Reader Question
My dog Roxy is 3 years old and has always had stomach issues. Last year about this time she was getting sick a lot with vomiting and expanded stomach. I took her to the vet and they took lots of xrays and saw lots of gas build up. They thought maybe she ate something so they opened her up but found nothing. They gave her medicines and a prescription diet for a while and she was fine. Almost a year later same issue came up. The vet doesn't know what's wrong and wants to do a GI endoscopy. I've spent almost $2000 so far on this issue with no answers. I really want her better and if this will show anything then I'm all for it. She gets sick throws up a lot salivating, licking the air, and stomach makes loud noises. After a night of this she is fine with some careful feeding and care but gets sick again about a week to two weeks later. I try not to feed her too much at first and gradually get her food intake to where it needs to be and then sickness. She has lost a lot of weight. I feed her high quality food so that should not be the problem. Any ideas would help a lot.
Thanks.
Answer from Our Team
Roxy's pattern of episodes every week or two with drooling, licking the air, loud stomach noises,
a swollen belly and vomiting, plus weight loss, points to an ongoing stomach and intestinal problem rather than something she keeps eating. Licking the air and drooling are signs of nausea. Since surgery found no blockage, endoscopy is a sensible next step. It lets your vet look at the lining of the stomach and intestine and take small biopsies, which are often the only way to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease and similar conditions.
It's also worth asking your vet whether these have been checked: blood tests for Addison's disease, which can cause vomiting that comes and goes in young dogs; tests of pancreatic function and vitamin B12 levels, which can explain weight loss; and a strict diet trial with a hydrolyzed or novel-protein prescription diet for several weeks. A food sensitivity can develop even on a high-quality food. Small, frequent meals often help dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Because she is losing weight, please don't let this drag on. If during an episode her belly becomes tight and swollen, or she retches without bringing anything up, take her to an emergency vet straight away. If tests keep coming back normal, ask about a referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist. If cost is a worry, ask your vet about a payment plan, or look for a low-cost clinic, humane society clinic or veterinary school near you.
See upset stomach in dogs, IBD in dogs and Addison's disease in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
