Dog been violently sick - several times recently.

[AnonymousBird]

I have lab (bitch - 3yo), who naturally, eats anything. Other than when she was young, she can (and does) eat most things without trouble or unpleasant consequences. Either food wise or stuff she finds which could be anything - dead fish, animals. rabbits, birds, shit, you name it she eats it.

We have been in a different house recently and since the weather improved and she has been in the garden more of the time on her own, three times in recent weeks she has been violently sick - I cannot establish a cause - I just wonder whether there is something in this garden she is finding/eating that is doing this? Have scoured the garden (it's not big) and the garage (which she can get in if the door is left open) and can find no culprit.

It doesn't necessarily coincide with her having been in the fields either.

She is a bit zonked for a few hours after and then completely back to normal.

This never happened at our old house. If she were finding poison/something poisonous, is this what would happen, or would the symptoms last longer than a morning?

I know you will say "take her to the vet" but what will they do? She isn't being sick any more? The vet is expensive and I am not that enamoured with them (local choice is very limited without travelling a long way) and am reluctant to hand over £30 for them to simply say "she is a lab, what do you expect" in their usual patronising fashion....

Sorry - rather vague but any advice gratefully received.

Is she eating bulbs? I saw on a previous thread that these are poisonous for dogs? And daffodils too apparently?

Oh golly, well maybe that is it.

Thanks so much - I will check around and see if this could be the case.

Hope that she is feeling better soon. If it helps to put your mind at rest my dogs are sometimes sick out of the blue and do a lot of retching & fuss making and are then right as rain. Sometimes it happens if they have a big drink of water and then dash about playing.

It might be worth checking for bulbs though just in case!

Bulbs were my first thought also rhodedendron and a couple of other garden plants can cause these symptoms. I researched them recently for a puppy with these symptoms. It maybe worth buying a baskerville basket muzzle for her to wear in the garden to prevent unwanted eating.

Would onions/shallots cause the same thing do you think?

I don't see anything in the garden, but there is a sack of onions and shallots in the garage and the door hasn't always been shut so perhaps she raided those???

Thanks very much for the advice - even if it isn't bulbs this time, i didn't realise they were poisonous for dogs, so good to know for future.

According to our dog first aid book onions & garlic can be toxic to dogs. Having said that you read a lot of stuff where people say that garlic sausage is a great treat for dogs so it always confuses me that one! Also our dogs have had onion (mixed in with titbits) and they are fine with it - maybe it depends on the quantity.

I'd strongly suggest a look here and take a look at their Toxic Times Newsletter. Once you've read up on the large number of possible culprits, go and take a good look round your garden, but this time look at it through your dog's eyes. You haven't mentioned garden chemicals - do you use any? Have you recently used any varnish or oil on garden furniture? Used any surface cleaners? It's that time of year. Could one of your neighbours be using something that could blow or trickle into your space? Is your anti freeze all safely packed away? Are there any chemicals in the pond water? Is anyone in your area baiting for rats/vermin? Could there be anything in the house (cleaners etc) that she may have drunk/sniffed/ingested? Good luck.

My dog was sick last year because she was overheating. We had her clipped and she was fine. Perhaps you should make sure she has some shade.

Thanks for this info and the links.

Def not overheating, I am sure of it. She is short haired and the garden has lots of shade and her water is available all the time. I notice that she alternatives sunbathing/shadebathing throughout the day when she isn't padding around....

I don't think she got to the onions, there would be more mess! Will have another really close walk around today - through the dog's eyes is a good call. She was as right as rain yesterday afternoon, as I expected/hoped she would be.

But clearly she is finding something....