Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile, Yellow Foam, with Blood in the Morning or after Drinking Water

Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam
Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam

Normally, a dog may vomit simply because he has eaten too much food or something that does not go down well with him. A dog vomiting yellow bile may also be an early or late indicator of something serious like certain conditions which require urgent medical attention. So, what does it mean when a dog pukes yellow bile? Here are answers to this and some of the common questions concerning dogs throwing up yellow bile.

  • Why is my dog vomiting yellow bile?
  • What does it mean when a dog throws up yellow liquid after eating or drinking?
  • What causes dogs to vomit yellow bile?
  • What to do when a dog pukes yellow bile with blood or food?
  • Why does my puppy keep vomiting yellow foam?
  • What other symptoms to watch for if my dog keeps vomiting yellow?

Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile

A dog vomiting yellow may be a harmless act of the body disagreeing with some foods or a serious symptom of systemic or gastrointestinal conditions that require immediate medical attention. Vomiting yellow bile may be sudden, acute or continuous episode of vomiting yellow liquid or foam.

Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile
Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile

While both regurgitations can occur after eating or drinking or even several hours later, it is important to note that, there is a difference between vomiting and regurgitation of food. For someone who does not know this, it may be a little hard to differentiate the two. Regurgitation means the food is expelled comes from the mouth or esophagus. Vomiting is the forceful contraction of stomach muscles. Knowing this difference is key to making a proper diagnosis.

What Causes Dogs to Vomit Yellow Bile

Why is my dog vomiting yellow bile? According to petmd.com, “Bile serves an important function in the digestion of food and removal of waste materials from the body. Bile which is created in the liver is stored in the gallbladder where food has been ingested. It is then released into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of food by softening it so that it can be used properly in the body.”

The presence of bile is indicated by watery, yellow-green substance. A dog vomits yellow fluid when bile abnormally enters the stomach from the intestine causing irritation.

Ingestion of non food items may cause vomiting yellow liquid
Ingestion of non-food items may cause vomiting yellow liquid

Vomiting is not uncommon in dogs and it is for this reason that it is not always possible to determine what causes your dog to throw up yellow bile. Most dogs throw up just to get rid of something harmful that they might have ingested. But once you notice that your dog is vomiting up bile more than once in a short period of time, it should be a cause for concern. Things that may cause dogs to vomit yellow bile include:

  • Stomach ulcers
  • Gastrointestinal diseases like colitis
  • Parasitic infestation
  • Stomach cancers
  • Ingestion of non-food items
  • Eating up too fast/indigestion
  • Accumulation of bile due to the stomach staying up empty for too long
  • Overproduction of bile

There may be other reasons that cause your dog to vomit bile. It is therefore important to take note of any other symptoms that come along with vomiting.

Dog Vomits Yellow Bile in the Morning

When your dog vomits yellow bile in the morning, it may create some worrying thoughts on what could be the cause. What could cause a dog to vomit yellow bile in the morning? This is a tricky question for most people especially because they cannot remember what the dog ate the night before that could be causing the distinct yellow coloring.

When the stomach is empty, bile, the bitter yellowish fluid secreted by the liver and aids in digestion may accumulate in the stomach. When the stomach stays empty for a long time, bile irritates the stomach causing the dog to throw up most likely in the morning. This may create a cycle quite too often. This is referred to as chronic bilious vomiting syndrome. According to petmd.com, this condition is common in old dogs but can also occur at any age. Both genders are equally affected.

Your vet will tell you that it will help to divide your dog’s food into several small portions in a day to make sure that his stomach is not empty. To help prevent or treat a dog that vomits yellow bile in the morning, all that may be needed is to feed the dog a small meal right before he goes to bed. It should help prevent excessive acid production and accumulation of bile in the stomach.

Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile after Drinking Water

Is there any reason why a dog would vomit bright yellow bile after drinking water or eating food? Thought this is not as common, a dog may be unable to keep down even the smallest amounts of fluids or food. Vomitus may be yellow with bile but it is usually mixed with food or water contents depending on what the dog may have just taken.

Vomiting yellow bile after drinking or eating is caused by stomach irritation due to an accumulation of stomach acid and excess bile. Since stomach acid is triggered by food; intake of water or food causes the stomach acid to be produced even more causing bilious vomiting with anything small that the dog ingests.

It is advisable not to always overlook the reason why your dog may be vomiting yellow bile after eating or drinking. It may be a symptom of a more serious digestive illness. Stomach ulcers which are also caused by excess stomach acid can lead to chronic bilious vomiting which can occur both before and after eating food. According to vetinfo.com, this may also be an indicator of a tumor in your dog’s digestive system. The vet may recommend a change in the dog’s diet to try and reduce the vomiting.

My Dog Is Vomiting Yellow Bile with Blood

Why is my dog vomiting yellow bile with blood? Sometimes, vomiting, be it acute, persistent or chronic may have yellow coloration with fresh specs of blood. This is medically known as hematemesis. It may also contain brownish stains of digested blood. The most common cause of vomiting yellow bile with blood is gastritis. When the stomach muscles contract abruptly disrupting the stomach lining that it bleeds, blood is digested giving vomitus a distinct brown dark color that looks like coffee grounds.

