DOGS · Real veterinary cases
My cat has been vomiting yellow foam for 3 weeks and stopped eating — could it be Helicobacter gastritis? — could it be Liver disease?
A pet owner asked our search engine this exact question. We pulled 35 matching peer-reviewed veterinary case reports from our library of published veterinary papers. Here's what they say — in plain English, with citations.
Plain-English synthesis
## What these cases have in common The cases predominantly involve pets experiencing persistent vomiting and loss of appetite, often linked to issues like foreign bodies in the stomach, gastric ulcers, or gastritis. Some cases specifically highlight Helicobacter gastritis, which can cause similar symptoms. ## Treatments that worked - **Surgical removal of foreign bodies**: In cases where pets had foreign objects in their stomachs, surgery was performed to remove these objects, leading to recovery in 3 of 4 relevant cases. - **Antibiotic therapy for gastritis**: In a case of Helicobacter gastritis, a combination of antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor was effective in resolving symptoms, as seen in 1 of 1 relevant case. - **Management of gastric ulcers**: Treatment involving antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and mucosal protectants was successful in cases of gastric ulcers, with 2 of 2 cases showing improvement after treatment. ## Outcomes The treatments mentioned were generally effective, with surgical interventions and targeted medical therapies leading to successful outcomes in multiple cases. ## Next step Bring these specific cases to your vet to discuss whether any sound like your pet's situation.
Conditions worth asking your vet about
These are the specific named diagnoses a vet would typically investigate for this presentation — not categories like “metabolic disorder”, but the actual conditions you can mention by name.
Chronic gastritis (Helicobacter-associated)
Chronic gastritis involves inflammation of the stomach lining, which can be caused by Helicobacter bacteria. It often results in vomiting and decreased appetite. Diagnosis typically involves endoscopy and biopsy to confirm the presence of Helicobacter.
Liver disease
Liver disease can lead to vomiting, anorexia, and jaundice due to the liver's role in detoxification and metabolism. Blood tests and imaging can help assess liver function and structure.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, causing vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. It is diagnosed through blood tests and ultrasound imaging.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD involves chronic inflammation of the intestines, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Diagnosis is through biopsy and ruling out other causes of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gastric foreign body
A gastric foreign body occurs when an object is ingested and becomes lodged in the stomach, causing vomiting and anorexia. X-rays or ultrasound are used to identify the object.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease leads to toxin buildup in the blood, causing vomiting, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Blood tests and urinalysis are used for diagnosis.
Easily confused with: Addison's disease · Gastric ulcer · Food allergy · Hypoadrenocorticism
Real peer-reviewed cases
Each link below opens the full PetCaseFinder write-up of a published case report. Bring any of these to your next vet visit — they're the kind of citation a vet will recognise.
#1 match
Duodenogastric intussusception with concurrent gastric foreign body in a dog: a case report and literature review.Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association · 2013 · United States
A 3-year-old spayed female boxer, weighing about 50 pounds, was brought to the vet because she was vomiting a lot and seemed to be straining to have a bowel movement. During the examination, the vet noticed her heart was racing, she was breathing fast, she was dehydrated, and her belly was painful. X-rays revealed a golf ball stuck in her stomach and a large mass in the area where the stomach connects to the intestine. Attempts to remove the golf ball using a camera were unsuccessful, and surgery was needed to properly diagnose and treat the condition, which involved parts of her stomach and intestine folding into each other. After surgery, where the foreign object was removed and steps were taken to prevent future issues, she was able to go home about a day and a half later and was doing well at her follow-up a year later.
Read the full case →#2 match
STOMACH FOREIGN BODIES IN LABRADOR DOG AND ITS SURGICAL MANAGEMENT - A CASE REPORTExploratory Animal and Medical Research · 2017 · IN
A one-year-old male Labrador was brought to the vet because he had been vomiting a lot, eating less than usual, and seemed very tired and restless. The vet suspected he had swallowed a metal key ring, and tests using ultrasound and X-rays confirmed there was a foreign object in his stomach. To fix this, the dog underwent surgery to remove the object, and afterward, he was given antibiotics and pain relief, along with care for his surgical wound. He recovered well without any complications.
Read the full case →#3 match
Case report: Surgical treatment of pyloric obstruction with intramural gastric abscess induced by fragmented crystalline foreign materials in a dog.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2024 · South Korea
An 11-year-old neutered male Maltese dog was brought to the vet because he had been vomiting and very tired for two days. An ultrasound showed a thickened area in the stomach, and a CT scan revealed a mass that was blocking the exit of the stomach. Because the dog's condition was getting worse, surgery was performed to remove the mass, which turned out to be a gastric abscess (a pocket of infection in the stomach) caused by tiny, sharp foreign materials. After the surgery, the blockage was resolved, the dog's symptoms improved, and there were no major complications. This case is unique because it's the first time such an abscess caused by these foreign materials has been reported in a dog.
Read the full case →#4 match
Ultrasonographic and endoscopic guidance in diagnosis of Helicobacter gastritis presenting as a mass lesion in a dog: A case report.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2022 · United States
This case involves an 8-year-old female spayed golden retriever who had been vomiting for a long time. When the dog was examined using ultrasound, the vets found several round areas in her stomach that looked unusual. A closer look with an endoscope showed raised lesions in the stomach lining, and tests confirmed an infection with Helicobacter (a type of bacteria that can cause stomach issues). The dog was treated with antibiotics and a medication to reduce stomach acid for a few weeks, and after the treatment, her vomiting stopped and the stomach lesions were no longer visible on ultrasound. Overall, the treatment was successful.
Read the full case →#5 match
Case report: Surgical treatment of pyloric obstruction with intramural gastric abscess induced by fragmented crystalline foreign materials in a dogFrontiers in Veterinary Science · 2024 · CH
An 11-year-old neutered male Maltese dog was brought to the vet after experiencing vomiting and being very tired for two days. An ultrasound showed a thickened area in the stomach, and a CT scan revealed a mass that was blocking the normal flow of food. Because the dog's condition was getting worse, surgery was done to remove the mass, which turned out to be a gastric abscess (a pocket of infection in the stomach) caused by tiny pieces of foreign material. After the surgery, the blockage was resolved, the dog's symptoms improved, and there were no major complications. This case is unique because it's the first time such an abscess caused by foreign materials has been reported in a dog, and it suggests that vets should consider this type of issue when diagnosing stomach masses.
Read the full case →
Your pet's case is probably already published.
PetCaseFinder reads thousands of peer-reviewed veterinary case reports and translates the relevant ones into plain English. Type your pet's exact symptoms and we'll surface the published cases that match — with citations you can bring to your vet.
Run a personalised search →Frequently asked questions
What does My cat has been vomiting yellow foam for 3 weeks and stopped… usually mean in dogs?
Published veterinary case reports most often link this presentation to: Chronic gastritis (Helicobacter-associated), Liver disease, Pancreatitis. Your vet may also rule out other causes depending on age, breed, and history — this page is a research aid, not a diagnosis.
How many real cases did PetCaseFinder find?
We surfaced 35 peer-reviewed case reports from our library of published veterinary case reports. The top matches are listed above with full citations.
Is this veterinary advice?
No. PetCaseFinder surfaces published veterinary research so you can have a better-informed conversation with your own veterinarian. Always confirm any diagnosis or treatment with a licensed vet who can examine your pet.