senior dog vomiting yellow bile not eating

Causes and Treatments of an Old Dog Throwing Up

After practicing as a veterinarian for more than 25 years and being chief of staff at Animal House of Chicago, I have treated my fair share of cases of elderly dogs vomiting. The cause of an old dog throwing up has ranged from something simple, like the dog eating too many dog treats, to more complex issues, like liver or kidney disease.

Senior dogs, like puppies, are not as resilient and may become significantly and more rapidly affected by vomiting compared with adult dogs. Therefore, its important to address the situation with your veterinarian if your senior dog is throwing up, and find the root issue.

Is an Old Dog Throwing Up an Emergency?

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. The difference between vomiting and regurgitation is that in regurgitation, the food expelled comes from the mouth or esophagus versus the stomach. Vomiting involves the forceful contraction of stomach muscles; regurgitation does not. Both vomiting and regurgitation can occur right after eating or drinking, or up to several hours later. If your dog is bright and alert, and only vomits once, it may not be necessary to call your veterinarian. Many dogs will vomit after eating grass, for instance.

Vomiting can be more dangerous in senior dogs because they may already have other health issues, as well as the fact that vomiting can be severely dehydrating.

If your older dog is vomiting a lot, or just more than once, or appears sick, call your veterinarian. Your vet will likely ask you a series of questions to determine how severe the vomiting is. It will be helpful for your veterinarian to know when your elderly dog started vomiting, how many times your dog has vomited, what the vomit looks like (for example, if your senior dog is throwing up undigested food, or if your dog is throwing up yellow bile) and if your dog appears uncomfortable. Call your veterinarian immediately if:

• There is blood in the vomit.
• Your dog acts like they want to vomit, but nothing is expelled.
• Your dog appears bloated or has a swollen abdomen.
• You suspect your dog may have eaten something toxic or poisonous.
• Your dog has a fever or is depressed.
• Your dogs gums are pale or yellow.
• Your dog appears to be in pain.
• Your dog also has diarrhea.

Never give your dog any medications, including over-the-counter human medications, unless advised to do so by your veterinarian.

Why Is My Old Dog Throwing Up

Conditions in older dogs that may cause vomiting include:

• Bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract
• Diet-related causes (diet change, food intolerance, ingestion of garbage)
• Foreign body (i.e., toys, bones, etc.) in the gastrointestinal tract
• Intestinal parasites
• Acute kidney disease/failure
• Acute liver disease/failure
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Pancreatitis
• Post-operative nausea
• Ingestion of toxic substances
• Viral infections
• Certain medications or anesthetic agents
• Bloat
• Heatstroke
• Car sickness
• Infected uterus (in non-spayed females)

Determining Why an Old Dog Is Throwing Up

Looking at the list above, its clear that many things can be behind a senior dog throwing up. It is important to determine the cause so the appropriate treatment can be given. Your veterinarian will combine information from you, a physical exam and possibly laboratory and other diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the vomiting.

Be prepared to tell you vet how suddenly the symptoms appearedsuch as the contraction of abdominal muscles, as well as the actual vomiting. This is a good clue to what the cause of the vomiting may be. If the symptoms appeared suddenly, the condition is called acute." If the symptoms continue over a long period of time (like if your old dog is vomiting a lot over a period of weeks), this is called chronic vomiting.

Your veterinarian may recommend the following:

• Fecal Test
• Blood Test
• X-Ray
• Ultrasound
• Endoscopy
• Biopsy

What to Do When an Old Dog Is Throwing Up

Treatment for a dog with an upset stomach varies depending on the scenario. In many cases of vomiting in dogs, your vet may advise you to:

1. Withhold food for at least 24 hours, while providing small amounts of water frequently.
2. Then, offer a bland diet, such as boiled chicken and rice, in small amounts.
3. If the vomiting does not recur, slowly switch your dog back to their normal diet, or a special diet as recommended by your vet, over the course of several days.

For some cases of vomiting, it may be necessary to modify the diet permanently. Special or prescription dog food may need to be given as a way to avoid certain ingredients, add fiber to the diet, decrease the fat intake or increase digestibility.

If intestinal worms are present:

1. Give your dog a de-wormer. Your vet can prescribe the appropriate de-wormer. Few de-wormers kill every kind of intestinal worm, so its very important that the appropriate medication be selected. In most cases, its necessary to repeat the de-worming one or more times over several weeks or months.
2. Remove the worm eggs from the environment. The fecal flotation test looks for worm eggs, and if no eggs are being produced, the test could be (false) negative even though adult worms or larvae could be present. For this reason, in some cases, even if the fecal flotation test is negative, a de-wormer may still be prescribed.

If dehydration is present:

• Your vet may provide fluids either via intravenous or subcutaneous route. Oral fluids are often inadequate during vomiting or diarrhea because they may be vomited up or pass through the animal too quickly to be sufficiently absorbed.

If the vomiting is caused by bacteria:

• Your vet may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics may also be given if the stomach or intestines have been damaged (e.g., blood in the stool or vomit would indicate an injured intestine or stomach) and there is a chance that the injury could allow bacteria from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

In some cases of vomiting, anti-emetics (drugs to help control vomiting), like Cerenia, or other medications may be given. It is always important to have an accurate diagnosis before the use of any of these drugs or medications, and its best to closely follow your veterinarians recommendations regarding appropriate treatment.

While some diseases that cause vomiting in senior dogs, such kidney or liver disease, may not be curable and require continuous medication and treatment, you and your veterinarian can work together to maintain the highest quality of life for your senior dog, for the greatest amount of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is my old dog vomiting yellow bile?

