Dog has eaten something... retching - when to go to vet?

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

So our 13 month old labradoodle has been chewing/eating something again. I believe it's a tennis ball from the remnants I found in the garden. He's been retching for hours and just bringing up clear fluid. He doesn't appear in too much distress at any other time than when he's retching and has eaten a little bit (but not properly IYKWIM). He's not choking, can still breathe and well, do everything really.

Presumably if he's still like this in the morning I should go to the vet? Or does it all kind of come out one way or the other and not worth bothering the vet for? Also, is there any particular sign I should look for which would definitely make me go to vet sooner rather than later?

Oh lord, this sounds such an ignorant post

Correction... great stuff that this boy hasn't anything worse than kennel cough, not that he has kennel cough of course.

I'm really glad your dog is okay. Over the internet it is impossible to tell whether a dog has a GDV or something much less sinister. On the telephone the vet can have quite a discussion with you get a much better picture.
It is always better to have the discussion because we can ask you to look at specific things that can give us an indication as to how serious it is.
Often the only sign of a GDV is retching bringing up nothing and most of the time I find they have not been exercised after a meal - the last three the owners have just woken up to hear the dog retching in the middle of the night.
Anyway really glad the dog is okay.

Thanks everyone and apologies if I appeared complacent in any way. I was concerned - but not unduly if that makes sense. Of course, the comments here about calling the vet immediately made me do so regardless of whether I felt he was really sick or not.

Our next problem - well, just a disappointment for me really, is that we were due to go skiing on Saturday for a week with Percy going into boarding. The rest of the family will go and I will stay behind to keep him company/look after him ....

Oh bless, you poor thing. Now that really is unfortunate timing... we none of us wish illness upon our dogs at the best of times but this is far from the best.

I'm sure you;ve already been wracking your brains but as Percy's illness isn't a serious one which requires round the clock care but rather one which prohibits him from being accepted into kennels is there no-one you know who could look after him for the week? Maybe find a decent rescue locally and ring them to see if they can recommend anyone who is willing and able to look after Percy in their own home? A lot of owners who come to me have been recommended to use me by other rescuers so it's possible that your local rescue (or even one a bit further afield, depends how much you're willing to travel of course) may be able to do so.

We have an RSPCA rescue very near here, so I will get my DH to call them - great idea, thank you (still no voice). The vet practice are also ringing around today - dog sitters etc., to see whether anyone is free, without pets of their own, on one of the busiest weeks of the year! Not holding out much hope and resigned to stay home if need be.

I'm so glad there's nothing seriously wrong with your dog - but really sorry about your holiday.

I'm also relieved you phoned the vet last night. A phone chat costs nothing and is a far more useful than any of our opinions .

My regular boarder (home from home boarding), has, thank goodness, agreed to take Percy provided he has had a good few days abs in him by Friday and vets say he is not contagious anymore. Failing that and he is still contagious, a friend of a friend has agreed to come and dog/house sit for the week. Young, church-going, highly moral girl. Yippee.

My "middle of the night" check on PErcy has resulted in him scoffing down the half bowl of food I put out earlier and him wandering into the bag garden for relief and a sniff around . He was howling a bit on the morphine earlier though . Shouldn't laugh, the vets warned me.....