Bilious vomiting syndrome is a condition in which dogs throw up a yellow liquid in the morning after not eating all night. This condition sounds a lot more serious than it is, but it’s still important to be aware of and talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing symptoms. Here’s what to know about bilious vomiting syndrome in dogs:

What is Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs?

If your dog is vomiting, it could be bilious vomiting syndrome (BVS). BVS describes a condition in which dogs throw up bile or frothy liquid after they haven’t eaten for a while. Typically, this happens the morning after they haven’t eaten overnight.

This liquid that dogs throw up is most likely a combination of stomach fluids mixed with bile. The gallbladder secretes a yellow liquid called bile, which helps with digestion. Bilious vomiting syndrome is different from other kinds of vomiting because a dog is throwing up on an empty stomach instead of emptying food or a foreign matter that was in the stomach.

This syndrome typically shows up in a pattern where dogs vomit up this fluid when their stomachs are empty, like in the early mornings. This is typically a recurring condition. Sometimes it happens daily, a few times a week, or a few times a month. Dogs with bilious vomiting syndrome will often throw up once or twice and then be completely fine for the rest of the day.

Symptoms of Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs

If a dog has BVS, it can look a lot like gastritis. You will see signs of nausea, especially in the morning, before they’ve eaten anything. When a dog has nausea, you will see signs such as drooling, panting, lip-smacking, and a lack of interest in their food. You may even hear gurgling sounds in their belly.

The main symptom of bilious vomiting syndrome is frequent vomiting of a clear or yellowish and foamy liquid. Otherwise, these dogs will be healthy and can keep food and water down afterward.

It’s important to be aware of any other symptoms that might arise. If your dog exhibits any issues like trouble breathing, signs of pain, lethargy, a lack of appetite all day, or diarrhea, these are symptoms you should never ignore in your dog and could indicate something more serious.

What Causes Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs?

Bilious vomiting syndrome occurs when bile in the small intestine flows back into an empty stomach. This irritates the stomach lining and causes vomiting. Because the dog’s stomach is empty, they throw up the yellowish and frothy liquid.

BVS can occur in dogs of any breed, size, or age. However, it does typically occur most often in young adult dogs that are otherwise healthy. BVS is considered to be idiopathic because the exact cause of the vomiting hasn’t been determined.

How Long Does Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs Last?

Bilious vomiting syndrome in dogs can last a while if left untreated. However, BVS does not usually cause long-term problems and is more of an annoyance than anything else. Once dogs begin treatment, the condition typically clears up or happens much less frequently. If a dog does not improve, they will need to follow up with a veterinarian for additional tests.

How to Treat Bilious Vomiting Syndrome in Dogs

If your dog is diagnosed with BVS, your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan that helps to prevent factors that can cause vomiting. One of the most common suggestions is to feed your dog smaller but more frequent meals throughout the day. This often includes a late-night snack if your dog is vomiting early in the morning.

Changing your dog’s feeding schedule to more frequent meals helps keep the stomach from being empty for too long, which can help prevent the chance of vomiting. However, it’s important to make sure that you are not increasing the amount of food your dog eats each day. You simply want to spread out the same amount of food throughout the day. This is also a great way to help overweight dogs get healthy.

Sometimes, a medication might be prescribed to help reduce stomach acid. This helps protect the lining of the stomach and can improve motility. Motility is what pushes fluid and food through a dog’s digestive system. This can help settle the digestive system and reduce irritation.

If symptoms don’t clear up with diet changes or medication, make sure to visit your veterinarian again. This might indicate a more serious issue and may require further tests.

This is just an overview of bilious vomiting syndrome in dogs. If you suspect your dog has this condition, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. The good news is that with proper treatment, this typically clears up pretty quickly!