Vomiting of Yellow Mucus in Dogs

Vomiting is, unfortunately, a common occurrence with dogs. But there are a wide range of reasons as to why a dog vomits; if it happens occasionally, it’s not usually anything much to worry about. It could just be a case of your dog eating something that has upset his or her stomach, and their system is ejecting it as quickly as possible.

However, some bouts of vomiting could be an indication of a more serious condition — especially if you’re witnessing projectile vomiting and your dog is experiencing diarrhea, too. Repeated vomiting accompanied by other symptoms of illness — such as clear signs of pain and discomfort — should raise red flags with any pet parent and trigger a call to the veterinarian.

Another vomiting scenario that’s likely to cause concern is when your dog is throwing up yellow mucus. What does yellow mucus mean?

We’ve got all the need-to-know info on what it means when your dog is vomiting yellow mucus or a yellow liquid, right here.

What does yellow mucus mean?

If that’s the cause of your dog vomiting yellow liquid, it may only happen once or twice and resolve itself when your pet is fed. But, don’t just write this off as your dog being hungry. A dog throwing up yellow mucus can be a result of other issues, some of which might be serious and need veterinary attention.

Of course, there’s an obvious symptom of a dog vomiting yellow — and that’s vomiting yellow, whether that be a mucus-like substance, a watery liquid or more of a frothy one. But, your pet may also be unwell with an underlying condition that perhaps doesn’t show up as your dog throwing up yellow mucus.

Other symptoms associated with vomiting may include:

• Vomiting frothy yellow mucus
• Nausea
• Excessive swallowing
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Stomach upset and noises
• Retching 

If your dog is displaying one or more of these symptoms for longer than 24 hours, seek advice from your vet.

Why is my dog throwing up yellow liquid? There could be many different causes, some of which may resolve themselves after a short period of time but others that will require medical intervention.

Leaving hunger aside — which is easily fixed — common causes can include:

• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal Blockage
• Bilious Vomiting Syndrome
• Gastritis
• Giardia

Pancreatitis

Intestinal Blockage

Bilious Vomiting Syndrome

Gastritis

Giardia

Giardia is a parasite infection, more common in younger dogs. Dogs infected by Giardia can suffer inflammatory bowel disease. Vomiting is one of many symptoms — alongside gas, abdominal bloating and discomfort, weight loss, loss of appetite and more — but, it’s thought that some dogs with Giardia can be asymptomatic.

With so many potential causes of a dog vomiting yellow mucus or fluid, it requires a vet to properly diagnose the underlying issue.

To start with, the veterinarian will want to know if fully up to date on vaccinations and worming. Your vet will also discuss your dog’s current diet, to try to establish whether any new foods have been introduced recently, or whether he or she may have eaten any treats or snacks that could have upset the stomach. The vet will be keen to rule out any sensitivities that could have developed, such as new food allergies.

Those checks completed, the next step is a physical examination of a dog. This examination may include taking the dog’s temperature, weight, pulse and blood pressure. The vet may also palpate the patient’s stomach, and listen to the heart and lungs.

Several diagnostic tests might be performed to help determine the reason for a dog vomiting yellow liquid. These could include:

Abdominal x-rays
Ultrasound
Fecal exam
Urinalysis

The vet may also recommend an endoscopy, which is when a flexible tubular instrument with a small camera is inserted through the dog’s mouth or rectum. This enables the vet to see images of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Following this, a biopsy may be taken if any abnormalities are detected.

Any treatment to resolve the problem of a dog throwing up yellow mucus or fluid depends on what’s been diagnosed as the cause.

For example, if pancreatitis has been diagnosed, your dog may be advised to eat a low-fat diet which could comprise smaller but more frequent meals. Or, this could include a more specialist diet — you can read our recommendations for the best dog food for pancreatitis sufferers here. If the dog is dehydrated due to persistent vomiting, an IV of fluids can help replenish electrolytes.

With an intestinal blockage, surgery might be needed. If your dog can’t pass the blockage naturally — and throwing up yellow suggests it can’t — then whatever is causing the blockage needs to be removed. That’s likely to mean surgery under general anesthetic and a potential hospital stay at least overnight, perhaps longer.

Bilious Vomiting Syndrome can be improved by feeding smaller meals, more frequently. Giving your dog a small meal, or even a snack, before bedtime may help to prevent an overnight empty stomach, and therefore the vomiting reaction first thing in the morning. An antacid may also be prescribed.

With gastritis, your dog may have to go without food for 24-48 hours (small amounts of water should be made available). When feeding resumes, meals should be smaller and in frequent intervals, with portions increasing steadily every day. An anti-vomiting medication may also be prescribed.

Giardia requires treatment with fenbendazole and/or metronidazole. These are dewormers that can help to kill parasites. It’s advised that pet parents wash the dog’s bedding in hot water, and clean and disinfect flooring and carpets too, to eliminate any traces of the infestation.

Recovery timelines will vary depending on the cause, and the subsequent treatment plan. It’s important to follow the treatment plan from the vet — follow up visits and checks might be needed to track progress.

Ongoing treatment might be needed, especially if pancreatitis has been diagnosed as the cause of your dog vomiting yellow. A long-term low-fat diet could be recommended.