/or bloodwork to help determine what is going on. In the meantime, I would not recommend peroxide as this is actually damaging to the gut lining and I try to avoid it except in emergencies. Rice and sweet potato won’t hurt but they are unlikely to stop vomiting. When Maddie seems nauseous, pick up the food and water. Reintroduce water 4 hours after any vomiting or after she seems comfortable again. Reintroduce a small meal 13 hours after any vomiting. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Maddie!

I would give it a few minutes to see if it settles down. But if he continues to drool or cough Lou may have a foreign body stuck in the back of his mouth or his throat, and I would recommend a veterinary visit today. If it seems to go away then it may have just been transient, or a small piece of grass or something he's able to dislodge on his own. I hope he is back to normal soon, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Continual swallowing can be a sign of something irritating their phayrnx, trachea or esophagus- like an object stuck in their throat. If you can get a good look in her mouth, I would check between and around her teeth as well as further back in her mouth. If you can offer her some food this may help too. If it persists, I would recommend having her seen as she may need an x-ray or other tests. I hope this helps!

It's possible Milly may have something caught in her throat or nose (such as a grass seed), or has gotten into something causing her to feel nauseated (dogs will drool, swallow and gulp if they feel ready to vomit). If the symptoms continue or she starts gasping for air/turning blue, it is best to seek veterinary care immediately.

I would try to keep him from eating any strings if possible because these can cause an obstruction in the GI tract that could require surgery to repair. If he is no longer vomiting, eating and acting normal with normal bowel movements, you could continue to just watch him. if he starts any abnormal behavior or symptoms restart, i would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able determine the cause and get him treated before things get worse. Plus, since he is so small, i worry he may get dehydrated quickly. The vigorous smelling and licking could be just his personality or a result of anxiety. If it happens often, it may be something to talk to your vet about to see if he needs anti-anxiety meds. I hope this helps.