In most cases, yellow foam indicates that the SHIH TZU’s stomach is relatively empty of food. The yellow color comes from bile, a digestive liquid produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and then released into the small intestine just below the stomach.
A SHIH TZU may vomit yellow foam simply because the stomach is empty, and bile can be irritating.
If your SHIH TZU is healthy and eating and defecating normally, it may help to reduce the time between meals. But that doesn’t mean your SHIH TZU should be fed more. Instead, a meal can be divided into two or three smaller portions given during the day.
Unfortunately, there are many medical conditions that can cause a SHIH TZU to vomit, so contacting your veterinarian is ideal in this case.
Possible medical concerns
- If there is something in the vomit other than yellow foam, it can be very helpful to collect a sample for your veterinarian to evaluate. Of course, if there is grass in the foam, for example, you may already have your answer.
- If vomiting becomes frequent, your SHIH TZU shows other signs, including loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea, or if you notice a yellow tint on your SHIH TZU’s skin, eyes, or gums – take him for a visit to your veterinarian.
The problem could be as simple as some effects of sudden changes in diet or some medication, but it could also be something more serious, such as pancreatitis, toxins, liver disease, parasites, allergies, tumors, and much more. When a foreign body is involved, such as a sock that suddenly disappeared, it may even require emergency surgery to unblock the intestine.