What Does The Consistency Of Dog Vomit Mean?
No one wants to hang around for long examining their dog’s vomit, but before cleaning up after your canine friend, it’s worth looking at what they’ve vomited. The consistency and content of the vomit might help understand why they’re vomiting and when to seek help.
Dog vomit may be filled with food they have recently eaten. This may be fully or partially digested, depending on how long ago they ate. They may be having trouble digesting their food, or something they ate may not suit them.
Dog vomit with nothing in it may mean no food to throw up, and their stomach is empty. This can happen if they haven’t eaten recently or persistently vomited and have already emptied their stomach. It can be a sign of indigestion, a build-up of stomach acid, or acid reflux. If your dog is throwing up yellow liquid, it may be bile.
When dogs feel sick or nauseous, their bodies produce more saliva. When saliva mixes with the stomach contents, it forms a foam-like consistency (often clear or white).
Throwing up white foam normally means your dog’s stomach is empty. The causes of vomiting are varied but may indicate indigestion or an upset stomach from something they have ingested.
Foreign objects being thrown up such as toys, rocks, or material is a way of your dog’s body getting rid of items that aren’t meant for digestion. Foreign objects are nearly always of concern as it may mean your dog has eaten or chewed things that are dangerous to them.
There is a risk that they can’t vomit all of the foreign material they’ve ingested and that the remainder gets stuck, causing an obstruction. This could result in a severe medical emergency.
Intestinal Blockages
Its a safe bet that your dog has eaten something they shouldnt have at some point. Foreign object ingestion is another possible cause of your dog throwing up yellow bile.
When your dog swallows an object they shouldnt — a sock, a plastic toy, a rock, etc. — it eventually gets stuck. This leads to a blockage in the stomach or intestinal tract, and vomiting bile sometimes results. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weakness, and straining to produce a bowel movement.
An intestinal blockage is a serious condition and can quickly become a medical emergency. If you know or suspect your dog ate a foreign body of some kind, rush them to the vets office for help.
What Gastrointestinal Disorders can cause your dog to throw up yellow?
There are a few gastrointestinal disorders that can cause your dog to throw up yellow bile. These include:
If you think your dog may have one of these disorders, talk to your vet. They can run tests and determine the best course of treatment.