Dog Threw Up White Mucus

If you’ve seen your dog throw up white foam, it must have been very upsetting to you.

Well, what does it mean? There are numerous reasons dogs vomit white foam, and they are all related to the digestive system disorder.

Most of the time, a dog that throws up puddles of white, bubbly foam has nothing more than simple digestive upset.

In these cases, your pooch will recover in a day at the most and be back to wagging his tail happily in no time.

In case the white foamy vomiting continues, you should get your dog to the vet as soon as possible as it may indicate something more serious.

If your dog is coughing and vomiting white, foamy mucus, you should take them to see a vet. The vet will determine if your pup has kennel cough, and will provide you with some instructions on how to help your pooch recover. Kennel cough is most commonly caused by bordetella, for which a vaccine is available.

Why Is My Dog Vomiting White Foam?

Pale vomit that looks like foam or bubbly saliva (as opposed to chunkier dog vomit) occurs because of excess air or gas in the stomach. Your dog is most likely throwing up white liquid because there’s not much else in his stomach to purge. The white foam is a mix of saliva and beaten gastric juices. The mucus lining his stomach is irritated, becoming frothy, and that’s what you’re seeing come up onto your carpet or floor.

The most common reason for a dog to throw up white foam is GI distress. Foamy vomit may occur if a pooch has excess gas in his stomach. If your dog is experiencing indigestion and there’s nothing left in his stomach to expel, he may start throwing up this pale, frothy liquid or foam.

Causes of GI distress that could lead to vomiting white foam include:

  • Eating grass or another similar stomach irritant.
  • Ingesting a toxin.
  • Heat stroke.
  • Bacterial infection.
  • Eating sugary, fatty, or spicy human food.
  • It’s possible that the presence of air in your dog’s vomit could indicate a more serious issue. Other less common causes of white foam in your dog’s throw up include:

  • Kennel cough: Also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, this is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Vomiting will likely be accompanied by a strong cough and sneezing or a runny nose.
  • Tracheal collapse: This condition, which affects toy breeds primarily, occurs when the tracheal rings that make up a dog’s windpipe being to collapse. If this is the case, your dog will develop a honking cough as well.
  • Bloat: Also known as gastric dilation, bloat occurs when the stomach fills with air. If bloat occurs, your dog’s abdomen will appear distended.
  • Fungal infection: Contact with environment yeast, which is often found in bird or bat droppings, can cause this sort of vomiting, as well as diarrhea, shaking, and lack of appetite.
  • Acid reflux: Just like humans, dogs can experience acid reflux when gastrointestinal fluid flows into the esophagus.
  • Pancreatitis: Damage to the pancreas (or pancreatitis) occurs when digestive enzymes inflame the pancreas
  • Kidney problem: When your dog’s kidneys aren’t functioning properly, he may exhibit extreme changes in thirst level, pale gums, and frothy vomit.
  • Dog vomiting can be caused by certain contagious diseases as well, which are also more common in younger dogs.

    Why do you need to know the difference? Because the causes of and treatments for the two conditions are very different, and vomiting tends to be more concerning than regurgitation.

    This indicates a situation that can quickly lead to severe dehydration that could result in a need for hospitalization.

    The things to watch for that would warrant an urgent visit to the vet or emergency clinic include:

    Drinking out of puddles and community drinking bowls can cause some bacterial imbalances that may cause stomach upset in dogs.

    Dog Coughing Up Thick White Mucus

    Dog cough with thick white mucus is a sign of various problems like kennel cough, parvovirus, and pancreatitis.

    The basic reason behind a white mucus cough is that there is nothing else left in the dog’s stomach to vomit.