What is Vomiting With Bile?
Bile is a yellow or green substance produced in a cat’s liver, which aids in digestion of food. Vomiting with bile in cats can be an alarming condition for both the feline and the worried owner. Vomiting with bile may be especially difficult for an owner to recognize, given that animals are likely to clean up after themselves, unless you manage to catch your cat in the act of vomiting. This can make it difficult to determine exactly how long the condition has been occurring. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms that can occur with bile vomiting in order to determine when veterinary intervention is necessary.
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Symptoms of Vomiting With Bile in Cats
Vomiting with bile typically occurs in the morning or early evening, when a cat’s stomach is empty, although it can also happen at any time. Here are the main symptoms to watch for:
- Long term occasional vomiting
- Vomiting that occurs with bile which may be yellow or green and/or foamy. There is normally not a large amount of liquid
- Weight Loss
- Disinterest in Food
- Excessive Drooling
Types
Vomiting can take many forms, and it’s important to distinguish the various types to know when a serious condition exists that warrants a trip to your local vet.
- True Vomiting. Vomiting is accompanied with nausea and a cat may drool and refuse food. Some will lick their lips and may be depressed for a few hours. The abdomen forcefully contracts before and during a vomit. Your cat may gag and retch.
- Regurgitation: Regurgitation is when undigested food is brought back up from the stomach. There are no abdominal contractions and a cat is not nauseous. There are several potential causes including eating too quickly. Bile should not be seen.
- Hairball: Hairballs are regurgitated or cleared from your cat’s stomach in a manner that may seem similar to vomiting. They cat may heave for several moments attempting to clear the hairball and may also bring up a small amount of stomach fluid or regurgitated food with the hairball due to the aggressive coughing.
Causes of Vomiting With Bile in Cats
In many cases, the exact cause of vomiting with bile, is unknown. However, there are several conditions that can cause the condition and that should be ruled out by your veterinarian. Common causes may include:
- Intestinal Inflammation
- Irritation of the Stomach Lining (gastritis)
- Pancreatitis
- Cholangiohepatitis
- Improper Diet
- Parasites
- Infection
- An obstruction
- Liver Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Toxin ingestion
- Cancer
Diagnosis of Vomiting With Bile in Cats
The first thing your veterinarian will do in order to diagnose the cause of bile vomiting is ask for your cat’s history concerning the condition. It is therefore important that you document the number of times, frequency and approximate start date of the vomiting. Additionally, you should collect a stool and urine sample if possible and supply your vet with the brand and specific recipe of any commercial cat food given.
After reviewing the history of your cat, your vet may then opt to perform several diagnostic tests to rule out serious, life threatening conditions. These tests may include liver and kidney assessment via a urinalysis, a full blood profile including white blood cell count analysis, and a thorough physical exam. Your vet may also perform imaging studies such as x-ray or ultrasound to examine motility of the contents of the stomach or any potential obstructions.
Treatment of Vomiting With Bile in Cats
On some occasions, vomiting with bile in your cat will subside on its own. In cases where the condition is ongoing, there will be various courses of treatment depending on the underlying cause. In the event of food causes, your vet may prescribe an approved cat food formula for animals with inflamed stomachs or food sensitivities. They may also alter the amount or frequency of your cat’s meals.
If food or diet alterations don’t alleviate your pet’s symptoms, the veterinarian may prescribe certain drugs such as antibiotics for infections or digestion affecting drugs to increase the ability of your pet to digest food or to reduce the amount of bile in the digestive system. Probiotics may also be recommended to help restore the levels of good bacteria in your cat’s digestive system.
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Recovery of Vomiting With Bile in Cats
The prognosis will depend on the underlying condition.
Stomach conditions can take time to fully heal and your cat’s entire digestive system will often times need to reset and regrow important balances of good bacteria. In the case of prescription medicine, it will be important to complete the entire regimen in order to fully resolve the condition.
For food-based treatment, following the recommended course of meals and sticking with a consistent diet should help relieve signs quickly. Alteration of the course of feeding, if followed, will provide lasting results. Most cats with this condition will respond well with maintained treatment, whether dietary or prescription based.
Courses of ant acids may be given for several weeks and it is important not to miss a dose.
Vomiting With Bile Average Cost
From 389 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
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Vomiting With Bile Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Domestic medium hair
Nearly 7
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting, Can'T Eat
He was in a bad mood and swiping at me. I wasn't sure if he was sick or just tired of people due to COVID19. Then after hacking up a whopper of a hairball, he seemed back to normal, rarely swiping and only with retracted claws. But 12 hours later, he started vomiting more hairballs, foam and then bile. He clearly wants to eat but can't bring himself to most of the time. He is drinking water. Every now and then he can manage a lick of wet food or a couple of kibbles. Our vet was all booked out, I've managed to book him in but it's 30 hours away. What can we do in the meantime to help him?
