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How can I help my dog reverse sneezing and vomiting only at night?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 8 years and 6 months old | 52 lbs

Dog has been reverse sneezing & vomiting, only at night. How can I stop it/help him?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Daniel Fonza, DVM

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 7, 2018

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Hunter has been vomiting, I would initiate a bland diet as outlined below and feed this for at least 3 days beyond the resolution of the vomiting. If the reverse sneezing / vomiting continues, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Hunter so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The reverse sneezing may be allergies or an infection. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

GENERAL INFORMATION
A bland diet is a diet that is soft and highly digestible. It is low in fiber, fat and protein and is high in carbohydrates. Bland diets are generally composed of a single carbohydrate source and a single lean protein source. The most common bland diet is boiled rice and boiled lean chicken breast, without skin and bones. Since bland diets are low in fiber, stool production slows and defecation is less frequent. Bland diets are fed to rest the gastric system and to help promote normal stool formation. Animals that are physically sick should not be fed bland diets as a method of treatment.

PRIOR TO FEEDING A BLAND DIET
Pets should be fasted for 12 to 24 hours. Young animals should not be fasted for more than 12 hours. Fasting will allow the intestinal system to relax and minimize acid secretions that may irritate and inflame the intestinal lining. During the fast small amounts of water or ice chips may be provided. Never fast a sick animal, it may cause disease progression and death.

BASIC BOILED RICE AND CHICKEN BLAND DIET RECIPE
CARBOHYDRATE SOURCE: Boiled white rice
LEAN PROTEIN SOURCE: Chicken breast, no skin and bones
BOILED RICE: 1 part white rice with 3 parts water boiled for 20 – 25 minutes or until the rice is easily crushed.
BOILED CHICKEN: De-fat chicken breast and boil in water for 10 – 15 minutes or until the chicken meat is easily pulled apart and cooked all way through.

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS: Finely chop the lean protein and mix 2 cups carbohydrate source and ½ cup lean protein source.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS: Bland diets can be premade and stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 48 hours. The bland diet can be cooked in a batch and frozen in feeding sized portions to minimize preparation time. Thaw and warm the frozen diet prior to feeding.

PERMITTED LEAN PROTEIN SUBSTITUTIONS
Pork loin, egg whites, low fat cottage cheese. 7% low fat hamburger, plain low fat yogurt.

PERMITTED CARBOHYDRATE SUBSTITUTIONS
Boiled potatoes, boiled spaghetti, Minute rice.

PERMITTED COMMERCIAL BLAND DIETS
Science Prescription Diet I/D, Eukanuba Veterinary Diet Low Residue, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Intestinal HE.

FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS
Estimate 25% of your animal’s diet and feed that amount of the bland diet every 6 – 8 hours. Smaller animals will require less and larger animals will require more adhering to the same carbohydrate to lean protein source ratio. The bland diet should be fed for 4 -5 days with no treats or other food sources until stools are firm.


TRANSITION BACK TO A NORMAL DIET
Never transition back to a regular diet rapidly. Transition back to the regular diet over a 1 week period. Start by adding 25% of the regular diet to 75% of the bland diet and feed that combination for 2 days. If stools continue to be firm then continue substituting the regular diet in 25% increments and feeding the combination in 2 day time intervals until the diet is 100% regular diet. Minimize treats for 1 week after moving the diet back to 100% regular diet.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 3, 2017

    Poor girl. She may have had an upset stomach that caused her vomiting episodes. I can imagine how worrisome this could have been. As long as she is eating now, drinking adequate amounts of water and seems or be in good spirits (not lethargic), then I would continue the medicine your doctor prescribed and offer her a bland diet of boiled plain chicken and rice or cottage cheese to help settle her stomach. You should also offer her some Pedialyte (non-flavored) mixed 50:50 with water. This will help keep her hydrated since she has symptoms of mild dehydration (dry nose). If she does not seem to be improving well in the next 24 hrs then it's best to take her in to your vet for a proper exam and further treatment. I hope Queen gets well soon and is able to make a full recovery. Best wishes and take care.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 12, 2017

    Poor Roxy! I can give you a home remedy to try to see if that helps. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away.

    As for her sneezing, that could be caused by allergies or a respiratory infection. I would have Roxy seen by a vet for this even if the vomiting stops. The vet can diagnose what is causing the sneezing so she can be treated.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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