When your dog has yellow watery diarrhea and starts vomiting, it can be worrying — and messy. These symptoms often point to something upsetting your dog’s stomach, but they can also signal more serious health issues.
We outline the common causes of yellow watery diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Diarrhea Yellow Watery and Vomiting — Why It Happens
Yellow watery diarrhea with vomiting in dogs usually means the digestive system is irritated or inflamed. This can happen due to dietary changes, eating spoiled food, infections, parasites, or even liver and pancreas problems.
The yellow color often comes from bile, a digestive fluid that leaks into the intestines when food moves too quickly through the system.
When vomiting happens alongside diarrhea, it means your dog’s body is struggling to digest or absorb nutrients properly — and both the stomach and intestines are upset.
Dog Diarrhea Yellow Watery and Vomiting: Common Causes
1. Dietary Indiscretion (Eating Something They Shouldn’t)
One of the most common reasons dogs develop yellow watery diarrhea and vomiting is simple — they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have. This might include table scraps, spoiled food, or garbage scavenging.
When a dog consumes something their stomach can’t handle, the digestive tract reacts by flushing it out quickly. The fast movement of food and bile through the intestines results in watery yellow diarrhea, while the stomach responds with vomiting to eliminate toxins.
You might also notice gurgling stomach sounds, drooling, and occasional refusal to eat. Mild cases often resolve in 24 hours, but if symptoms persist or worsen, veterinary care is needed to rule out poisoning or infection.
Read more: Dog Diarrhea Mucus Blood (What it means)
2. Sudden Diet Change
Even switching to a new food brand or recipe can upset your dog’s stomach. Dogs’ digestive systems rely on consistency, so abrupt dietary changes can cause irritation.
When this happens, bile builds up and passes through too quickly, turning the stool yellow and watery. The stomach, meanwhile, may reject unfamiliar ingredients, leading to vomiting.
If you’ve recently changed your dog’s diet, transition gradually over 7–10 days, mixing the old and new foods slowly. This helps the gut microbiome adjust and reduces the chance of inflammation.
3. Intestinal Parasites
Parasites like Giardia, hookworms, and roundworms can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, especially in puppies or unvaccinated dogs. These parasites damage the intestinal lining, leading to watery yellow stools, sometimes with mucus or a foul smell.
Vomiting can follow as the body reacts to the infection. In some cases, you might even see worms in the stool or vomit. Left untreated, parasitic infections can cause dehydration and weight loss.
A fecal test from your vet can confirm the diagnosis. Deworming medication and probiotics are often prescribed to restore gut health and prevent future infestations.
4. Bacterial or Viral Infections
Illnesses like parvovirus, salmonella, or campylobacter can lead to yellow watery diarrhea and vomiting. These infections cause inflammation in the intestines and stomach, making digestion painful and inefficient.
Parvovirus is especially dangerous in puppies — it can cause relentless vomiting, bloody or yellow diarrhea, lethargy, and dehydration. Bacterial infections, on the other hand, may result from eating contaminated food or water.
Any time vomiting and diarrhea happen together with fatigue, fever, or loss of appetite, assume infection until proven otherwise and contact your veterinarian immediately.
5. Pancreatitis
When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it releases digestive enzymes prematurely, damaging surrounding tissues. This condition, called pancreatitis, often causes vomiting, yellow diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
High-fat meals, such as table scraps or greasy food, are a major trigger. Dogs with pancreatitis may stand in a hunched posture, refuse food, or whimper due to discomfort.
This is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Veterinary care is required for diagnosis and supportive treatment, including fluids and a low-fat, easily digestible diet.
6. Liver or Gallbladder Issues
Because the yellow color in diarrhea often comes from bile, problems in the liver or gallbladder can also be to blame. When bile flow is disrupted, it can build up and leak into the digestive tract, causing yellow watery stool.
Vomiting, yellow eyes (jaundice), and loss of appetite may appear alongside digestive symptoms. Liver disease is more common in older dogs or those exposed to toxins, so prompt evaluation is essential to prevent liver damage.
Read more: Dog Diarrhea No Other Symptoms (What It Means)
What to Do If Your Dog Has Yellow Watery Diarrhea and Vomiting
When your dog has these symptoms, the first step is to stay calm and observe carefully. If your dog seems otherwise alert and active, you can try a few simple home care measures.
Start by withholding food for 8–12 hours (but never water) to allow the digestive system to rest. Offer small sips of water or ice cubes to prevent dehydration. If vomiting stops during this period, you can slowly reintroduce bland foods such as boiled chicken and plain white rice in small portions.
Watch closely for signs of improvement. If your dog eats and keeps food down without vomiting, continue the bland diet for 2–3 days before gradually transitioning back to regular food.
You can also support gut recovery by offering a probiotic supplement recommended by your vet. This helps restore balance in the intestines after irritation or infection.
However, if vomiting continues or diarrhea becomes more severe or bloody, it’s time to see your veterinarian. Persistent symptoms can quickly lead to dehydration or point to a serious underlying problem like pancreatitis or liver disease.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Call your vet right away if your dog’s diarrhea and vomiting come with any of the following warning signs:
Continuous vomiting for more than 12 hours
Diarrhea lasting over 24 hours or turning bloody
Signs of dehydration (dry gums, sunken eyes, lethargy)
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (possible liver issue)
Severe abdominal pain, whining, or restlessness
Weakness, trembling, or collapse
Puppies, senior dogs, and small breeds can dehydrate very quickly, so they should see a vet sooner rather than later.
Your veterinarian may perform blood work, fecal tests, and imaging to determine whether infection, liver disease, or pancreatitis is responsible.
Prompt treatment — including IV fluids, anti-nausea medication, or antibiotics — can make all the difference in recovery and comfort.
Read more: Dog Sick, Diarrhea and Not Eating (Common Causes and Care Tips)
Key Takeaway
Yellow watery diarrhea and vomiting in dogs are clear signs of digestive upset — and often your dog’s body’s way of signaling that something isn’t right.
While minor cases can resolve with rest, hydration, and a bland diet, persistent or worsening symptoms require prompt veterinary care. Infections, pancreatitis, and liver problems are not conditions to wait out.
When in doubt, always reach out to your vet. Acting early helps your dog recover faster and prevents small digestive issues from turning into serious health threats.