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I am sorry for the delay, this platform is not set up for urgent emails.
I'm glad that you were able to get him in to see your veterinarian - I hope that he is okay and back to his normal self.
Oct. 10, 2020
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Domestic short hair cat
Six Months
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting Diarrhea
I just adopted a kitten that’s 6-7 months have him Bauer’s tapeworm dewormer and he has been vomiting and diarrhea and I haven’t seen him eat or drink anything and I’m getting really worried. He is still letting us pet him and is coming back to us after he pukes but he’s just acting sick and we haven’t seen him drink anything and don’t want him to die
Sept. 17, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question, I'm sorry that your kitten is not feeling well. Kittens of that age are very prone to infectious diseases, parasites, and intestinal foreign bodies. Since he does seem sick and he doesn't seem to be getting better, the best thing to do for him would be to have him seen by a veterinarian. They can examine him, see what might be going on, and let you know more what needs to be done for him so that he is healthy again. I hope that everything goes well for him and he feels better soon.
Sept. 18, 2020
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Snoeshoe
9-10 months
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting Bile 7 Times In About 15 Hours.
Has been vomiting bile and doesn’t want to eat and just wants to be alone. Usually likes to be around people. Skipped a meal without eating her normal dry food, and than ate some wet food. Should I be concerned? Or just wait to see if it stops and if she brings herself to eat her food again?
Aug. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I do think, given your description of what your cat is doing, that it would be best to have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, tomorrow would be best. Young cats are prone to foreign bodies, and your veterinarian will be able to examine her and see if an x-ray is needed. I hope that all goes well with her and she feels better soon.
Aug. 28, 2020
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Unknown
Four Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Throwing Up
Syptom options unavailable above. My cat has been throwing up bile for 2.5 days. Only once did it include whole food.
Aug. 5, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Cats can vomit due to a parasite, intestinal infection, hairball, or a foreign body. If your cat is repeatedly vomiting, it would be best to have them seen by a veterinarian. They will be able to examine your cat, see what the cause might be, and get treatment so that your cat is healthy again.
I hope that all goes well.
Aug. 5, 2020
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Asian bobtail cat
Four Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Eating Or Drinking And Vomiting
I don’t have any $ So how can I help her at home and what should I do to get her to eat and drink
July 26, 2020
Answered by Jessica N. DVM
0 Recommendations
Hello-
Unfortunately it sounds like your cat absolutely needs to see a veterinarian. Vomiting and not eating in cats can be very serious and can be due to a G.I. obstruction, toxin exposure, pancreatitis, , infectious causes, organ dysfunction, or cancerous causes. When they are not eating and vomiting they can also become dehydrated very quickly. I would contact family and friends to see if they will help you out so you can take her to the veterinarian. A lot of clinics also will also accept care credit or scratch pay as a form of payment.
Your vet will be able to run bloodwork and perform x-rays to try and figure out the cause of the symptoms and then can provide you with the treatment plan to help her feel better.
July 26, 2020
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Shorthair
Oli
1 Year
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Lack Of Energy
Lack Of Appetitie
My 1 year old kitten has been vomiting for the past 24 hours up until the most recent vomiting, it has been clear or white and foamy. His most recent vomit was a yellow vile. He has refused any food and water since yesterday morning and has continued to vomit through today. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to what I could do? We are working on trying to get him to a vet but unfortunately are not financially able to do that right now.
Unknown
Snickers
10 Years
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I kind of relaxed when the article said it was treatable because my cat was really sick and he had been having all these symptoms except for throwing up and he got over them twice so we didn’t think much of it because he would be over the sickness in 2 days well the 3rd time he got sick which was last night he had trouble breathing and I noticed it right away and wanted to take him to the vet but it was late at night about 7:00 this morning I went to take a shower and he went over to the door and fell and started furiously meowing and I quickly jumped out of there and he was forming red and yellow fluid at the mouth and I was afraid we grabbed him with a blanket and he was stiff and barely breathing and puking vile and he was trying to get up but couldn’t walk and he continuously meowed and then settled down again so I went to google what was wrong with him and it brought me here and I seen it was treatable and kind of went back to see how he was doing and he was dead so if your cat shows any of these get them to the vet quick it took 7 hours and he was normal just harder to breathe to being dead in the morning I don’t want anyone else to experience because his struggle this morning was heartbreaking
Vomiting With Bile Average Cost
From 389 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
$800
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