Gastritis in Dogs

If your pet is suffering from excessive vomiting, consult your veterinarian. An examination may reveal that the gastric mucosa is inflamed. This may cause complications such as irritation, infection, ulceration, and blockage of gastric function. The secretion of gastric acid will be elevated as well. When the condition is severe, your dog may continue to vomit on a daily basis without relief, thus becoming a chronic condition due to the stomach becoming inflamed. 

An endoscopy will be one of the tests performed during the diagnostic process; the withholding of food and the administration of gastroprotectants may be required in order to cease the gastritis.

Gastritis is an acute or chronic syndrome that causes vomiting  and gastrointestinal inflammation. This may result in gastrointestinal upset that exhibits a wide range of symptoms.

Most dogs that suffer from gastritis will experience extensive vomiting. The vomit may contain yellowish, foamy bile. This is especially true if the stomach is empty. Often, blood or food may be seen in the vomitus, particularly if your dog has partaken in consuming inappropriate foodstuffs. You might notice your pet gagging or breathing heavily after eating or drinking and your pet will have some tenderness around the stomach area when being picked up. Your dog will have no energy for movement and possibly a loss of appetite. Your dog may become dehydrated if persistent vomiting lasts more that 24 hours.

• Vomit with blood, bile, food, or froth
• Lethargy
• Painful abdomen
• Hunching of back in an attempt to ease abdominal discomfort

Types

Gastritis can be classified as acute or chronic. Acute cases are often secondary to inflammation. Chronic gastritis may be seen with conditions such as allergy or parasitic infection.

There are several possible reasons for the vomiting that your pet is experiencing. For that reason, your veterinarian will try to conduct different tests to rule out certain causes and conditions such as:

• Tumors
• Foreign bodies
• Systemic infections
• Poisoning
• Pancreatitis
• Parvovirus
• Neoplasia
• Dietary indiscretion

Gastritis has to be diagnosed through exclusion. Your veterinarian will seek to eliminate other conditions that show the same clinical symptoms prior to the final diagnosis. The initial step to determine the signs is to examine your pet’s medical history. From the dog’s medical history and information provided by you, the veterinarian will be able to assess specific things such as:

• Existing diet such as how your dog is fed and the frequency
• All the foods that your pet consumed within the last two days
• All, if any dog treats eaten
• Exposure to medications, pesticides or household cleaning agents
• Exposure to a new dog in the household
• Any serious illness within a period of one month or more
• Any past episodes of diarrhea and vomiting
• Any supplements taken within the last month

With the medical history and knowing more about your pet, the veterinarian will conduct a physical exam. Your veterinarian will be looking for any evidence of abdominal tenderness or pain, dehydration, gas, fever, bloating or swelling. Diagnostic tests will be done and these could include:

• CBC or complete blood count to look for infection and dehydration
• Urinalysis to detect urinary tract infection, diabetes, or kidney disease
• Abdominal radiograph to look for anything abnormal in the stomach such as intestinal obstruction
• Ultrasound or endoscopy to obtain a detailed view of the stomach

The first choice of treatment for gastritis is restoring the level of blood electrolytes and re-hydrating your pet. IV fluids will be administered in this case. Antibiotics will also be administered if there are severe clinical signs of infection observed. 

Prescribed medication (anti-emetics) will be given to counteract the vomiting. If your dog has a condition such as chronic colitis, the veterinarian may prescribe a motility agent to modify this condition.

Your veterinarian may withhold water and food during the first phase of treatment, after which these will be gradually reintroduced. In the interim, ice chips will be used to start the fluid intake orally. A mild diet fed to your dog in small quantities and frequently may be prescribed.

Most of the acute cases of gastritis will usually have a good prognosis after your pet has received adequate hydration. If there is no improvement within two days of receiving treatment, the veterinarian may want to reassess the situation. Chronic vomiting will cease with the elimination of the cause. Depending on your pet’s condition at time of evaluation, he may need to remain in the hospital until the veterinarian assesses him as stable enough to return home. Specific instructions will be given as to medications, if needed, and the reintroduction of food.

Gastritis in dogs can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog is at risk of developing gastritis, start searching for pet insurance today. Brought to you by Pet Insurer, Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!