How to Control Excess Bile in a Dog

Bile can build up in a dog's stomach for several reasons. Sometimes it's because he hasn't eaten, but it can happen because he's eaten too much or too fast. Vomiting bile, a nasty-smelling greenish liquid, can result from too much exercise after eating, or it can indicate gastrointestinal disease. Changing your dog's eating patterns or food can help control the accumulation of excess bile, and herbal home remedies may help. But if he continues to have the problem, consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of an underlying problem.

  1. Diet

    • Feed your dog small amounts of food several times a day to give his stomach something to work on and keep the bile where it belongs and doing its job in digestion. A small meal before bedtime can help prevent bile accumulation in the stomach overnight. If you have multiple dogs, feed them separately (in separate rooms if necessary), as a dog may stress out over having another dog near his food, therefore gobbling his dinner quickly to keep the other dog from attempting to get it. Take steps to prevent your dog from vomiting: Feed wet food (canned food or moistened kibble), limit exertion for an hour or so after a meal, and restrict drinking immediately after eating.

    Home Remedies

    • Licorice, ginger and mint are popular herbal remedies for digestive upsets in humans and animals; mix small amounts -- a quarter-teaspoon to a teaspoon, depending on the size of the dog -- into your dog's food. Other, more exotic herbs such as slippery elm and marshmallow (the herb Althaea officinalis, not the sugar puffs you put in your hot chocolate) are said to be helpful. Potassium phosphate, one of the 12 essential mineral salts found in body tissue, can benefit an animal or a human with a digestive problem in that it maintains electrolyte balance; the easiest way to provide this to your dog is offering an electrolytic sports drink such as Gatorade.

    Medication

    • If these actions do not help, consult your veterinarian. He may prescribe a medication such as Tagamet, Pepcid or Zantac to help to control the amount of bile and stomach acid your dog produces. It is not a good idea give your dog human prescription medications or even relatively harmless over-the-counter remedies such as Pepto-Bismol without consulting a vet, because the appropriate dosage will depend on your dog's weight.

    Disease

    • If your dog continues to vomit bile after you have changed his diet and eating pattern, and tried herbal remedies -- especially if he shows other symptoms such as diarrhea -- he may be suffering from an acute or chronic gastrointestinal problem that requires medical attention. Take the dog to the vet and be sure to inform the vet of all the remedies you've tried. Blood tests and other special examinations, even surgery, may be necessary, but an experienced vet may have further suggestions to correct the problem with less drastic measures. Always consult an experienced veterinarian regarding the health and treatment of your pet, and follow instructions carefully.