Why Is My Dog Throwing Up White Foam?
Cleaning up the occasional pile of vomit is a simple fact of dog ownership. Usually that throwup looks like dinner that didn’t sit right in your dog’s stomach, a pile of grass they secretly munched, or water after drinking too fast on a hot day. But, what does it mean when you find your dog throwing up white foam?
Usually not a sign of something serious, there are dangerous and life-threatening conditions that can lead to vomiting white foam. If you are reading this because you’ve noticed your dog throwing up white foam once or twice with no other symptoms of concern, continue to read to learn more. Call or visit your veterinarian immediately if your dog has repeatedly vomited white foam or is exhibiting any other concerning symptoms.
What Is White Foam Vomit Made Of?
The white foam dogs sometimes throw up is a combination of saliva, stomach acids, gas, and air. A dog vomiting white foam is usually an indication that their stomach is empty, but it can also occur following coughing fits where more saliva has been worked up by the dog. Coughing up white foam is different from a dog throwing up white foam, so it’s good to observe your dog if possible to see if they are heaving (using their abdomen) or coughing.
Possible Causes for Dogs Vomiting White Foam
Vomiting white foam isn’t necessarily a sign of a bigger problem. If it happens just once or every now and then, it’s probably a sign your dog had a mild upset stomach, was extremely hungry to the point of nausea, or ate or drank too quickly.
If your dog is vomiting white foam regularly accompanied by other symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, etc., it’s likely your dog is experiencing a bigger, more serious issue.
If you see your dog throw up white foam more than once or see any other concerning symptoms contact your veterinarian immediately. Here are just some of the health issues that could cause your dog to vomit white foam.
1. Acid Reflux
Dogs experience acid reflux—where stomach acid flows up from the stomach to the esophagus—because of diet, aging, allergies, stress, etc. It is also common in dogs with acid reflux for the stomach to fill with gas, though not to dangerous levels as in bloat. The mixture of the gas, the regurgitated acid, and the dog’s saliva can easily trigger them to throw up white foam.
A quick, at-home solution for acid reflux in dogs is to feed smaller, more frequent meals. You can also feed a bland diet and avoid giving your dog any human food which can cause gastrointestinal distress.
2 Bilious Vomiting Syndrome
“Bilious vomiting syndrome, or reflux gastritis, is a condition commonly observed in older dogs. It is generally associated with early morning vomiting of bile without food,” says Dr. David C. Twedt, DVM, DACVIM in a paper on chronic vomiting in dogs. According to Dr. Twedt, feeding a late-night bedtime meal can reduce vomiting in dogs with bilious vomiting syndrome.
3 Bloat
Bloat is a serious, life-threatening condition where the dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or liquid and expands to put pressure on the other organs. The stomach can also twist and cause “unproductive” vomiting where the dog only vomits white foam. Bloat must be addressed by a veterinarian immediately or it can be fatal.
4 Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection. In humans, gastroenteritis is called the flu, and we all know that the flu can make you vomit bile. Along with vomiting white foam, symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, dehydration, and more. See a vet immediately if you suspect your dog has gastroenteritis.
5 Heartworm & Other Parasites
Heartworm and other parasites can cause chronic coughing in dogs. The strain and effort of coughing while being lethargic can make dogs vomit white foam. Heartworm is preventable: have your dog tested annually and give them heartworm preventative medication as prescribed by your veterinarian. Heartworm can be deadly and must be treated by a vet.
6 Intestinal Blockage
If your dog has eaten a foreign object, the body will try to get rid of it by vomiting. When the object is lodged or stuck in the dog’s intestinal tract, the vomit will be “unproductive” and only consist of white foam. Intestinal blockages are very serious and often require surgical intervention.
7 Kidney Disease
The toxins from kidney disease can affect other organs in the body and create gastrointestinal issues which can be accompanied by vomiting white foam. Other symptoms of kidney disease include extreme thirst, excessive urination, weight loss, pale gums, etc. Contact your vet immediately if you believe your dog has kidney disease.
8 Kennel Cough & Upper Respiratory Infections
If your dog is coughing white foam rather than vomiting it, they may have a case of kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection.
“One of the most common causes for coughing resulting in the production of white foam is when a dog is infected with one of the various causes of kennel cough,” says Dr. Brian Collins, DVM in an interview with the American Kennel Club. “Dogs can have coughs that range from mild to severe, and in some cases, the dogs will cough repeatedly and then produce a small puddle of white foam on the floor.”
Kennel cough and upper respiratory infections are treated with antibiotics and require veterinary attention.
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