Dakota has been vomiting up bile for the past 2 days and barely touching his food. I called the vet today and they said they were getting quite a few calls with the same issue and that there was a virus going around in the dogs. She told me to take his food away for three days and only feed him scrambled eggs, boiled chicken and rice. Just curious if anyone knows what a bland diet has to do with helping the virus?

The bland diet is not going to help with a virus but it might help settle the tummy down. I would expect the vet to ask you to bring Dakota in if he/she suspected a virus so that they could determine what it is and treat it. Did they ask you to bring him in?

I hope Dakota is okay and that it's not a virus that is making him sick.

Huskyluv wrote:

I would expect the vet to ask you to bring Dakota in if he/she suspected a virus so that they could determine what it is and treat it. Did they ask you to bring him in?

I hope Dakota is okay and that it's not a virus that is making him sick.

She didn't. She just said to do the bland diet and work his food back in after three days and if he starts the vomiting again then I would need to bring him in.

I'm hoping that it is just a little virus and not something more serious. Now that he is older I am so worried something is going to happen to him. I've been making myself crazy watching his every move so that I will spot anything uncharactaristic in him. I think when he struggled getting up the step a few times, it has changed how I view him now. He just seem more fragile to me now.

That's part of the reason I would be more watchful with him is because you mentioned he's getting up there in age and had those recent incidents. Being older he'll be more prone to health issues than a younger dog like Willow for example. You are smart to be concerned and I know you will keep a close eye on him as you should.

So I take it nothing about his diet changed at all before he started vomiting and going off his food, right?

I have myself convinced that Sabaka caught a bug from my son. My son was home from school throwing up and having diarrhea. While he was miserably lying in the floor Sabaka ran over and licked him in the mouth. I just knew if Sabaka got it it would be awful for me...and it was...

In this case both boy and dog had the upset stomach for about 36 hours, I think. I gave Sabaka some canned pumpkin and about half as much of his regular food that day.

I hope it ends up being nothing serious. Three days seems like a long time. Is he drinking well?

No changes in food, but I will be switching him when he gets better. I have learned from this site I am feeding my dogs horrible food so I am going to switch both of them to TOTW. Atleast I think that is my final choice. You all have so much information on here about food, I was struggling to decide what to do. Anyway, he seems to be ok except for the throwing up. He has been sleeping alot but it did get really warm the past few days. He and Willow have played a few times so he isn't lethargic or anything. I did go ahead and schedule an appt for both him and Willow to get their heart worm meds so I am going to discuss with the vet more about Dakota's seizures and his recent issue with the steps and hopefully this supposed virus will be gone tomorrow.

Poor Sabaka! I didn't know animals could get sick from us. My son is sick right now, but no throwing up.

I just assumed it was the same virus since Sabaka got sick just days after my son. I have heard that animals can catch things from us. I would assume not all viruses could be passed from human to animal and visa versa. I might also think that sharing viruses could just be an old wives tale. Can you tell I really don't know what I'm talking about?

Oh well, I made my post sound like that was recently, but it was really quite a while ago...

Dakota hasn't thrown up since I fed him the chicken last night, however, Willow threw up her breakfast this morning... I guess I better put her on the bland diet too.

Awww Hang in there!


Koda had a virus a couple of years ago when we brought him to my friend's house for the first time. He threw up and had uncontrollable diarrhea for 24-36 hours. It was awful. The bland diet and just monitoring him helped a lot.

If he's been sick for longer than 48 hours, I would bring him into the vet sooner rather than later. If Willow has caught it though, I'm sure that it might just be a virus and he's just getting it worse from old age. Just make sure they are both drinking lots of water. The biggest concern is dehydration when our bodies or theirs act like this.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you! I have notice Willow drinking more water so I will make sure they don't run out. We've had only minimul diarrhea, thank goodness!

I was talking to my sister yesteraday about Dakota being sick and she has a white standard schnauzer and this poor guys has tons of skin and stomach issues. When we were discussing Dakota I was telling her some of the things I have learned on this forum and she was impressed with the knowledge on here. I told her she really needed to find a Schnauzer forum so that she can get some help with her dogs issues. She recently found out that one of the foods the vet recommended for him was making his cholesterol go up. I told her to get to a forum asap and see what other schnauzer owners were dealing with and how they were dealing with it. I have learned so much from reading on here.

26nikita wrote:

I was talking to my sister yesteraday about Dakota being sick and she has a white standard schnauzer and this poor guys has tons of skin and stomach issues. When we were discussing Dakota I was telling her some of the things I have learned on this forum and she was impressed with the knowledge on here. I told her she really needed to find a Schnauzer forum so that she can get some help with her dogs issues. She recently found out that one of the foods the vet recommended for him was making his cholesterol go up. I told her to get to a forum asap and see what other schnauzer owners were dealing with and how they were dealing with it. I have learned so much from reading on here.

I love hearing stories like this! I warms my heart to know we're helping and doing some good

And if she can't find a schnauzer forum (although I'm sure there are some out there), so is more than welcome to join here. We may not be able to give as specialized information about schnauzers, but most of our knowledge really transcends breeds

Koda wrote:

And if she can't find a schnauzer forum (although I'm sure there are some out there), so is more than welcome to join here. We may not be able to give as specialized information about schnauzers, but most of our knowledge really transcends breeds

Mega ditto!

Koda wrote:

if she can't find a schnauzer forum (although I'm sure there are some out there), so is more than welcome to join here. We may not be able to give as specialized information about schnauzers, but most of our knowledge really transcends breeds

I will definately let her know. Thanks!

Dakota only threw up once after I started the bland diet and he is already back to normal. Yeah! Willow barely had it for a day and is back to normal as well. I'm so glad it wasn't anything more serious.

That's a relief! I'm glad they are both doing better now.

Thanks! Me too!