If you’re the loving pet parent of a dog, chances are you’ve had at least one unsettling experience involving dog vomit. Whether it’s a one-time occurrence or something that’s been happening over a period of time, knowing what the different types of dog vomit mean can help you determine whether it’s a minor issue or something more serious.
This comprehensive dog vomit color guide will help you decode what each hue might signify and when it’s time for a vet visit.
Common Causes of Dog Vomiting
Before diving into colors, let’s cover some common causes of vomiting in dogs. Vomiting can stem from something as simple as indigestion or motion sickness, or from serious conditions like intestinal blockage, liver disease, or pancreatitis.
Other culprits may include food allergies, eating a foreign object, ingesting toxic substances, or infections like kennel cough.
Vomiting can also be confused with regurgitation, which occurs when food or liquid is expelled without the forceful retching associated with vomiting. While vomiting originates from the stomach or intestines, regurgitation typically comes from the esophagus and is usually not serious.
Understanding the dog vomit color and texture is key to interpreting what’s going on in your dog’s digestive system.
Yellow Vomit
Yellow vomit typically contains bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It’s often seen when a dog throws up on an empty stomach, especially in the early morning or late at night.
This yellow coloration usually indicates that there’s no food left in the dog’s stomach, and bile is being expelled instead. One of the most common culprits behind this is a condition known as bilious vomiting syndrome.
What is Bilious Vomiting Syndrome?
Bilious vomiting syndrome (BVS) occurs when bile leaks into the stomach from the intestines, irritating the stomach lining and triggering vomiting. It typically affects otherwise healthy dogs and tends to happen after the dog hasn’t eaten for an extended period of time, often overnight.
The result is a yellow, frothy vomit that may appear once a day, but consistently, often around the same time. Dogs with BVS may seem completely fine between episodes — eating, playing, and having normal energy levels — however, the repeated retching and vomiting on an empty stomach can lead to further digestive system irritation over time.
How Is It Treated?
The good news is that bilious vomiting syndrome is usually manageable with a few adjustments. Vets often recommend:
- Feeding smaller, more frequent meals, especially late at night or early in the morning, helps keep something in the dog’s stomach and reduces bile buildup.
- Switching to a sensitive stomach or easily digestible dog food.
- In some cases, your vet may prescribe antacids or medications to reduce stomach acid and protect the stomach lining.
When to Worry: While BVS is usually not dangerous, it’s important to rule out more serious causes of vomiting, such as pancreatitis, ulcers, or liver disease, especially if the yellow vomit is frequent, accompanied by abdominal pain, or comes with other symptoms like loss of appetite or lethargy. If your dog is throwing up yellow bile more than once in a while or seems uncomfortable, a vet visit is definitely recommended.
White Foam Vomit
Seeing white foam in your dog’s vomit might alarm you. This foamy vomit often appears when a dog throws up on an empty stomach, and it can be due to a mild upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux.
However, persistent foamy vomit may be linked to bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus or GDV), a life-threatening condition where the dog’s stomach twists, trapping gas and fluids.
When to worry: If your dog is retching but producing only white foam, and their abdomen looks swollen or feels hard, seek emergency care immediately. If it is bloat, it can kill within hours.
Green Vomit
Green vomit could be due to the ingestion of grass or other plant material. Some dogs eat grass to induce vomiting when they have an upset stomach, while others simply enjoy the taste.
In rarer cases, green vomit may indicate gallbladder issues or a digestive system infection.
When to worry: If your dog consistently vomits green without eating grass or shows signs of a health issue like lethargy or loss of appetite, call your vet.
Brown Vomit / Dark Brown Vomit
Brown vomit or dark brown vomit may be more concerning. Sometimes it’s just dog food or partially digested food that appears brown, but it could also indicate internal bleeding, especially if it resembles coffee grounds or has a foul odor similar to feces or poop.
That might signal that your dog is vomiting from their intestinal tract or even vomiting up feces due to an intestinal blockage. That’s something that would require emergency treatment, as it can be life-threatening.
