Causes of Dog Vomit and What It Means

Types of dog vomit and what they mean

Dog vomit can be very variable depending on the cause. Although it is not a hard and fast diagnostic fact, the timing and appearance can be useful pointers. For instance:

• A dog vomiting yellow fluid in the mornings might have bilious vomiting syndrome.
• A dog vomiting white foam may have expelled everything from its stomach, and all that’s left now is digestive juices.
• A dog vomiting totally undigested food soon after eating can be a classic sign of an intestinal foreign body.
• A dog vomiting blood could have a serious infectious disease, poisoning or a clotting disorder.

It’s useful for your vet if you can get photos or even a sample of the vomit and also try to note the time of day relative to feeding time.

Dog vomiting vs. just throwing up once: when to worry

While it isn’t normal for dogs to vomit, it is an inevitable part of pet ownership. Because of this, pet parents are typically not concerned if a dog throws up once in a while. But when should you worry? 

When is dog vomiting an emergency?

Vomiting can quickly result in dehydration and mineral losses, or it can be a sign of something more serious — there are a few dog vomit scenarios that should be cause for immediate concern:

• You think your dog has swallowed a foreign object or something poisonous.
• Your dog has not only thrown up, but is also acting differently from usual — such as sleeping more than usual, refusing to eat or having diarrhoea. In this case, you should call your veterinarian.
• Your dog has a fever, appears dehydrated, or seems to be in pain.
• If you see blood in the vomit or stool, or if your dog is throwing up something that looks like coffee grounds — digested blood — call the vet. The blood can be a sign of serious problems, such as gastric ulcers, or a sign that your dog has eaten a sharp foreign object, such as a bone or toy.
• Your dog won't stop vomiting. While occasionally throwing up isn't unusual, if your dog throws up routinely or repeatedly, consult a vet to explore possible causes. 
• If your dog appears to be trying to vomit but can’t, you should treat it as an emergency. Your dog may have a twisted stomach, which is a life-threatening emergency.
• If your dog adopts the ‘play bow’ position often (but is not actually playing) or is hunched and unwilling to move, and is vomiting, they may have acute pancreatitis, which is also an emergency.

If you're concerned at all about your dog’s health, don't hesitate to call your vet for advice.

How your vet will manage vomiting

When your veterinarian evaluates your dog, they will likely first want a good history of anything your dog may have eaten or gotten into,and information on how often they are vomiting or regurgitating. They may want to do bloodwork to look for causes of vomiting such as kidney disease or pancreatitis. They may also need to do X-rays and/or an ultrasound if they think your dog may have an obstruction in the GI tract or that the oesophagus is not working properly. 

Once your vet is able to identify the problem, they can start treatment to get your dog feeling better quickly.

What you can do

If your vet determines what causes your dog to vomit and says that at-home care is sufficient for your dog, you'll want to know how to help  alleviate their symptoms. The PD—SA has these care tips for your vomiting dog:

• Make sure your dog is still drinking water unless your vet has advised otherwise. With persistent vomiting, dehydration can be a real cause for concern, which is why fluids are so important.
• Offer your dog small, bland, low-fat meals three to six times daily for a few days.  Your vet will be able to provide you with a bland recovery food that is formulated precisely for these occasions. Your vet may also want you to do a food trial if they think your dog may have a food sensitivity.  During the initial recovery period, feed only this bland food.  Do not feed your dog their normal food or any people foods. 
• After a few days on the bland diet, gradually increase the amount of food and decrease the feedings as you transition back to your dog's normal food (slowly increasing the amount of normal food fed).

If you determine your dog is throwing up because they are eating too fast, one solution might be a "puzzle feeder," which forces dogs to eat slower as they work to obtain food. You can also try switching your dog's food to a higher-quality food or a special dietetic food, which offers your dog easy digestion and balanced nutrition. Switch to their new food slowly, rather than all at once, or you might exacerbate the problem.

A dog who throws up is not necessarily ill or in need of immediate veterinary attention. But if you see signs that make you believe something might seriously be wrong, call your vet to determine what the problem is and how to solve it. When it comes to vomiting, as with most things, there’s no such thing as seeing a vet too soon.

Dog vomiting FAQs

Why is my dog vomiting yellow bile? 

Yellow vomit tends to be from the upper small intestine and may be due to gastrointestinal disease, bilious vomiting syndrome or wider medical problems.

What causes sudden vomiting in dogs? 

Sudden onset vomiting can be caused by poisoning, obstruction, pancreatitis and dietary indiscretion, i.e. eating something they shouldn’t have.

Can I treat dog vomiting at home? 

If your dog vomits once or twice but still behaves as if they are well and eats and drinks as normal, you can wait and see. If you have any doubt whatsoever, always seek veterinary attention. Some causes of vomiting, even simply repeated chronic vomiting in itself, can be life threatening.

When should I take my dog to the vet for vomiting? 

You should take your dog to the vet if any of the following apply:

1. you see blood in the vomit

2. your dog is lethargic, off their food or withdrawn

3. if they seem to be in pain, including looking hunched or adopting the ‘play bow’ position

4. if mild, intermittent vomiting continues for more than 24 hours.

5. if you think they may have eaten something that has blocked the intestines or eaten something that may be toxic.

Reviewed by Karen Shenoy, DVM and Emma Milne, BVSc FRCVS.