Written by Dr. Sherry Weaver

My two-year-old St. Bernard is not eating correctly. Every so often she will throw up dinner two days in a row or maybe breakfast two days in a row. Never the same dinner and breakfast in the same day, and not all the time. It seems to be about every two weeks one of them will start and last two days. Any advice?

Thank You
Jeff Alger

Dear Jeff,

Dogs vomit much more easily than humans. If a dog vomits this frequently but maintains a normal appetite and weight, it is a cleaning problem more than a medical one. This being said, a vomiting Saint Bernard does make a big mess, and for most owners, it needs to be stopped. The list of potential causes of this type of vomiting is very long, but assuming there is no weight loss (which could indicate a much more serious problem,) finding out the cause is often unnecessary.

The first thing I would evaluate if your dog was a patient at my clinic is weight. If the dog is overweight, simply cutting back the amount of food can solve both the vomiting problem and the weight problem together.

If your dog is normal weight or cutting back the food did not solve the problem, the next thing I would do is make sure you are providing a high quality food, preferably something from a pet store or veterinarian instead of a grocery store. These foods are usually more digestible, leaving less bulk to fill up the stomach and sit around creating nausea. Remember, you should be able to feed less of most higher quality foods while still getting the same nutrition.

If a higher quality food does not solve your problem, you might try adding additional fiber to the food. This is done for you in many of the "sensitive stomach" formulas, which can be very helpful in situations like yours. You could also try dividing the food into three feedings a day instead of two.

Dr. Weaver

About Dr. Sherry Weaver
Dr. Weaver graduated with honors from the University of Georgia's School of Veterinary Medicine.  She founded a state-of-the-art animal hospital, teaches pet care to children, and donates time and resources to rescue organizations. For her full biography, click here.

Note: The opinions and views expressed in the Ask the Vet articles are the result of Dr. Sherry Weaver's formal education and over 14 years in clinical experiences. Your veterinarian is the best source of information for your pet’s specific needs.