First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- No food at all for 48 hours.
- Repeated retching that brings nothing up, with a swollen belly.
- Deep-chested large breeds (Great Dane, German Shepherd, Irish Setter and others) are the high-risk group.
- Blood in the vomit.
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
- Obvious effort to breathe.
Contact your vet today
- More than two episodes of vomiting in 24 hours.
- Drinking but not eating, or vomiting straight after drinking.
- Falling appetite with weight down 5% or more within two weeks.
- By age 2, eight in ten dogs already have some periodontal disease; bad breath and drooling are the clues.
Record and observe
- Skipping one meal, then eating normally, with normal energy and drinking.
- A short dip in appetite after a food change or in hot weather, back to normal within a day or two.
- Already under vet care: record how much each meal was and the weight, and bring it to the next visit.
Before you set off
- When the last meal was, how much it was, and what has been eaten since.
- Any vomiting or diarrhoea, and photos of what came up.
- How much it drinks, and how much it urinates.
- The most recent weight, and any usual weight record.
- A list of medicines and the time of the last dose.
- Any chance it ate a bone, a toy, a sock or something from the bin; do not give human medicine and do not force-feed.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: when appetite fell, and whether it was sudden or gradual.
- Ask: any vomiting, diarrhoea, or change in drinking and urination.
- Ask: any chance of a swallowed object, and any recent food change.
- Do: weight, hydration check and abdominal palpation.
- Do: a mouth and dental exam.
- Do: blood tests (liver and kidney values, electrolytes, pancreatic markers) and X-rays.
- Do: ultrasound or endoscopy where needed, with fluids and admission for severe cases.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with ultrasound
- Clinics with endoscopy
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.