Dogs that are both vomiting bile and shaking are showing two concerning symptoms that can signal anything from stomach upset to a serious medical emergency.
Seeing your dog weak, trembling, and bringing up yellow bile can be distressing and confusing for owners.
We outline the common reasons why dogs may throw up bile and shake, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Throwing Up Bile and Shaking — Why It Happens
A dog that vomits bile and shakes is often experiencing discomfort from gastrointestinal irritation, pain, or systemic illness. This can happen due to an empty stomach, acid reflux, infections, pancreatitis, toxin ingestion, or severe stress. The vomiting of yellow or foamy bile usually indicates the stomach is empty, while shaking can be a reaction to nausea, pain, fever, or weakness.
While some cases may be mild and temporary, others can signal life-threatening problems that need urgent care.
Dog Throwing Up Bile and Shaking: Common Causes
Empty Stomach or Acid Reflux
When a dog’s stomach is empty for too long, bile can accumulate and irritate the stomach lining. This often causes early morning vomiting of yellow or foamy bile.
Shaking may occur alongside nausea and hunger discomfort. While occasional episodes can be harmless, frequent bile vomiting combined with trembling suggests a more significant problem that needs veterinary attention.
Read more: Dog Throwing Up Bile and Diarrhea (What it means for your dog’s health)
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a common cause of bile vomiting in dogs.
The condition is extremely painful, which explains the trembling or shaking that accompanies it.
Dogs with pancreatitis may also refuse food, appear lethargic, and have abdominal tenderness. The pain combined with digestive upset often produces both vomiting bile and noticeable trembling.
Ingesting Toxins or Foreign Objects
If a dog has eaten something toxic — like certain plants, human medications, or spoiled food — vomiting bile may occur as the body tries to purge the substance.
Shaking often develops as a response to poisoning or as the dog’s system weakens.
Foreign object blockages in the intestines can also trigger vomiting, abdominal pain, and trembling, requiring urgent veterinary treatment.
Gastrointestinal Infections
Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites can upset a dog’s digestive system, leading to bile vomiting and shaking from fever or abdominal cramping.
Dogs may also have diarrhea, drooling, or loss of appetite. Puppies and senior dogs are especially vulnerable because dehydration develops quickly and can be dangerous.
Pain or Internal Inflammation
Dogs often shake when they are in pain. Conditions such as gastric ulcers, intestinal inflammation, or even organ problems like kidney or liver disease can trigger vomiting bile and shaking simultaneously.
The trembling is the body’s response to discomfort, and the vomiting reflects the digestive upset caused by the underlying illness.
Stress or Anxiety
Although less common than medical issues, stress and anxiety can contribute to both shaking and vomiting bile. Dogs under emotional strain may develop stomach irritation or reflux.
While stress-related causes are generally less severe, it’s important to rule out underlying health problems first, as physical illness is a more frequent cause of these symptoms.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Throwing Up Bile and Shaking
If your dog is showing both symptoms, the first step is to observe carefully. Check how often the vomiting occurs, whether bile is the only thing coming up, and how severe the shaking is. Also note any other signs like diarrhea, drooling, collapse, or refusal to eat.
You can temporarily withhold food for a few hours, then reintroduce a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice in small amounts. Ensure your dog has access to fresh water at all times to prevent dehydration.
If your dog has only had one mild episode and is otherwise bright and alert, monitoring at home may be reasonable. Sometimes adjusting feeding times or offering smaller, more frequent meals can help prevent bile vomiting caused by an empty stomach.
However, if your dog is lethargic, weak, unable to keep water down, or continues vomiting and trembling, it’s safest to seek veterinary care promptly. Avoid giving over-the-counter medications without professional guidance, as some human drugs are toxic to dogs.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
You should contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog’s vomiting and shaking are persistent or accompanied by other worrying signs.
If your dog vomits bile multiple times in one day, appears in pain, or cannot keep water down, veterinary attention is urgent. Severe abdominal pain, collapse, bloody vomit, or signs of poisoning are red flags that should never be ignored.
Even if the symptoms seem mild but keep recurring, a vet visit is still recommended. Chronic bile vomiting and shaking can point to underlying conditions like pancreatitis, ulcers, or organ disease that need proper treatment.
Read more: Dog Throwing Up Bile and Drooling (Should you worry?)
Key Takeaway
A dog throwing up bile and shaking may simply be reacting to an empty stomach, but it can also signal pancreatitis, infections, or toxic ingestion.
While occasional mild episodes can sometimes be managed at home, persistent or severe symptoms always require veterinary attention.
Acting quickly can make all the difference in keeping your dog safe, comfortable, and on the road to recovery.