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View Full Version : Dog is lethargic and pukes food up as soon as he swallows it.


April418
Aug 30, 2011, 07:08 PM
My 5 month old Yorkie was fine until I gave him a dog treat a few nights ago. He seemed to be choking on it because he gagged and yelled and finally puked some of the treat up. He went for another day without eating or drinking and became lethargic. I took him to the vet the next morning and he said Max had a high fever and probably had an infection so he gave him ammoxicillan. 5 hours later I took him to another vet because he began gagging and puking up food again as soon as he swallowed it. She did blood work and everything came back fine but we still don't know what's wrong with him. I can't keep his medicine or food down him even though I gave him only a plain cooked potato which the dr told me to do. Neither dr seems to know what's wrong with him and I don't know what else to do. He's only 4 lbs and hasn't eaten in over 3 days.

April418
Aug 30, 2011, 08:36 PM
I have been doing research on the internet and I think I have found an answer. It is common for a dog to regurgitate if there is an obstruction blockage in the throat. I told my vet I thought he still had a piece of treat in his throat but he laughed and said that he was breathing so that couldn't be it (yes he actually did this). That's why I took him to the other vet. It makes sense because he was fine, choked on a treat, and hasn't been the same since. Even though the second vet I took him to is 2.5 hours away, I think I will get up early and take him back there in the morning. Those doctors seemed really nice and actually suggested an x-ray but at the time I was out of town and didn't have that much cash on me to have the x-rays done. I just have a gut feeling that something is stuck in his throat and he is regurgitating, not puking.

Aurora_Bell
Aug 31, 2011, 06:29 AM
I can't add much here, but my first gut inclination was a blockage as well. It could be that the treat has done damage to the throat and now it is painfula and swollen when he eats. I would get an x ray done as soon as you can. If she has not drank anything by mid afternoon, take her back to the vet and ask for her to be put IV fuids.

paleophlatus
Aug 31, 2011, 03:25 PM
There may have been an injury to the tissues of the esophagus itself. You mentioned gagging and yelping. Gagging is a reflex at the top of the esophagus, and may be the area affected.

An x-ray is not a good choice to closely examine the esophagus, except in looking for an obstruction. A direct visualization of the throat and esophagus would seem to be more complete and satisfactory exam, to me. (plus eliminating an x-ray) Sedation and a fiber optic instrument should do the trick. But, that's up to the vets to decide and do, if they have the equipment.

She is going to need some fluids and nutrition, probably now as well as during recovery, so it may be best to accurately define the problem early on.

Best wishes.