It’s distressing to see your dog throwing up yellow bile and refusing both food and water.
This combination of symptoms is more than just an upset stomach—it can signal a serious health issue that requires prompt attention.
When your dog won’t eat or drink and is vomiting bile, dehydration becomes a real risk, and the underlying cause may be more urgent than you think.
We help you understand why this might be happening, what steps to take at home, and when it’s time to contact your vet immediately.
Dog Throwing Up Yellow and Not Eating or Drinking: Why It Happens
A dog throwing up yellow and not eating or drinking may be experiencing gastrointestinal blockage, pancreatitis, toxin exposure, kidney or liver disease, severe gastritis, or advanced infection. Bile vomiting is a sign of irritation in an empty stomach—but when a dog also refuses water and food, it suggests deeper nausea, pain, or organ dysfunction.
These symptoms combined are never normal and should always be taken seriously..
Dog Throwing Up Yellow and Not Eating or Drinking: Common Causes
1. Intestinal Blockage
A foreign body—like a toy, sock, or bone—can obstruct the intestines, making it impossible for food or water to pass.
Vomiting yellow bile occurs when the stomach and upper digestive tract become irritated from trying to push contents forward.
Your dog may refuse water because it leads to more vomiting or discomfort. Other signs include lethargy, bloating, whining, or straining to defecate.
This is a medical emergency that often requires surgery.
Related: Dog vomiting and not eating (Causes and when to worry)
2. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas, usually triggered by fatty foods.
Dogs suffering from it often vomit bile and refuse all food and water due to severe nausea.
They may also show signs like a hunched back, trembling, or restlessness.
Dehydration can happen quickly without fluid intake, and pancreatitis can escalate fast—especially in small or senior dogs.
3. Toxin Ingestion
Ingesting something toxic, like household chemicals, medications, poisonous plants, or moldy food, can result in immediate vomiting, refusal to eat or drink, drooling, and collapse.
The bile vomiting is a result of the stomach reacting to irritation or systemic poisoning.
Dogs may avoid food and water because it worsens nausea or because they are neurologically affected.
This situation is urgent—call your vet or animal poison control immediately.
4. Acute Kidney or Liver Failure
When the kidneys or liver aren’t functioning properly, toxins build up in the bloodstream, leading to severe nausea, vomiting bile, and loss of appetite.
Water intake may decline because your dog simply feels too sick to drink.
Additional signs might include yellowing eyes or gums, bad breath, confusion, or tremors.
Organ failure in dogs can happen gradually—or appear suddenly—and should never be ignored.
Related: Dog throwing up yellow and not eating (Here’s why)
5. Severe Gastritis or Gastroenteritis
An inflamed stomach or intestinal lining—due to bacteria, spoiled food, sudden diet changes, or infections—can cause intense nausea.
If your dog is vomiting yellow, not eating or drinking, and has diarrhea, it could be a bad case of gastroenteritis.
Without hydration, electrolyte imbalances can develop quickly.
This can be especially dangerous in puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with pre-existing conditions.
6. Parvovirus (Especially in Puppies)
If a puppy or young, unvaccinated dog is throwing up yellow and not eating or drinking, parvo is a top concern.
This highly contagious virus causes vomiting, severe diarrhea, dehydration, and rapid deterioration.
It requires immediate hospitalization. Dogs with parvo often begin with bile vomiting and appetite loss, and within hours, symptoms worsen.
Early detection is critical for survival.
7. Bile Reflux
Though less common, bile reflux (similar to acid reflux in humans) can cause vomiting and refusal to eat or drink.
The condition results from bile flowing backward from the small intestine into the stomach, causing irritation.
Dogs with bile reflux often vomit early in the morning or after long fasting periods.
If it leads to significant nausea, your dog may avoid food and water entirely.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Throwing Up Yellow and Not Eating or Drinking
If your dog refuses both food and water for more than 12–24 hours, skip home treatment and go straight to your vet.
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can develop rapidly.
If the symptoms are very recent (within a few hours) and your dog is still alert:
Withhold food for 6–12 hours, but monitor closely.
Offer ice chips or tiny sips of water every 30–60 minutes to reduce dehydration risk.
Check hydration: Press your dog’s gums. If they’re dry or tacky, or the skin doesn’t snap back after pinching, your dog is likely dehydrated.
Do NOT force food or water. This can worsen vomiting and lead to aspiration.
Keep your dog calm and cool while monitoring closely for additional signs like shaking, bloating, or worsening behavior.
If vomiting continues or no drinking occurs within 12–24 hours, seek veterinary care immediately.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Contact your vet right away if:
Your dog has vomited yellow more than once and refuses both food and water.
Vomiting is accompanied by lethargy, shivering, whining, or collapse.
Your dog hasn’t urinated in 12 hours (a sign of dehydration).
There’s blood in the vomit or stool.
You suspect toxin ingestion, even without visible symptoms.
Your dog is a puppy, senior, or has known medical conditions.
Your vet may recommend diagnostic tests like blood work, abdominal X-rays, ultrasound, or hospitalization for IV fluids and medications.
Key Takeaway
A dog throwing up yellow and not eating or drinking is dealing with more than just a stomach issue—it’s likely facing a serious health threat.
Whether it’s a blockage, organ failure, or infection, the refusal to take in water is especially dangerous and puts your dog at risk of rapid dehydration.
Always treat these symptoms as urgent. Monitor closely, avoid guessing, and seek help quickly if things don’t improve.
You know your dog better than anyone, and your swift action could make all the difference in their recovery.