Vomiting with Bile in Dogs

Though healthy dogs may occasionally vomit without an identifiable cause, cases of acute or chronic vomiting should always be discussed with the veterinarian. It's important to note, absolutely do not attempt to remedy the condition or situation at home in case there is a serious reason for the vomiting with bile. Bile aids in the digestion of food and the abnormal condition of vomiting bile should be addressed promptly, especially since the bile can be quite hard on the stomach and esophagus and this may lead to further complications for your pet.

Because there are varying reasons for your dog to have an episode of vomiting, consultation with an appropriately skilled veterinarian is advised. Ranging from toxic causes to blockages in the intestines, vomiting with bile can be a mild to serious affliction but nonetheless, discomfort and stress will be side effects experienced by your pet. To follow are behaviors your pet may exhibit before and after vomiting occurs:

• Stomach heaves
• Drooling
• Excessive swallowing
• Nausea
• Retching
• Depression
• Lack of appetite
• Coughing

A dog with a clinical sign of vomiting with bile should be evaluated to rule out the following list of possible causes:

• Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas; that results in disruption of enzymes that help with the digestive process and can often result in vomiting with bile
• Acute gastritis may lead to vomiting of bile as there is no food in the stomach to be brought up
• An intestinal blockage may result in vomiting with bile because the foreign body that is lodged in the intestinal tract does not allow for the processing of food into waste, but will cause vomiting instead
• Parasitic illnesses such as Giardia will manifest in symptoms that include acute vomiting with bile
• Bilious vomiting syndrome exhibits as intermittent vomiting of bile, usually on an empty stomach

Schedule a visit with the veterinarian promptly for a diagnosis of vomiting with bile because you do not want the problem to lead to even more serious consequences, such as severe dehydration or excessive weight loss.

As soon as you feel that you may be seeing your dog vomiting often or to excess, contact the veterinarian for an appointment and begin a vomiting record. Important points to note are how often the dog vomits, and whether the vomit is bile only, occasionally mixed with bile, or sometimes containing partially digested food. This information can help to lead the veterinarian to a quicker diagnosis. Give the veterinarian as much knowledge to work with as possible, including clues to your pet’s daily well-being. Does he act normally at times other than the vomiting episodes? Is the problem a chronic one or did it come on suddenly? Is the vomiting persistent or does it occur intermittently?

It is important to note that sporadic vomiting may show a normal test result in the diagnostic stage. That is one reason that a vomiting record is a valuable tool for the veterinarian. After a thorough physical examination, the veterinarian may order a blood count, blood profile, and chemical profile. A urinalysis is often included, and it may be helpful to the veterinarian to have a sample of the vomit. A fecal smear may be done to verify if there are parasites present.

Further diagnostic tools may comprise of radiograph or ultrasound of the abdomen to look for the presence of an obstruction or foreign body. An endoscopy, which will require your pet to be put under general anesthesia, may be performed. An endoscopy is used to evaluate the abdomen. A biopsy may be performed at this time as well. MRI, CT scan, and abdominal contrast studies can be explored as diagnostic methods if necessary. Serious cases of vomiting may need to be studied through the use of exploratory surgery in order to view the stomach and other organs such as the liver.

Treatment will obviously be correlated to the reason for the vomiting with bile. Acute vomiting is sometimes treated with a fasting approach. Food is withheld for a period of 24 hours, and then small amounts of a bland diet are gradually reintroduced. The amount of food is increased very slowly so as not to induce more vomiting. The veterinarian will decide if your dog needs to be hospitalized for the duration of the treatment. A reason for this may be because if water must also be withheld, monitoring of your pet and the administration of fluids by the intravenous method may be required. There may also be a need for intravenous therapy in order to balance electrolyte levels.

In the case of parasites, a medication will eliminate the problem and will be prescribed once your dog has been stabilized and the vomiting controlled. If an obstruction is causing the vomiting with bile, it is possible that the endoscopy may have been able to free the blockage. If not, surgery will be performed to remove the obstruction.

For problems like a gastric motility disorder, medication may be prescribed. In some instances of bilious vomiting, simply adding a small evening meal to reduce the chances of stomach reflux (caused by bile leaking from the intestine into the stomach when inactive) may be enough to end the vomiting cycle.

Fortunately, most dogs will respond quickly and favorably to treatment for vomiting with bile. Once the reason for the vomiting has been determined, and the situation is under control, your pet should recover well and return to an active, normal life. Of course, if the diagnosis reveals a serious issue that requires surgery, the recovery time will be longer, and the veterinarian will give instructions as to exercise limitations and rest periods. As always, regular check-ups and consultations with the veterinarian are the best ways to keep your dog healthy and happy.