What is bile and some common causes of vomiting in dogs?

[handmadebyDeborah]

I don't want to panic, but my dog vomited a very large pile of bile (white). Before I rush him (30 lb Boston Terrier, 8 yrs old) to the doctor, I would like to know what to watch for and what some common causes might be.

He is a very sensitive dog and gets upset easily. We are NEVER out late, but came home a couple hours later than usual last night and this morning he vomited.  With his sensitve personality, I was curious if it could be related.
Deborah

[handmadebyDeborah]

Thank you so much! The "when the stomach gets too empty" sounds like it might be my dog.  They only eat dinner when we eat. Since we were out late last evening, their bowls were still full when we got home.  (Plus the frothy mucus thing describes it better than yellow or green).
I'm glad I found this site.

[peekawho]

Bile is usually green or yellow, in our dogs experiences.  If it was white and foamy, it could be frothy mucus...hard to really say.

If it was a one time thing, just watch him carefully for other signs of distress such as abnormal panting, unusual behaviors such as rolling repeatedly or getting into the "praying" position often, diarrhea, not eating, or if he seems to be biting or bothering at his flanks, or tummy bloating.

I usually withhold one  meal after a single vomiting episode (or 2), and give boiled chicken/white cooked rice for the next meal or two, then back to regular food.  Unless there are other signs, as described above.

One of our dogs vomits bile when his stomach gets too empty.