puppy is vomiting white foam

by Randy D
(Mesa, Arizona, USA)

I have a 9 week old male pit bull. Tonight he started vomiting. First it was his dinner then it was something that resembled bile.

And now its white foam. What do i do?



Hi Randy
The bile and white foam mean that his tummy is empty, and so there's no food to vomit back up.

Puppy vomiting can be a sign of something simple such as a change in diet, too much stress (for example if he's just been brought into his new home, had a long trip, got over excited etc.), or it could be one of the first symptoms of one of the many, contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to.

Pitbulls are one of the breeds that are especially at risk from Canine Parvovirus, so you will need to be very cautious here.

If your little guy continues to vomit, has diarrhea, seems lethargic and loses his appetite, I'd strongly recommend having him examined by a vet right away.

There is an adjustment period that pups often go through when they first come to their new home, and some of these symptoms can show up then as a result of stress. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page. BUT, as they can all also be signs of serious illness, it's better to consult a vet if in any doubt at all. Parvo can kill a young puppy within 24 hours.

I hope this helps, and I wish you the very best of luck with your pup.