Why is my dog throwing up and swallowing food whole without chewing?

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!

Many dogs gulp or bolt their food. It’s a common issue. Continue to use the special feeder. You could also look for kibble that is disc shaped or has a hole in the center as this will slow Zeke down as well as force him to chew more. You could also switch from a bowl to a food ball dispenser. He will have to roll the ball around the get the kibble to come out and this will definitely slow things down. Canned food may help because he has to lick rather than grab. Every dog is different. Some dogs do great on canned food while others don’t. Just make sure to slowly switch the diet and to feed he proper amount. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would recommend taking Zeus to the veterinarian to make sure he is not obstructed from eating all the rocks. I then would put him on a leash when outside so he cannot access the rocks, wherever they are in the yard. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi you are correct with Czar that his could be megaesophagus (ME) and less likely choking from something stuck in his throat. Choking would be a very acute and violent episode. ME is something that would continue to happen at most meals. There are some other medical reasons for Czar's clinical signs as well like a hiatal hernia (abnormal position of the stomach) and other defects he could have been born with. Regardless it is extremely important that he been seen by his veterinarian for a diagnosis. They can take an X-ray to look for ME, something stuck in the throat, or a congenital defect. Also, the doctor can get him on medication to help with the vomiting/regurgitation. Best of luck with Czar

Since he is so young and this isn't the first time he has regurgitated I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at Oliver. There are congenital issues that can actually cause an animal to regurgitate. Your veterinarian may want to do some chest X-rays to rule in or out these abnormalities. I would just make sure that he is actually regurgitating not vomiting since the list of differentials would be different for both. In the mean time you can try watering down Oliver's food so he has to chew it more and potentially sit him up after he eats. You can also add some wet food to the dry food to see if that helps. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Zeus! Since he is so young and has been vomiting all morning I would make an appointment for today. WE do not like babies getting dehydrated and if they can't eat they can get low blood sugar. Causes of vomiting in puppies are: intestinal parasites, viral (especially parvo) and bacterial infections, ate something gross, foreign body causing a blockage, toxin ingestion, reaction to new food/treat/table food, food allergy or intolerance. I wish Zeus a speedy recovery!

This is definitely something that can occur as a result of how fast food and water are ingested. The maze dog food bowls work great or the bowls that only dispense a small amount of food at a time. You can try and elevate the food bowl and see if this helps. If the episodes become more frequent then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at Pepper and consider switching to a different food. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.