Near Obsessive Morning Grass-Eating / Vomiting

[Rickiesmom]

Honorary greyhound (whippet) Rickie, who will be 15 in less than 2 weeks, has, in the last couple of weeks, become obsessed with eating a lot of grass in the morning, following which he throws up bile and grass.

 

This has happened occasionally in the past, but never on a daily basis, so I am worried. For now instead of letting him roam the backyard I am walking him to control it. He doesn't do it at other times of the day when roaming the yard freely.

 

Nothing in our routine has changed - the dogs get dinner somewhere between 6 and 7PM, and nothing further until breakfast which is around 8 AM. Maybe I should give him a bedtime snack, but the thing I am stuck on is that *nothing has changed* in our routine, yet we have this new behaviour.

 

Anyone have any idea why?

 

He had a checkup recently and blood and urine are amazingly good for a dog his age - he is young inside.

 

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions!

[Remolacha]

sounds like his tummy is empty and upset in the morning. even though nothing has changed, it may just be his age catching up to him. maybe try giving him a cookie at bedtime, or start him on pepcid?

[KF_in_Georgia]

13 hours without food is a long time. (I'm not surprised you're having issues now; I'm surprised you haven't had them before.)

 

As dogs age, they often don't process food as well, so that even though nothing may have changed at home, Rickie has changed. A snack at bedtime won't hurt anything, might very well help, and is an easy thing to try. If Rickie's weight is an issue at all, you can give a bit less food at dinner and just save something for bedtime.

[Batmom]

Probably just changes with age. I'd try the bedtime snack or, if he isn't in a gigantic rush to get out in the morning, a decent-sized biscuit before he goes out.

[4My2Greys]

I would give him a bedtime snack. I know you say nothing has changed but for Rickie it may have and the remedy might be something as simple as a couple of yummy bedtime cookies.

[Rickiesmom]

Thank you for the suggestions, a before-bed snack sounds like a good idea (he is in a big hurry to get out in the morning!).

[XTRAWLD]

A big bedtime snack might be in order actually. I found that to stop Ryder from doing this regularly, I had to give him a whole piece of bread, and then wean him down from there to just a cookie or two before bed. You should start seeing results soon. Even a cookie the second you get up before breakfast in addition to the bedtime cookie, would be helpful I'm sure!