Why Is My Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile? Is It Serious?

Occasionally, you get a nasty surprise from your adorable dog. You walk into a room and notice the unsightly yellow stains on the carpet that your dog has left. After the initial annoyance though, the concern for your canine friend sets in. Is it just something your dog ate out of the backyard that caused the problem or could there be something seriously wrong?

What Are The Yellow Stains?

The yellow stains are dog bile.
Dog bile is a bitter tasting fluid produced by the dog's liver, stored in the gallbladder and released into the duodenum. It's commonly yellow, but its color can range from yellow to yellow brown or bright yellow or dark green in some cases. And its main job is to help the digestion of fats in the small intestine.

You will likely not be able to see any food particles or partially digested bits of kibble in your dog's vomit if he is throwing up bile.

Why Does Your Dog Vomit Bile?

Bilious vomiting is merely a symptom, not a disease in and of itself. It has many causes. Therefore you will need to see your vet for an accurate diagnosis. Following are detailed causes that can somehow show you the main roots which lie behind your dog’s bilious vomiting. Keep in mind this list can not replace professional veterinary advice.

Common Causes Of Vomiting Bile

Eating Grass

Dogs often eat grass to ease stomach discomfort. If your dog's stomach is empty, the grass may cause your dog's stomach to produce more digestive enzymes, which can result in vomiting bile. It's generally safe to allow your dog to continue eating grass, unless the grass is treated with fertilizer or pesticides. But to be safer, feed your dog something before he starts eating grass.

Allergies

Dogs with food allergies sometimes vomit bile when they eat something that upsets their stomach. If your dog begins vomiting soon after you switched his food, an allergy may be to blame. Compare the labels of the two foods to check for new ingredients and you'll find the allergen.

Gastritis

Gastritis is a common cause of bile in vomit and can be short-lived or chronic. If your dog continues throwing up bile for more than 24 hours, consult your vet.

Severe Causes Of Vomiting Bile

Sometimes vomiting bile can indicate various diseases with different degrees of severity. Let's look at the main conditions that can cause your dog to vomit bile:
Intestinal Blockage

Because of the blockage, foods cannot successfully pass through the intestine. Everything eaten will be brought back up. A dog with intestinal blockage may have repeated vomiting, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dehydration and constipation.
Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis literally means the inflammation of the dog's pancreas. It often occurs after a dog eats a high-fat meal such as bacon or other greasy foods. Affected dogs may become very sick and suffer severe vomiting, a belly pain and a fever. The symptoms often appear within 24 to 72 hours after the ingestion of the fatty meal.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A chronic irritation of the dog's intestinal tract may leads to inflammatory bowel disease, which can lead to frequent bile vomiting. Sometimes the vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea. Your vet may advise you to create a high-quality diet which is free of grains, filers and by-products.
Liver Disease

Liver disease is a leading cause of death in dogs. When the liver is affected, excessive bile may be produced which leads to vomiting. In this case you may also observe a typical yellowing of the eyes and mucous membranes.
Bilious Vomiting Syndrome

In this case, the dog vomits bile because his stomach has been empty for too long. When the stomach is empty, it secretes both acids and bile, which can be very irritating, but there is nothing to absorb them. Soon the dog feels nauseated. What’s worse, a vicious cycle of empty stomach-nausea-vomit-empty stomach-nausea-vomit is created.
The vomiting is usually seen early in the morning or late at night just before eating, especially in dogs who are fed only once daily, leaving the stomach empty for such a long time.
This condition is commonly seen in older dogs but can occur at any age. Both genders are equally affected.
And of course, bile vomiting may also be caused by a variety of other problems not listed here, such as ingestion of indigestible objects, food poisoning, parasitic infestation and more. It's a good idea to take note of any concurrent symptoms that you see in your dog when he begins to throw up and later report them to your vet.

When Should You Take A Bilious Vomiting Dog To The Vet?

If your dog vomits occasionally but does not experience any other signs of health problems, there is probably nothing to worry about.
However, if your dog suddenly develops bouts of bilious vomiting which doesn’t seem to stop, or if the dog is suffering from repeated vomiting, a thorough examination by your vet is essential.
Bethlehem Veterinary Hospital offers a general rule of thumb about when you should visit your vet:
・The vomit of your dog is projectile or violent
・Your dog can’t keep water down
・Your dog vomits for more than 1 day
・Your dog vomits more than 3 times in one hour
・The vomit is accompanied with depression or grogginess
・Your dog in very young or very old
・You find blood in the vomit
・Your dog appears dehydrated
・Any suspicion for poisoning or having swallowed something

What Can You Do To Prevent Your Dog Vomiting Bile?

・Divide your dog’s daily food into three or four small meals; one feeding later in the evening or early in the morning. This will keep your dog’s stomach full and avoid excess accumulation of acids and bile.
・If your dog is allergic to any food item, avoid giving him that food as it will upset his stomach and may eventually lead to throwing up bile.
・Don’t let your dog eat too much dry food or drink excessive amounts of water at a time. Thus to avoid dehydration which may lead to bile vomiting. If he has not had a good drink for a long time, start re-hydration slowly…allowing him a few sips every few minutes.
・Ensure your dog gets enough exercise to keep healthy. So medical problems can not find a way to visit your friend. But remember activities like running, playing or jumping after having meal increases the possibility of vomiting and indigestion.
There is a small chance that although you have done all your hard work following the above guidelines, your dog still vomits bile somewhere and you have to deal with the awful mess he left behind. So...it’s wise to prepare a “bathroom” for your dog and train him to remember where his “bathroom” is and what he must do there.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not a substitute for your vet’s advice. If you found your dog vomiting bile, you should call your vet for help.
Neither Littlefries.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.