My dog vomited this morning and is licking his legs. What's wrong?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You have a good list of differentials, & all are plausible explanations for Oscar's behavior & symptoms. If this is a relatively new situation, then my first thought might be a food allergy has developed. It is not wise just to go out & purchase different foods. To do a food allergy trial you need a targeted food that requires a prescription from your veterinarian. He might want to try a round of antibiotics & stomach protectants first ( dogs can develop ulcers or bacterial overgrowths ). If you do want to try something at home first, you can purchase a probiotic called FortiFlora at most pet stores or on line. Feed 1 packet a day for 30 days & see if this helps. If no response in a couple of weeks, please consult your veterinarian. Hope Oscar is feeling better soon. Take care.

The two may or may not be related. It is hard to say. However if they are related then he will likely have a fever. You can check his rectal temperature and it should be between 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is high then I would suspect an infectious disease (tick borne disease), congenital bone disorder (femoral head necrosis) or septic arthritis could be causing Ollie's symptoms. Having some baseline bloodwork and a complete physical exam is a good place to start in trying to narrow down the possible causes of his ailment. If he is otherwise stable and eating, drinking normal, and able to go urinate and defecate normally, then he may be able to wait until morning to be seen by a vet. However, if he has pale gums, is lame to the point of being non-responsive, or starts vomiting excessively, then he needs to go to an ER vet right away. Best case scenario is that he has a muscle sprain and also had an upset stomach from something he ate. These would be easily treatable through the vet. You can try to offer him a bland diet of boiled plain chicken and rice or cottage cheese to help settle his stomach tonight. Also keep him rested and don't allow him to jump or run to prevent any further injury to his back leg. I hope things work out well for you both. Best wishes and take care.

It sounds like Patron is licking constantly because he feels nauseous. This can definitely be caused by a foreign body or obstruction as well as other causes of intestinal upset (such as pancreatitis, parasites, or dietary indiscretion). I recommend having him seen by a vet to determine exactly what is making him nauseous, and receive fluids and anti-nausea medications if necessary. I hope this helps and wish you and Oatron well!

Diarrhea and throwing up can be caused by a food sensitivity, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, an intestinal blockage, bacterial infection, viral infection, the weather, food change, stress, etc.  I would fast Olive Oyl for 24 hours and then put her on bland food for two days, such as boiled white rice and boiled white boneless chicken meat, fed in small quantities over several feeds and then transition back to regular food slowly over a few days. If this does not clear up the diarrhea or if the vomiting increases, or if your dog gets lethargic, she needs to see a veterinarian for an exam as there may be something more serious such as an infection going on. Licking her feet excessively can point to an allergy.

These are general signs of stomach upset, she feels that something is not right in her gastrointestinal tract and she tries to make it better by licking the floor (usually when a dog has access to grass they will ingest grass). She is probably suffering from a gastrointestinal infection, possibly due to something bad she ate. withhold food for 12 hours then offer her boiled boneless chicken and rice every 6 hours in small portions. if she is eating and not vomiting, continue with this diet for 2 days. After 2 days, you can put her back gradually on her normal food. If she continues vomiting or is not eating, take her to the vet to get treatment.

Because of the vomiting, I recommend getting your pet checked by your vet as soon as possible. Continued vomiting is very concerning and can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance as well as low blood sugar. He might have eaten something that either disagreed with him or something that has gotten stuck somewhere in his gastrointestinal tract. He could be sore from a hidden injury you are unaware of, he could have been exposed to some sort of toxin or irritant in his environment or this could be early signs of another condition or disease process. Your pet may need IV fluids to help support his/her system and to be fasted at the same time in order to give the gut a rest. Your vet can do an exam, blood work and possibly x-rays to determine the cause of the illness and suggest an effective treatment plan.

It sounds like your dog was nauseous, and dogs can lick things when they are nauseous. I can give you a home remedy for the vomiting 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 his normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. Best of luck.