Seeing your dog throw up bile mixed with blood is frightening and always a sign that something is wrong.
While sometimes the issue may be related to minor stomach irritation, it can also point to serious health problems that need urgent veterinary care.
We outline the common causes of a dog throwing up bile and blood, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Throwing Up Bile and Blood — Why It Happens
A dog throwing up bile and blood usually happens when the stomach or intestines are severely irritated, inflamed, or injured. Conditions like ulcers, ingestion of foreign objects, infections, pancreatitis, or poisoning can all damage the digestive tract lining and cause bleeding.
The yellow or green bile indicates stomach irritation, while the presence of blood shows that there is active injury or disease within the gastrointestinal tract.
Because both symptoms together suggest a more serious problem than occasional vomiting, dogs with this condition often need prompt veterinary evaluation.
Common Causes of Dog Throwing Up Bile and Blood
Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers occur when the protective lining of the stomach becomes damaged. This can be due to stress, medications like NSAIDs, or underlying illness.
When ulcers form, they can bleed, leading to vomit that contains both bile and blood.
Dogs may also show signs like loss of appetite, dark stools, and lethargy. Left untreated, ulcers can worsen and cause dangerous internal bleeding.
Read more: Dog throwing up bile and pooping blood (Causes explained)
Foreign Object Ingestion
Dogs that swallow toys, bones, or other indigestible objects may develop blockages in their stomach or intestines.
These blockages irritate the digestive lining, causing vomiting of bile and sometimes blood if the tissue is damaged.
A blockage also prevents food and fluids from passing normally, so vomiting is frequent and severe. This condition is life-threatening and usually requires surgery.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, often triggered by fatty foods. It can cause repeated vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, bleeding into the digestive tract.
The combination of bile and blood in vomit is a warning sign of significant inflammation.
Dogs with pancreatitis may also become weak, dehydrated, and lose their appetite completely.
Infections
Serious infections like parvovirus in puppies or bacterial infections from contaminated food can damage the stomach and intestinal lining.
When this happens, blood mixes with bile in the vomit. Infections often cause diarrhea as well, sometimes bloody, and can quickly lead to dehydration and shock. Immediate veterinary care is essential in these cases.
Toxins and Poisoning
Certain poisons, including household chemicals, plants, or human medications, can irritate or destroy the stomach lining, leading to bile vomiting and bleeding.
Rat poison is particularly dangerous, as it prevents blood clotting and can cause severe internal hemorrhaging.
Dogs that have ingested toxins may also show neurological symptoms, drooling, seizures, or collapse.
Cancer
Gastrointestinal cancers, though less common, can cause both bile vomiting and blood in vomit. Tumors damage the stomach or intestines, leading to bleeding and obstruction.
Weight loss, chronic digestive upset, and lethargy often appear along with vomiting. This is more likely in older dogs but can occur at any age.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Throwing Up Bile and Blood
If your dog is vomiting bile and blood, remain calm but treat the situation as serious. Do not offer food immediately, as this may worsen the irritation. Instead, ensure your dog has access to small amounts of fresh water to prevent dehydration, unless vomiting is continuous.
You can withhold food for 12–24 hours to rest the stomach, but if vomiting persists, veterinary attention is necessary.
When reintroducing food, start with bland meals such as boiled chicken and rice, given in small portions. Avoid fatty or rich foods that could irritate the stomach further.
Monitor your dog closely during this time. If symptoms improve quickly and the vomiting stops, it may have been a minor irritation. However, if the vomiting continues, worsens, or your dog seems weak, immediate veterinary care is the safest step.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
You should contact your vet right away if your dog vomits blood and bile more than once, or if the vomit contains large amounts of blood. Even a small amount of blood is a red flag, since it shows that bleeding is happening inside the digestive tract.
Other warning signs include refusing water, ongoing diarrhea (especially with blood), lethargy, collapse, pale gums, or signs of severe abdominal pain. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with chronic health issues are especially at risk and should be seen urgently.
Because blood in vomit can indicate anything from an ulcer to poisoning, professional diagnosis is always needed. Your vet may run bloodwork, X-rays, or ultrasounds to find the cause and begin treatment quickly.
Read more: Dog Throwing Up Bile and Diarrhea (What it means and when to worry)
Key Takeaway
A dog throwing up bile and blood is always a concerning sign that should not be ignored. While minor irritation can sometimes cause these symptoms, the presence of blood points to a more serious underlying issue that often requires urgent veterinary care.
Offering comfort at home is helpful for mild cases, but persistent or severe vomiting always calls for professional treatment.
By acting quickly, you can protect your dog from dangerous complications and give them the best chance at recovery.