Vomiting - when to call the vet

[DoggoQuestions]

Newish dog owner. First time he's been poorly. He was vomiting Monday/Tuesday and lethargic so nearly phoned the vet but he started to perk up and was back to normal by Wednesday afternoon and all of yesterday.

This morning he had a dodgy poo but I thought maybe that's just getting rid of the last bits of illness. He seemed well in himself.

Took the kids out for dinner this evening. Out for about 1.5hrs and came back to food vomit in his crate, then as I was cleaning it, watery vomit, then yellow bile vomit and then again watery mucus vomit on the sofa.

I think we need to see the vet but is this an emergency vet call? Or wait until normal hours and call?

I'm trying to relate to children's sickness. I wouldn't be rushing to a&e for the kids with these symptoms but I'd probably phone the GP as it's been 5 days.

He will be okay till tomorrow just don’t feed him until tomorrow as long as he’s not going downhill and he’s perfectly fine apart from that

Emergency vets will cost you an absolute fortune before you are even seen so unless he’s on death door I wouldn’t bother it’d be okay till tomorrow I have had two dogs one has just died at the age of 15 and the other one is nearly 14

How old is the dog? Other than vomiting how is he in himself?

Thank you. That is what I was thinking too. If wouldn't be an emergency for my own children, it's not an emergency for the dog.

He's not long turned 1 so technically no longer a puppy, but still very puppy like.

He's a big breed so I'm being a bit cautious about bloat, but his stomachs not hard and he is drinking and settled so I think bloat is unlikely.

He's definitely not well now. Just lying on the sofa wanting cuddles. But he was perfectly fine on our walk about 4pm, rolling around in the grass and getting mucky.

A lot of insurance policies these days and some vets give you access to someone you can call out of hours and discuss if you need him to be seen. At over a year, if he was ok earlier, I guess I’d probably wait given you had 2 good days so he isn’t dehydrated. But if you have a vet nurse you can call, I’d give that a go.

I wouldn't rush to the vet tonight but if you're still worried take him in when vets next open.

Keep food simple and little and often.

Probably a silly question, but why does emergency vet cost me more? Would I not just pay the normal insurance excess?

I have found our vets will chat to you over the phone and kind of triage and then may tell you it can wait until tomorrow and won’t charge for giving advice like that so may be worth phoning to see what they advise. Hope pup feels better soon.

Just checked our insurance policy and yes, ours has a helpline and call back from a nurse if needed.

He's perked up again, keeping guard of the living room window, so I'll wait till morning and get an urgent appointment with the normal vet.

Because they can charge a big consultation fee because they’re having to open up overnight it is a big difference. Trust me yes you can claim it on insurance but you’re still gonna have to pay it first.

You'll need to pay the emergency vets then and there - then claim it back afterwards.

Personally I wouldn't rush mine to the vet for vomiting unless he was also dehydrated or showing signs of being unwell.