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Beagles/Sick Beage

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Expert: - 11/5/2008


Question
Hi,
We have an older female Beagle, about 11, a dog rescued from the pound.  She has had very little problems.  However, in the past week she has woken up in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning and vomitted. The vomit appears to be a yellowish type fluid.  This does not happen every day but has occurred three times this week.  Suggestions?  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Jim, sorry to hear your old gal isn't feeling well.

The yellowish liquid is called bile, it is the stomach fluid that is stored in the gallbladder and then is excreted into the belly to break down fats.

Throwing up bile could signify 1) her stomach is empty (therefore nothing else came up with it) and she may just have an upset stomach from something she ate or 2) it can mean there is an obstruction somewhere so nothing else is getting through. Is she peeing and pooping normally? Is she eating normally? Is she drinking water normally? Some dogs will eat grass to induce vomiting when their stomachs are bothering them, have you noticed this?

Three times in one week isn't horrible but if it continues after this I would take her to the vet ASAP especially because she is older.

Have4Paws

Beagles

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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