Last Wednesday, my 15 lb, 5 year old Shih Tzu grabbed and chewed a 2 inch chicken bone off the street. Everthing--- peeing, pooping, eating, activity level, mood-- has been normal since then. For the first three days, I gave him lots of fluids (put lots of water in his kibbles). But ever since last Thursday, he has been throwing up a tiny bit early in the morning (before 6 AM), well before his normal wake-up time. It's almost as though he has acid reflux.

He didn't throw up yesterday, but did throw up a little today. I wasn't very concerned at first because it is not unusual for him to throw up. And when he does, it's always in the morning. But not this often in so many days, although it hasn't been every day.

Should I be concerned?

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Originally Posted by MLHsu

Last Wednesday, my 15 lb, 5 year old Shih Tzu grabbed and chewed a 2 inch chicken bone off of the street. Everthing--- peeing, pooping, eating, activity level, mood-- has been normal since then. For the first three days, I gave him lots of fluids (put lots of water in his kibbles). But ever since last Thursday, he has been throwing up a tiny bit early in the morning (before 6 AM), well before his normal wake-up time. It's almost as though he has acid reflux.

He didn't throw up yesterday, but did throw up a little today. I wasn't very concerned at first because it is not unusual for him to throw up. And when he does, it's always in the morning. But not this often in so many days, although it hasn't been every day.

Should I be concerned?

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I would worry, yes. What does the Vet say? Bones can be an issue of lodging somewhere OR puncturing something. I would think if the dog is otherwise fine there probably isn't a problem but I would check with my Vet.

I should add that I did call the vet... and he told me that he would not be able to tell anything unless he took an x-ray (starting cost $225). That, along with the exam fee of $60, made me want to wait.

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Originally Posted by MLHsu

I should add that I did call the vet...and he told me that he would not be able to tell anything unless he took an x-ray (starting cost $225). That, along with the exam fee of $60, made me want to wait.

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Hmm - did he/she sound concerned? I would think after almost a week that if the dog is otherwise okay, there isn't a problem but I'm not a Vet or Vet Tech, just a pet owner.

I hate these decisions!

Can't say. He was harried and just said that he didn't want to give an opinion until he had done an x-ray. He also added that since "New York is a crazy town, I don't want to get sued for not taking an x-ray". I told him that no way would I sue him for not taking an x-ray but he said he would not say anything without one.

I wonder if the issue is more about his throwing up (since his throwing up is not uncommon) and if the bone is just a red herring.

Do dogs get acid reflux?