When to worry: If the vomit smells like poop or looks like coffee grounds, it’s a red flag for serious conditions like bleeding ulcers, intestinal blockage, or liver disease. These require immediate veterinary attention.
Red Vomit
Red vomit indicates the presence of blood, known as hematemesis, and it’s never a good sign. It might result from a foreign object tearing the digestive tract, ulcers, or internal bleeding. In rare cases, it could be from something the dog eats, like red-colored food or treats.
When to worry: Always. If there’s even a chance that red vomit is blood, a vet visit is urgent. Blood in vomit may also be accompanied by abdominal pain, lethargy, or other signs of a health issue.
Clear Liquid
When a dog throws up clear liquid, it might just be saliva or water. This can happen from motion sickness, drinking too quickly, or minor indigestion.
Sometimes, clear vomit can be a precursor to other colors if your dog continues to vomit over a period of time.
When to worry: Occasional vomiting of clear liquid is usually not serious, but if it continues or is accompanied by loss of appetite or behavior changes, consult a vet.
Undigested or Partially Digested Food
When dog vomit includes undigested food, it’s often due to eating too fast or too much. However, it can also be linked to problems in the esophagus, such as megaesophagus, or issues with the digestive tract that prevent food from being processed correctly.
When to worry: If undigested food continues to appear after meals, and your dog seems to be losing weight or showing signs of distress, it’s time to get an evaluation.
Foamy Vomit with Other Colors
Sometimes dog vomit is foamy but also tinged with yellow, green, or brown. This can be more complicated to diagnose.
It might signal pancreatitis, liver disease, or an intestinal infection, especially if vomiting is ongoing.
When to worry: Any persistent or multicolored foamy vomit should be taken seriously. Chronic vomiting puts your dog at risk of dehydration and may mask a more severe pet health issue.
What Should Dog Owners Do?
As a rule of thumb, dog owners should monitor their pets closely. If your dog throws up once but is otherwise happy, eating, and playful, it may just be a minor issue. But vomiting accompanied by loss of appetite, lethargy, or other symptoms is never something to ignore.
Here’s a quick guide for pet parents:
- Yellow vomit = bile; could be empty stomach or bilious vomiting syndrome
- White foam = acid reflux, bloat, or an empty stomach
- Green vomit = grass, or gallbladder issues
- Brown vomit = dog food or potentially internal bleeding
- Red vomit = blood; could mean ulcers or trauma
- Clear liquid = saliva, water, or the early stage of vomiting as a result of another health issue
- Coffee grounds = digested blood from the stomach
- Foamy multicolored = may signal serious conditions like pancreatitis
- Undigested food = could be regurgitation, fast eating, or esophagus problems
Final Thoughts on Dog Vomit and Pet Health
Vomiting is a common occurrence, but that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. While many instances are related to minor digestive tract upsets or sensitive stomachs, there are enough life-threatening conditions, like bloat, intestinal blockage, and internal bleeding, that warrant serious attention.
If you find yourself asking, “Why is my dog throwing up so much?” or notice a concerning vomit color, trust your instincts. Your dog’s health is always worth a vet visit.
And remember: keeping an eye on what your dog eats, feeding high-quality dog food, and being aware of behavioral changes can help prevent many of these issues before they start.
Have questions about your dog’s vomiting symptoms? Always consult your veterinarian for the best advice. Every dog’s stomach is different, and understanding the signs could save their life.
This content is for informational use only and does not replace professional nutrition and/or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for and should not be relied upon for specific nutrition and/or medical recommendations. Please talk with your veterinarian about any questions or concerns.
“Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs and Cats.” 2025. Vin.com. 2025. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=254092&id=12296225.
“Understanding Bloody Vomiting in Dogs: Causes and Actions to Take.” 2025. Brookfarmveterinarycenter.com. 2025. https://www.brookfarmveterinarycenter.com/post/understanding-bloody-vomiting-in-dogs-causes-and-actions-to-take.
Cridge, Harry, David C. Twedt, Angela J. Marolf, Leslie C. Sharkey, and Jörg M. Steiner. 2021. “Advances in the Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 35 (6): 2572–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16292.