What Color Vomit Is Dangerous For Dogs?
Is your dog sick?
The color of both your dog’s diarrhea and their vomit can tell you something different about why your dog may be vomiting and if it is dangerous and they need to see a vet right away.
Sometimes you can just wait and see, but there are some colors of vomit that will need to be seen by a vet right away.
What Color Vomit Is Dangerous For Dogs?
If your dog is throwing up and their vomit is red, blue, or brown, this is a sign that your dog is going through a severe reaction and needs immediate medical attention from a veterinarian. Do not attempt to treat this unusual vomiting at home.
These may not be normal colors that you think of when you think about vomit, but if you notice these, it usually means that there is something severely wrong, and you should see a vet right away.
There are many other colors that your dog vomits; maybe that is also a cause for concern.
What do the different colors of vomit mean?
These are some of the common colors that your dog could vomit if they have an upset stomach and what you need to do about them
Red
If your dog’s vomit is red, this is most likely blood.
Your dog should NEVER be vomiting blood.
If your dog is vomiting blood, they will need to see a vet right away. Common reasons for a dog to vomit blood are:
- End-stage heartworm disease
- End-stage congestive heart failure
- GI ulcer that has ruptured
All of these can be quickly life-threatening and needs veterinary attention right away.
Blue
If your dog is vomiting blue or bluish-green, this could be very serious.
Blue is not a normal color that many people think of when they think of dog vomit, but if your dog ate rat poison that is a bluish-green color, it could cause them to vomit.
Other signs that your dog would have eaten rat poison are:
- Excessively drooling
- Bleeding
- Lethargic
If your dog has blue in their vomit, it would be best to see your vet right away.
Your dog will need to be checked for internal bleeding and started on medication right away to help them recover.
Green
If your dog is vomiting green, it can be because they ate grass.
If your dog has an upset stomach, they will commonly eat grass.
This is not a huge concern unless they are constantly vomiting, having diarrhea, and are lethargic.
Yellow
Many dogs who vomit will have a yellowish color.
This is due to them vomiting up bile.
Bile is normally produced in your dog’s gallbladder and released into their stomach and small intestines. This bile contains enzymes that help break down your dog’s food.
If your dog is not eating or is producing too much bile, their vomit can be yellow in color.
Yellow vomit can be common and may go away with feeding a bland diet.
Brown
There are many different reasons for your dog’s vomit to be brown. Many times, it is due to the color of their dog food.
If it is a dark brown, almost the same color and constancy as ground coffee beans, this is very serious.
This means that your dog has internal bleeding or a GI ulcer. Your dog would need to see your vet right away.
They can examine your dog, take x rays and run bloodwork to see how severe the issue is.
Some dogs with GI ulcers will need surgery to repair any tears in the stomach.
White
This white foam can be from your dog having bloat or can be due to gastrointestinal issues.
Bloat is a medical emergency, and your dog will need to be seen by a vet right away.
Bloat is when your dog’s stomach flips over, trapping air.
If your dog has bloat, one of the most common signs that you will see is an enlarged abdomen.
You may also notice that they are panting very hard or vomiting.
If your dog is vomiting white foam but otherwise seems normal, they may not have bloat and just have a simple upset stomach that can easily be treated.
What to do if my dog is vomiting?
Sometimes you can easily treat your dog for vomiting at home, but sometimes it is best that your dog sees your vet.
These are some things that you can do at home to help your dog recover from vomiting and an upset stomach.
Withhold food for 6 to 12 hours
If your dog is vomiting, it is best to withhold food for about 6 to 12 hours.
This allows their stomach to calm down before you feed them again.
Feed a Bland Diet
When you start to introduce food back into your dog’s diet, it is best to feed them a bland diet.
This can consist of boiled chicken and plain rice.
You can also add a scrambled egg too.
Offer water
At all times, your dog should have access to water.
If your dog is drinking a lot of water very fast and causing themselves to vomit, offer a small amount of water and some ice cubes.
Limit their exposure to grass
If your dog is eating grass and vomiting, it is best to keep them inside and away from the grass.
Many dogs will eat grass as a way to help their stomachs.
When do I need to take my dog to the vet?
If your dog is vomiting blood, has blue chunks, or has dark brown vomit, they should see a vet right away.
Usually, the sooner your dog gets medical care, the better the outcome.
If your dog has vomited more than 5 times in a 24-hour period, they are lethargic, not eating, or otherwise not acting normal, and they should see your vet.
Some medical conditions such as an obstruction, your dog may act perfectly normal but will vomit anytime they eat.
It is never a bad idea to have your vet examine your dog if they are vomiting.
Your vet will be able to examine your dog, run bloodwork and take X-rays to figure out what is causing your dog to vomit.
They can also start your dog with anti-nausea medication to help stop them from vomiting and help them feel much better.
Final Thoughts
While your dog’s vomit can be many different colors, there are certain colors that should be alarming.
Red, blue, and dark brown can mean that your dog has something very serious going on and needs medical attention right away.
If your dog is vomiting, you can try these tips and tricks to help calm their stomachs and stop them from vomiting.
If they continue to vomit, it would be best to see your vet right away.