pet world

Q: Raz, our shih tzu, throws up in the morning unless we get food into him right after he awakens. Sometimes, he doesn’t eat early, except for the grass he eats outside, then throws up. It takes several hours for him to settle down and get hungry after vomiting. His previous owner said the vet called this problem acid reflux, and that we shouldn’t worry. What do you think?

— C. R., Delray Beach, Fla.

A: Wait until after breakfast before reading this answer. If Raz is throwing up yellow bile, he likely has a common condition called reflux gastritis. The bile builds up in the stomach, causing a mild gastritis. This is one circumstance where dogs that eat grass may do so to relieve nausea and/or stimulate regurgitation. (In other cases, dogs probably graze on grass, particularly new growth, simply because it tastes good.)

Dr. Colin Burrows, a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, specializing in gastroenterology, says feeding Raz a healthy bedtime snack and breakfast first thing in the morning should keep his tummy more filled, which would help.

If changing Raz’s feeding schedule prevents vomiting, great. If not, see your vet. Depending on the outcome of tests, the next course of action may be medication (inexpensive and available at any pharmacy). However, Burrows, a professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, is concerned that Raz needs time to settle down after vomiting.

More typically, a dog with reflux bile simply pukes, then bounces back in seconds, ready for a game of fetch or a meal.

If Raz is throwing up white foam, he may have chronic tonsillitis, which occurs in toy breeds. If you believe this is likely, again, you’ll need to see a vet for treatment. TMS