The classic symptom of bilious vomiting syndrome is vomiting on an empty stomach. This usually occurs first thing in the morning since most dogs don’t eat throughout the night. Because the dog’s stomach is empty, all that comes up is fluid, mucus, and often some bile, which tinges everything an orangey-brown color. Dogs with bilious vomiting syndrome are normal in all other respects … no diarrhea, weight loss, poor appetite, etc.
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Whatever the underlying cause, most dogs with bilious vomiting syndrome respond very well to a simple form of treatment — feeding them their normal food right before bedtime and again first thing in the morning (yes, I mean even before you get a cup of coffee). I do not recommend changing the dog’s food at the same time as the feeding schedule is being modified. As a veterinarian, I prefer to change one thing at a time whenever possible so I can better assess what is working and what is not.
We spend a lot of time on Nutrition Nuggets talking about what (and what not) to feed our dogs. When dogs have bilious vomiting syndrome, however, when meals occur is even more important than what the meals consist of.
Even when dogs with bilious vomiting syndrome are treated with medications, they should continue to eat a late evening and early morning meal. If this is inconvenient, an automatic feeder is a worthwhile investment.
Should you change your dog’s diet?
If your dog is vomiting bile on a regular basis, you may need to change their diet. According to Kellogg, you should avoid fatty foods. For instance, you should never feed your pet the fat trimmings from the meat you eat for dinner. A fatty diet might serve as the root cause for your dog’s chronic vomiting or may worsen the problem at hand.
Common in:
Any age or breed of dog
What causes bile vomiting in dogs | How to treat and prevent bilious vomiting syndrome | bile vomit
Animal experts suggest dietary changes you can make to reduce these bouts of throwing up in dogs.
Do you often find your dog vomiting bile? While this can be a very scary situation, there are many things you can do to reduce these bouts of sickness. Most importantly, you can make a number of changes to your dog’s diet to keep their stomach and digestive system in tip-top shape.
Here’s an overview on chronic bilious vomiting and how you should manage your suffering dog’s diet.