Question Details
Vomiting Grass In A Dog
by CorinneC - November 15, 2025    View Case Report
Aspen is a 5yo FS Husky X. Quite fearful, nervous girl that was rescued at 4yo by present O. She was initially having soft stools, V+ a lot, and had a poor appetite, but after I rec'd raw food, that seemed to clear up. However, this Fall O noticed her excessively eating grass, throwing up grass, and then eventually having diarrhea with grass clumps in it. The O also started to hear her stomach grumbling/ gurgling a lot. She also went back to not eat ing well in the mornings. O switched off raw and went to a mix of Carni4, Smack, and West Coast muffins but still poor am appetite. Still gets easily spooked by loud noises, new buildings, men approaching her. I saw her Oct 2, tongue was a little pinkish red, moist; pulses well toned to taut. O was not interested in TCM at this point so I suggested trying to ease digestion in the am with cooked food to tonify the Spleen. By Oct 31 update, she was definitely eating better in general, still trying to eat grass on her walks, but O able to stop her, less intense about it, no V+ or D+. Saw her on Nov 4 again, now O thinks she is having acid reflux (burping and/or slightly throwing up in her mouth many times a day). She licks her lips a lot, even when sleeping, and likes to suckle on blankets, toys. BMs now slightly less firm and harder to pick up. Tongue and pulse the same. I Rx'd Probenz probiotics to soothe the GIT and restore her microbiome and Halscion to further soothe the stomach as well as aid in her fearful behaviors - she seemed very ShaoYang with Yang Rising to me. Thinking back now, and after the skin webinar put on by the VBMA, I think she is still Spleen Qi deficient as well? Nov 12th update from O - stools the same, still wanting to eat grass, still burping but less so.

What am I missing? Is this a Spleen Qi deficiency/ Liver Blood deficiency/ Liver Qi stagnation and needs BZYQT? If so, would I just change her to BZYQT or cont Halscion as well? And how would I have seen this to start with as I always associate acid reflux with Stomach Heat and Yin deficiency for the most part?

Always appreciative of your incite,
Corinne
Replies
by naturevet
November 17, 2025
Hi Corinne,

As with you, Stomach Yin deficiency and Dryness is uppermost in my mind as the cause of the reddish tongue, fall aggravation (due to Shao Yang issues rising), borborygmi, poor morning appetite, reactivity, nausea and apparent gastritis. Blood deficiency can even be a cause of loose stools, since Yang Ming Dryness leads to Large Intestine Heat, and when the Large Intestine gets Hot, it gets inflamed from a western point of view. So, I've used YGJ to get rid of diarrhea.

The partial response to Halscion suggests you're on the right track. You could also just try XCHT and YGJ, in case the Yang internalizing parts of Halscion aren't useful, but are instead diluting out the benefits of the other herbs in the formula. Or you could persist with Halscion longer to see what happens. I don't think I would give up what you're currently doing, though.

If she gradually improves, then adding a probiotic is likely called for, containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. You could even use Adoptrex as your XCHT version. If you were thinking there was an element of Damp, then try that. First, though, I'd rule out ST Yin deficiency and Dryness

Dogs that have Yin deficiency often improve on things like sucralfate, Slippery Elm bark or Marshmallow root. If you saw an easing of the GI symptoms with those (especially sucralfate), then you'd know for sure you're on the right track.

Steve
by CorinneC
November 25, 2025
Ok I have switched her up to XCHT and YGJ alone, fingers and pulses crossed! Thank you for your help!
Corinne
by CorinneC
November 25, 2025
Ok I have switched her up to XCHT and YGJ alone, fingers and pulses crossed! Thank you for your help!
Corinne
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