My Dog is Vomiting Yellow Bile and Not Eating – Top 3 Reasons Why

Bile is a digestive fluid that’s produced in the liver and stored in the dog’s gallbladder. When a dog throws up yellow bile, it’s most likely a sign that your dog’s digestive system is having trouble. Here are the most common reasons for dogs that stop eating and start to throw up yellow bile.

1. Dog has an empty stomach

Some dogs may vomit yellow bile because their stomach is empty. With no food content, the gastric acid or bile is likely to cause more irritation and make your dog puke out the yellow liquid content. The medical term for this is bilious vomiting syndrome. This happens when the bile leaks into the dog’s stomach from the small intestines.

You might notice this happening more often in the morning after waking up or when it has been many hours since your dog had his last meal. The minor stomach upset may also lead to a temporary loss in appetite.

2. Ingestion of fatty food

Dogs that eat a high-fat diet are more likely to experience than those that don’t. Dogs that regularly consume foods that are high in fat or oil content may eventually develop endocrine disorders like pancreatitis. This results in the inflammation of the pancreas which, in turn, may result in the vomiting of yellow bile.

Dogs can be affected by chronic or acute pancreatitis. The latter could appear in dogs up to a few days after they eat fatty foods. It’s important to moderate your dog’s diet if you don’t want them to be throwing up frequently.

3. Intestinal blockage

Dogs may vomit yellow bile if there is a foreign object that’s blocking the path of the dog’s intestines. Your dog may have recently swallowed something they shouldn’t have, such as eating a sock or eating styrofoam. The intestinal blockage can cause the material inside a dog’s bowel to return back to the stomach. As mentioned above, if the dog’s been on an empty stomach, it’s possible for them to throw up yellow bile.

What to do if your dog throws up yellow bile

We would call the vet for advice to be on the safe side. Certain causes of vomiting can be classified as emergency situations, such as when a dog throws up due to intestinal blockage. Be prepared to answer questions like when and how frequently the dog throws up yellow bile. You should also take note of any other concerning symptoms your dog may display, such as lethargy and diarrhea.

The vomiting of yellow bile may end up being caused by nothing too serious (like an empty stomach) but this isn’t something you should immediately assume as there is also the likelihood of the vomiting indicating something more serious.