“My pet has been doing occasional little foamy yellow vomits – should I bring them in?”

This is a common question fielded by our team! Here’s why your pet could be bringing up yellow vomit, and when they should be checked by our friendly vets.

What does yellow vomit mean in dogs and cats?

Yellow vomit indicates that your pet has vomited despite having an empty stomach, so it has brought up fluid that is a mix of stomach juices and refluxed bile.

Your pet could be vomiting due to an actual gut irritation, such as:

• If they’ve eaten a food that didn’t agree with them, or something that was spoiled or toxic
• If they’ve got a tummy bug
• If they’ve got a blockage, e.g. a hairball or a non-food item they’ve eaten
• They’ve got an underlying stomach disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease

Alternatively, your pet could be vomiting due to another type of health issue that is causing them to feel nauseous, such as:

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Kidney disease
• Liver or gallbladder disease

Lastly, dogs can also vomit bile occasionally but seem otherwise well with a condition called bilious vomiting syndrome. This is when a dog’s empty tummy becomes irritated with refluxed bile, and occurs most commonly in pets who are fed only one meal a day, though it can also occur in some pets fed twice daily too.

Is a vet visit warranted?

If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to check in with our friendly team for further advice. However, we’d definitely recommend a prompt veterinary assessment for your pet if they:

• Seem lethargic or in pain
• May have eaten something toxic
• Have vomited more than twice in a 24-hour period or vomited over several days
• Are showing any other symptoms of unwellness, such as weight loss, diarrhoea, or changes in drinking