We know what you’re thinking right now. But don’t let your intrusive thoughts win. If there is foam on your dog’s mouth, it is not what you think. So, you can relax here. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no cause for concern. Here’s a complete guide for you on what causes your dog to throw up foam, how to identify any other symptoms and what is the best treatment for it.
Dog Throwing Up White Foam - What is It?
The white color that you see is usually a mix of saliva and digestive secretions that are mixed with air in your dog’s stomach. This causes a vomit with a soapy appearance. The difference between a yellow vomit, that you usually see, and this white one is the presence of bile juice in the former. There is a chance that your dog has regurgitated (brought swallowed food back up again to the mouth. Don’t worry, even we had to Google the word) the white foam. In this case, the fluid is almost always clear or white and can be with or without food.
Why is Your Dog Throwing up White Foam?
Most of the time it is some sort of irritation or trigger in the stomach that causes a white foamy vomit. Apart from that, the reason may be –
Bacterial infection
Sudden diet change
Grass or plants
While there is a high chance that the reason for the white foam would be one of the above, it could also be a life-threatening condition if the reason is one of the following –
Pancreatitis
Organ dysfunction
Heavy toxins like battery acid, sago palm, cleaning chemicals
A foreign body stuck esophagus, stomach, or intestine
Dog Vomiting Yellow Bile - What to Do
A dog’s stomach produces several acids that aid in digestion. Bile, another juice, is produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and secreted into the small intestine for additional help in digestion. But when there is no food in the stomach to digest, these juices can irritate the stomach lining, causing the dog to vomit. And this is usually yellow in color because of the presence of bile in it. (1)
Many dogs suffer from Bilious vomiting syndrome - a common condition in dogs, where the yellow bile gets puked out because of an empty stomach. If your pup’s stomach is empty for too long, they may even get dehydrated. What you need to do is always ensure proper hydration and food. Try not to change the feeding routine. Feed a small meal before bed at night and offer a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning to avoid this. (1)
However, an empty stomach is not the only cause of yellow vomit though. Food allergies, intestinal blockage, or worse, liver disease can also cause yellow vomit in dogs.
Dog Vomiting Yellow Foam - What Do I Do?
Other reasons that can cause yellow vomit or foam in your dog are – (2)
Indigestion – Dogs are infamous for eating things they are not supposed to. A spoiled piece of garbage, some random bite on grass, a lick from the cat’s litter box, etc. can trigger irritation in the stomach and cause vomiting in your dog.
Pancreatitis - A rich, fatty meal can cause inflammation in the pancreas, causing vomiting. Your dog may also have diarrhea and go through severe pain in such a case.
Intestinal Blockage - A toy, bone, or scrap of fabric can cause problems in the intestine for obvious reasons. Initially, you may see food coming out in such a case but once it is over, the stomach will vomit the yellow bile. Blockages like these would require surgery.
Toxins – Eating chocolates, certain medications, toxic plants, etc. can cause your dog to vomit along with shivering or trembling, weakness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or intestinal pain.
Illness – If your dog is going through a systemic illness like kidney disease, liver disease or any other chronic condition, the yellow vomit could be a symptom of it.
Here’s what you need to do if your dog is secreting a yellow vomit –
First of all, do not panic.
Look out for other signs like lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, and other signs of illness.
If your dog is acting normal, withhold food for some time and keep the next meal light.
You can also skip one meal and offer the next scheduled one.
If the vomiting continues, your dog must be going through other underlying conditions and may need a vet visit.
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The treatment for such conditions typically involves diagnostics which include blood and urine testing, radiographs (X-rays), and possibly ultrasounds, followed by medications, prescription diets and follow-up vet visits. Seems like a lot of expenditure, doesn’t it? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered, literally. With pet health insurance you can save up to 90% of all these costs.
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Stregowski, J. (2023, September 7). What to do if your dog is throwing up yellow bile. The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/dog-vomiting-yellow-bile-4846474
