My Dog Threw Up Brown Liquid – Top 3 Reasons Why

The state and color of the liquid content which your dog throws up can say a lot about your dog’s health. Here are the most common reasons for dogs that throw up brown liquid.

1. Sign of an intestinal blockage

The brown liquid your dog throws up could be the food and liquid content the dog was unable to properly digest due to a blockage in the intestines. This may occur when a dog ingests a large foreign object (relative to the dog’s body size) that gets stuck somewhere along the small intestines. Examples of non-food items that may cause intestinal blockage include things like absorbent meat pads and fabric toys.

In addition to vomiting brown liquid, dogs that suffer from intestinal blockage are likely to show other concerning symptoms like a loss of appetite and difficulties in defecating. A trip to the emergency vet is even more pertinent if you suspect this is the cause of the brown vomit.

2. Sign of bleeding ulcers

Dogs may throw up brown liquid if they suffer from bleeding ulcers. The gastrointestinal ulcers may develop in various parts of their body including the stomach and intestines. The vomit can turn brown as a result of the blood getting partially digested by the stomach acids. Some may describe it as seeing a coffee ground-like color.

Bleeding ulcers can be caused by a number of factors including prolonged stress, kidney disease, and the ingestion of specific medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

3. Ingestion of toxic substances

Dogs may suffer from frequent bouts of brown vomit after they ingest something toxic. This may include chemical-based products like rat poison or household cleaning products. Exposure to toxins can manifest itself into internal bleeding for a number of reasons. In addition to the dog throwing up brown liquid, the dog may also have black, tarry stools.