Does Your Dog Vomit Frequently?

Revised and Updated 3/29/2024

Is your dog vomiting bile in the morning? First, check with your vet to see if your dog has elevated liver enzymes or acid stomach. What is bile? Bile is a yellowish, foamy substance that is produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and released into the intestines to help digest fats and protein. Bile build up in the stomach can be very irritating and painful for your dog.

Last year we adopted an abused husky named Roo. He was only 1 1/2 years old but was an incredibly picky eater. We noticed that he wasn't nearly as picky in the evening as he was in the morning when his acid stomach was hurting the most. We would to try to entice Roo with baked chicken, salmon and steak in the morning and still, he would only take a few bites.

One morning, I heard the most awful sound of what appeared to be loud coughing like someone was choking. We ran in to see what it was and there was Roo gagging and vomiting up bile. He was coughing quite loudly but when he vomited, it was just a yellowish saliva-filled fluid. I knew that he was very uncomfortable and ran to get the only food he would eat in the morning -- goat milk. I poured a small amount of raw goat milk (I use Primal brand because that one seems to work the best for him) and he immediately calmed down. I then hand fed him some frozen food (raw patties) mixed with goat milk along with probiotics and digestive enzymes.

Susan Davis And Her Rescued Husky Roo

We realized that the night before, we fed Roo his last meal around 8 pm instead of 11 pm which meant that his stomach was empty for longer. One important way you can help a dog that is vomiting bile in the morning is to feed them lots of frequent meals. Keeping the time inbetween meals to a minimum helps reduce the burning and discomfort associated with acid reflux.

Why do dogs vomit more frequently in the morning? Overnight, acid builds up in the stomach causing the dog to vomit bile. During periods of fasting such as overnight, the absence of food in the stomach means there's nothing to absorb or buffer the stomach acid produced, allowing it to accumulate. Additionally, factors such as stress, anxiety, medications, or underlying medical conditions like gastritis can contribute to an overproduction of gastric acid. In Roo's case, he is such a nervous and anxious dog, it just causes even more build up of stomach acid.

If your dog is vomiting frequently, the first step is to get a diagnoses from your veterinarian. There are a lot of causes of dog vomiting and treatment will depend upon the diagnoses. Usually changing your dog's diet and feeding schedule can help a lot. Be sure to feed your dog a snack before bed and first thing in the morning. Try to feed a few small snacks throughout the day. What you feed your dog can also make a big difference, but this will depend upon the cause of your dog's vomiting. For example, if your dog is vomiting due to food allergies, you would feed a different diet than if your dog is vomiting due to a liver problem.

In our case, Roo showed he had intestinal dysbiosis, an imbalance in his gut microbiome. He had stress-related diarrhea so we added fiber, digestive enzymes and probiotics to his regimen. We always make sure to feed him before bed and have not had another incidence of choking or vomiting bile. We have seen the benefits of holistic treatments for dog acid reflux and as Roo has settled into our home, his stomach issues have greatly improved.

Author: Susan Blake Davis, Pet Nutritionist

Date: 3/29/2024

Originally Published: 10/24/22

 

Reasons Why Dogs Vomit Bile Vs. Food

We've all been there—watching our dogs heave and retch, but did you know that not all episodes of "throwing up" are the same for dogs?  In fact, dogs can vomit food, bile or simply regurgitate. While these might seem similar, they each have distinct reasons why they occur.

Vomiting is a complex reflex that involves the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. It typically occurs due to illness, ingestion of toxins, motion sickness, or dietary indiscretion.  When dogs vomit, it often brings up partially digested food along with gastric juices.  Often times, you might notice your dog first licking his lips or circling around seemingly uncomfortable. Vomiting is often preceded by signs of nausea, such as drooling, restlessness, or retching, and may be accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy or abdominal discomfort.  After throwing up, dogs may attempt to eat their vomit and seem to feel better after the food has been expelled. 

Regurgitation, on the other hand, is a passive process that involves the effortless expulsion of undigested food or liquid from the esophagus or pharynx, without the forceful abdominal contractions associated with vomiting. Regurgitation occurs when food or liquid refluxes back into the mouth or throat, often due to issues with swallowing, esophageal dysfunction, or acid reflux.  A dog may be just walking by and a small amount of liquidy undigested food just spills out.  Unlike vomiting, regurgitation typically occurs soon after eating or drinking and may not be preceded by signs of nausea.  It is often a symptom though of dog acid reflux.   

Vomiting bile, also known as bilious vomiting, involves the expulsion of yellow or greenish fluid known as bile from the stomach. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which aids in the digestion and absorption of fats. Dogs often vomit bile in the morning when the stomach is empty. Unlike vomiting food where the dog may be nauseated and restless, vomiting bile is often due to build up of acid in the stomach.  The dog may be first attempting to eat grass to ease their stomach discomfort.   Food can coat the stomach and provide a buffer to absorb the excess acid.

Dogs can experience three forms of expulsion from the digestive tract: vomiting, regurgitation, and vomiting bile.  Understanding the distinctions can help identify the diagnoses and manage the symptoms.  Regardless if your pup experiences recurrent or persistent vomiting, regurgitation, or vomiting bile, it is essential to consult your veterinarian for proper evaluation and management.