Cakedog is poorly - please put my mind at rest.

[CakeistheAnswer]

Poor old Cakedog vomited today, which is highly unusual for him. This was around lunchtime, and since then he's been getting progressively more lethargic and looking just generally poorly and sorry for himself.

Has now taken himself off to bed, and isn't interested in waking up and interacting with us - extremely unusual; he's a 14 month springer.

My immediate thought was that he's eaten something which has disagreed with him, as he tends to eat all sorts of crap when we're out walking.

Then I remembered that he'd had a tick, which we removed 6 days ago. I feel really awful, because it had been attached to his face for a couple of days before I realised what it was, as I'd never seen one before and this was completely new to me. I had thought that it was just a bit of 'stuff' in his fur, which I would get rid of when I brushed him.

I'm pretty sure the tick was complete - it looked whole and horrid.

Now I'm panicking - is his illness tick-related? (Is the timescale right for this?)

What's my best course of action? Any advice would be very gratefully received!

First of all, don't panic.

Ticks don't always mean illness - ours get them all the time. It's v unlikely that a tick is the cause of the vomiting.

Has he eaten as normal today? Is he drinking as usual? And weeing and pooing as normal?

Is he drooling? Or is he stretching himself out with his bum in the air a lot?

Has he just vomited once? And did he have supper?

Thanks for your reply daisy.

He ate this morning as usual, but nothing since. He usually drinks a lot, but doesn't appear to have drunk anything today at all.

Has weed and pooed pretty normally today. No drooling, or stretching. Doesn't want supper. I can't even get him to drink a little water.

He's just very sleepy, seems sad and he's got a poorly look in his eyes (don't know if that makes sense?)

Sorry to be vague - I'm like an inexperienced mother here! (Although I don't recall ever being this concerned when DCs have been ill!)

Oh, and yes - he just vomited the once. It was quite a lot, though. On the carpet - yay!

It was bound to be on the carpet , that's the best place for a big pile of dog sick.

Throwing up once isn't normally a cause for concern. I would like to get a bit of water in him if he were mine tbh. Does the spare skin at the scruff of his neck fall back down as normal if you grab a bit and pull it upwards?

Try him on an ice cube or stir in a tiny bit of honey into his water and syringe it into him.

It sounds as though he's eaten something vile and is feeling a bit rotten. Take his bed upstairs to sleep with you tonight if you're worried about him. At least you should all get some sleep!

If you are really worried, call the OOH vet to chat; advice doesn't cost anything. I don't think it merits a call from what you've said though.

He's likely to be as right as rain tomorrow. If he's still not eating or drinking by tomorrow mid morning, I would call the vet.

Thanks daisy - you've calmed me down a bit!

Good idea re the ice - we usually give him ice cubes when he begs for something from the fridge, so he already thinks they're a treat. I'll try him with some.

Scruff skin seems normal. DD has just told me that she was giving him water from the garden hose earlier, so he's not very dehydrated.

I'll keep an eye. Maybe I should just make the most of an evening not being bothered by an attention-seeking springer!

Thankyou for your advice - very grateful.

daisydotandgertie was absolutely right. I'm so glad I asked MN. Cakedog slept off whatever is was, and was back to normal the next day. (Well, normal for a young springer anyway!)

Thanks daisy for taking the time to give me the benefit of your experience.

Good news! I'm glad he's better.

It did sound like just a 'clear out vomit' - vile and always, always in the wrong place.

The warning signs for a vomiting dog, ie the ones that make you think a trip to the vet is necessary, are repeated vomiting, the runs, drooling, a temperature, the stretch out bum in the air position or not eating or drinking as normal. And obviously dehydration, a rapid breathing or heart rate too.

There will be much more vomit to come, I expect .

And yes, I think you can always tell if a dog is feeling off colour by the look in their eyes. It did make sense.