A: Your old dog may be vomiting yellow material first thing in the morning if they go too long between meals. Try changing mealtime so that you are feeding your dog later in the evening, or give them a high protein snack (such as unseasoned chicken breast, liver treats or deli turkey) right before bed. If this doesn't help, call your vet.

Q: Why is my old dog vomiting white foam?

A: White foam usually occurs when a dog is vomiting on an empty stomach. It could be due to stomach irritation or an obstruction, or could it be due to kennel cough. If happens more than 1-2 times in a 24-hour period, or if happens regularly, call your vet.

Q: What should I feed my senior dog if they are throwing up?

A: If your old dog vomits 1-2 times in a 24-hour period, fast your dog for the remainder of the day. You can offer small amounts of water or ice chips to keep your dog hydrated. If the vomiting stops, then you can feed your senior dog small amounts of a bland food the next dayeither a prescription digestive food from your vet or boiled chicken breast and white rice with NO seasoning. If your dog does well with that (no vomiting), continue feeding the bland food for 3-5 days, and then slowly transition back to their regular food by mixing the regular food with the bland diet for 2-3 days.

If your senior dog vomits more than 1-2 times in a 24-hour period, or your dog starts vomiting after you feed your dog, or if your dog has diarrhea or is acting sick in any other way, call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment ASAP to get your dog seen by a vet.

6 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Throwing up Yellow Bile

My Dog Is Throwing up Yellow. Whats Happening?

Typically, yellow vomit is commonly bile. Bile is produced in the liver and gallbladder. It breaks down fats and oils in the small intestine while helping your dogs body absorb nutrients. Bile is very alkaline, so it helps neutralize acidic stomach contents, protecting the sensitive small intestinal lining. But when bile leaks into the stomach, it reacts with stomach acidand your dog might vomit.

Bile is typically yellow or greenish and usually odorless. It can be full of mucus, bubbly, or foamy. Sometimes its seen in one pile or a couple, typically in small amounts, or mixed with water.

Why Dogs Vomit Yellow Bile

While vomiting bile is a common issue pet parents see in their pups, the exact cause can range from minor to more severe. Here are some of the underlying causes of bile vomiting in dogs.

1. Bilious Vomiting Syndrome

Bilious vomiting syndrome (BVS) is sometimes used to describe a condition where dogs vomit bile or frothbut not foodafter not eating for a while. For most dogs, this happens early in the morning after not eating overnight.

Dogs with BVS may show obvious signs of nausea, especially first thing in the morning. Nausea in dogs often manifests as:

• Lip-smacking

• Drooling

• Panting

• Reduced interest in food

For some dogs, its thought that the fasting period between dinner and breakfast can result in intestinal fluid flowing backward into their stomach. This can lead to irritation, nausea, and vomiting.

Although BVS is not typically life-threatening, talk to your veterinarian to rule out other causes of vomiting in your pet, as some can be serious. The vet can recommend testing and treatment thats right for your dog. If standard diagnostics such as a blood panel and physical exam are suggestive of BVS rather than something more serious, your veterinarian may recommend dietary adjustments or medications.

Feeding your dog a late-evening meal frequently relieves symptoms. Its thought that food might defend against refluxed bile, or it may improve gastric motility. If your dog continues to vomit after changing feedings, consider medical treatment. Antacids and/or medications that increase stomach motility are frequently used. A single evening administration of medicine is usually enough to prevent clinical symptoms.

2. Gastrointestinal Diseases

When a dog is throwing up yellow bile acutely (a sudden onset) or chronically (continuously over time), a multitude of problems could be affecting the digestive system, including:

In each of these cases, the underlying condition needs to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.

Because biles acidity can wear down the esophagus, it can lead to ulcerations if left unchecked. Breeds with sensitive stomachs that are predisposed to such problems include Bulldogs, toy breeds, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles.

3. Pancreatitis

Endocrine disorders such as pancreatitis can occur after a dog ingests highly fatty or oily foods. But 90% of the time, the inciting cause of pancreatitis in dogs is idiopathic, meaning it cannot be determined.

This condition causes inflammation of the pancreas, and in turn bilious vomiting, along with intense abdominal pain and diarrhea. Pancreatitis usually occurs three to five days after a dog eats fatty foods, but it can occur as early as 24 hours after.

To help treat pancreatitis, veterinarians will provide care to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. During this time, treatment often includes withholding food to allow the pancreas to rest.

4. Addisons Disease

Addisons disease is another endocrine disorderparticularly a disorder of the adrenal glandsthat is often characterized by vomiting. With adrenal glands that arent producing enough corticosteroids (stress hormones), dogs with Addisons disease can be critically affected by the tiniest amount of stress.

5. Intestinal Blockages

Regular vomit can become yellow bile after a dogs stomach has been emptied (though if your dog is vomiting, its ideal to address the problem before reaching this point). Along with vomiting bile, an extreme lack of energy and severe abdominal pain may indicate an intestinal blockage.

This is a medical emergency, and your dog should see a veterinarian right away. Surgery is the most common method for removing the obstruction causing the blockage.

6. Allergies

If your dog eats something theyre allergic to, vomiting may occur and bile may be present. Often, this happens when a dog switches their diet. Common food allergies in dogs include:

In other cases, a dog may become allergic to something theyve eaten regularly for years. Most pets develop food allergies between 15 years of age.

In this case, a strict 12-week diet trial may be needed to identify the offending protein. A veterinary nutritionist can also create a diet that removes the allergen without depriving your dog of the vitamins and nutrients needed to function at full strength.