Recently, I did a post about dogs puking bile first thing in the morning. Click here to read more.
This phenomenon of a dog puking in the back of his mouth is actually very similar to puking first thing in the morning. In fact, many dogs do both. Some people don’t even recognize that their dog is doing it because it can be subtle or has gone on for a long time.
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So, what does it look like?
Gulp. Lick, lick, lick. Swallow. It’s basically what we do if we burp and a little bit of stomach fluid comes up. Lick, lick, lick swallow.
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And what does it mean when dogs do this? Just like when they puke bile first thing in the morning, this means they are not digesting their food right. Food is laying in their stomach. It’s not digesting. They don’t have enough stomach acid.
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You’ve had those days. It was probably a big family party where you ate far too much food. And for a while, you felt really full and it just wouldn’t digest and it wouldn’t go down. And you might even have burped a little bit of food into the back of your mouth.
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All of us can benefit from some stomach acid in this situation. (I do not recommend you do this on your own. Cause you can also give too much.) You need to start low, buildup, and give just enough till the symptoms go away.
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An integrative healthcare advisor (like me) can help you help your dog through this.
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With the right amount of stomach acid, food digests, and moves out of the stomach quickly. Dogs are known for rapidly digesting their food. It should not lay around in the stomach for hours.
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It seems counterintuitive for a couple of reasons. One, seems like if acid is coming up we’re making too much. Two, we’ve been trained by Western medicine to think basically number one. And western medicine loves to give antacids.
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The problem is we need acid! Without stomach acid, we cannot digest our food. Without stomach acid, we do not produce dopamine, a relaxing neurotransmitter. In humans, use of antacids is correlated with depression.
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So if your dog is puking in the back of his mouth, puking bile first thing in the morning, or both, talk to an integrative veterinarian or health coach about how to increase stomach acid.
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Consultations available in Tampa, Clearwater and virtually for pet owners seeking natural wellness solutions.