Yellow Bile with Blood
Vomiting Yellow Bile with Blood

Persistent or chronic puking may cause injury to the lining of the esophagus releasing fresh blood which will appear as fresh streaks of blood in the vomit. Note that any dog with persistent vomiting should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible especially if your dog is lethargic and vomitus contains any form of blood.

Contact a veterinarian immediately if your dog is vomiting yellow bile with blood with one or more of the following symptoms:

  • If your dog is not drinking or eating (poor appetite)
  • Lethargy and shivering
  • Excessive thirst or other signs of dehydration like pallor
  • Yellow eyes, gums or skin
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive drooling
  • Blood in stool

Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile and Diarrhea

A dog vomiting yellow bile may have also have intermittent episodes of diarrhea. The most common cause of vomiting yellow bile and diarrhea in dogs in gastroenteritis. The dogs may gag and throw up after eating or drinking passing large volumes of diarrhea with a soft mucoid consistency. Decreased appetite and a low-grade fever are also very common. If not treated promptly, dehydration can quickly occur. Gastroenteritis is treated primarily by rehydration and restoration of electrolytes via oral, subcutaneous or intravenous route depending on the degree of dehydration.

While both vomiting yellow bile and diarrhea could be from an upset stomach and may be assumed, dehydration should be a serious point of concern by every handler.

VomitingVomting Yellow Bile May Come With Diarrhea
Vomiting May Come With Diarrhea

What to Give a Dog for Vomiting Yellow Bile

The treatment given to dogs for vomiting yellow bile varies according to the cause. In most cases, it is recommended to withhold food for at least 24 hours while frequently providing small amounts of water. You should also provide a bland diet such as boiled rice in small amounts until the vomiting subsides. If the vomiting resolves, then you can reintroduce normal diet slowly or hold onto a special diet for the next several days.

Sometimes, in the cases of severe or chronic vomiting, it may be necessary to modify the diet permanently. You may have to avoid certain food ingredients, decrease fat and increase fiber to help in better digestion.

De-wormers may be prescribed if intestinal worms are confirmed to be the cause of vomiting yellow bile. Dehydration and bacterial infections are both managed with intravenous fluids and antibacterial medications respectively. Medications to decrease or stop vomiting may be prescribed in cases of persistent vomiting.

It is important to note however that anti-vomiting medication should never be given if the dog is suspected to have ingested toxins; the more reason why you should always visit the vet for a proper diagnosis.

Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam

Why does my dog vomit yellow foam? Yellow foam is an indication that the stomach is empty; pretty much the same reason as to why dogs vomit yellow bile. A dog vomiting yellow foam once in a while may not be a reason to worry. A dog vomiting yellow foam with grass is self-explanatory. Your dog may have spent time grazing on the lawn. Observe whether the vomiting subsides.

There are however many reasons that may cause a dog to vomit yellow foam. It is recommended that you contact the vet so that he can give a proper diagnosis.

Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam
Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam

Note that, there are minimal chances that the dog will throw up at the vets. It may help in bringing a sample of the vomit to the vets.

If your dog does not show any other signs and is opening bowels normally, you can try reducing the time in between meals. Divide one meal into two or more smaller frequent feeds. It is important to note that vomiting is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. If your dog keeps throwing up yellow bile and foam, your vet may prescribe medication like metoclopramide to help ease the symptoms. Other reasons why a dog cam vomit yellow foam includes:

  • Strenuous exercise
  • Eating hair during grooming
  • Foreign bodies
  • Heatstroke
  • Food sensitivity or allergies
  • Liver disease
  • Parasitic infections
  • Inner ear infections
  • Food poisoning
  • Side effect from certain drugs

Puppy Vomiting Yellow Foam

Puppies have a tendency to eat almost everything they come across. Ingestion of foreign bodies being one of the most common causes of dogs vomiting yellow foam, making Puppy vomiting yellow foam a common problem in younger dogs. While puppies eating everything in their sight is a normal phase that they go through, it is important to note that some of these things can be toxic or pose a potential choking hazard.

Younger dogs and puppies are very inquisitive and may end up swallowing things that may be difficult to pass along the gut causing blockage. This is to say that, while dogs vomiting yellow foam may affect all ages, puppies are at a greater risk than older wiser dogs when it comes to vomiting yellow foam due to ingestion of foreign bodies.

Puppies may throw up foamy liquid instead of food particles with or without mucous in it. Color and content may vary with what the dog had eaten- it may be while yellow or greenish foamy bile. The reasons that may cause your puppy to vomit yellowish foam are similar to those discussed above on dog vomiting yellow bile.

Consult your vet immediately if your puppy is vomiting yellow foam and not eating or drinking anything. Dehydration and shaking or shivering should also be a point of concern.

Just like for older dogs, divide your pup’s food into smaller frequent meals up to 4 times with snacks in between. Encourage them to drink lots of fluids and switch to light meals until the vomiting subsides.