Night-time licking the air, swallowing, gurgling

by Diana
(New Zealand)

We have an adorable six year old pug. Over a year ago, she developed obvious pain where she would stop and paw the air, look distressed and would sometimes vomit a little. She would also have long sessions of licking the air, swallowing and gurgling.
We have changed her food to only giving her one food type at a time to help her digestion -
She gets a brew of whole grain rice, carrots and pumpkin for breakfast, mid-morning and lunch (small amount of food more often). These foods are all starches.
She does not look for afternoon tea, so I do not give her any. She gets a brew of mince and green vegetables for dinner; green vegetables being compatible with meat.
She no longer gets any kind of dog biscuit as they have every food type possible in them.
This way of feeding her has been a big help - she has only had one episode of pain in the last several months, no vomiting and no day-time licking the air, swallowing or gurgling.
Our problem is that she still has the licking the air, swallowing and gurgling problem at night which keeps us awake. It usually starts about 1am to 2am and can last for an hour or more and often she has another session towards dawn.
We rehomed her as a 3 year old and apparently, in her first home she used to nose her way into the kid's school bags and eat all their left-over sandwiches. She became very fat but she is a good weight now and gets regular walks. We wonder if probiotics would help and if so, what brand. And of course, any other suggestions. Thanks



Hi Diana

Reading your letter gave me an sensation of a stomach and perhaps intestinal problem.

I assume that tests have been made to see if any pancreatic, liver or b-vitamin problems is actual. I can't see this from your letter but i assume it to be OK.

You should also rule out tonsillitis. Weather it shouldn't give any vomiting symptoms there might be some "tonsil irritation" as a part of the symptom complex.

Yes - always try probiotics. I am not aware about any specific brand i your country, but i am confident your regular veterinarian can guide you.

You might also talk to him to try out a "acid inhibitor" treatment, only for a diagnostic purpose. If the symptoms disappear during the treatment you might get more confident the problem belongs to the stomach.'

Not always, but very often stomach diseases of the one i might suspect is affecting the intestines as well.

A new treatment for "irritable bowel diseases" in dogs is coming from Spain. Its called Entero-Chronic and is thought of being a help to rebuild the protective mucus layer on the intestinal cells being able to lower the entire intestinal irritation.

Often you need prednisolone but Entero-Chronic is thought as a treatment instead of prednisolone.

So - this could also be a possibility to try out.

It sound as food is OK as the symptoms has improved a lot. I can't see any reasons changing the diet at present.

Hope this can give some new ideas to work with.


All the best

DVM Per Schonbeck