My dog is throwing up yellow: what to do, when to see a vet
What to do if your dog is throwing up yellow, which causes are common and which warning signs, like blood, lethargy or fever, mean a vet visit right away.
If your dog is throwing up yellow, don’t panic straight away. Dogs vomit quite readily, and a one-off episode in a dog that is otherwise well may mean nothing. What decides whether to worry isn’t the colour, it’s how your dog is and how long it lasts. This guide is based on information from VCA animal hospitals and doesn’t replace your vet.
See a vet straight away if…
- They have a fever, seem lethargic or won’t eat.
- Their tummy seems painful, or they also have diarrhoea.
- They look dehydrated.
- There is blood in the vomit.
- You think they’ve swallowed something that could get stuck, or that is toxic.
- They keep vomiting for more than a day or two, even if they otherwise seem fine.
If they’re fine otherwise
Many sudden bouts of vomiting clear up on their own within 24 hours. In the meantime:
- Keep water within reach. Vomiting dehydrates.
- Don’t give them human medicines. Any treatment, including a short fast or a bland diet, is for your vet to decide.
- Watch and note down how often they vomit, what it looks like and whether they eat and drink.
Common causes
- Eating something they shouldn’t: bin scraps, leftovers, spoiled food or plants.
- Intestinal parasites.
- An intolerance or allergy to an ingredient in their food.
And more serious ones: infections, toxins, pancreatitis, a blockage, liver or kidney disease. That’s why, if it keeps happening, your vet should take a look.
Vomiting or regurgitation?
They aren’t the same. With vomiting you see effort and tummy contractions, and often nausea first: restlessness, lip-licking, drooling. Regurgitation is passive: it comes up suddenly, without warning, usually right after eating or drinking, and it’s linked to the oesophagus. Tell your vet which one you’re seeing.
What to take to the appointment
When it started, how many times they’ve vomited, what it looked like, what they’ve eaten in the last few hours and whether anything has changed at home. A photo of the vomit helps more than a description.
In Miloop you log vaccines, worming, weight and notes, and put together a PDF of their history to show your vet.