Inflammation is often the body’s response to an infection. Over the short term, it can rid cells of bacteria and disease, but kept up indefinitely, chronic inflammation creates its own problem. Inflammatory responses can be triggered in a dog’s stomach and intestine, sometimes in response to an actual infection, sometimes in response to a food or allergen, and occasionally due to a hereditary weakness. Once triggered, these responses can self-perpetuate to some degree since inflamed mucosa become even more sensitive to allergens. The result may be prolonged symptoms of digestive upset without an obvious cause. The problem can sometimes be alleviated by a change in diet. Severe cases may need medication to reduce the animal’s autoimmune response.
Inflammation of the stomach and intestine can cause acute and chronic symptoms of digestive upset. Long term conditions will put stress on a dog’s system and undermine overall health. A number of veterinarian defined diseases create this condition, including gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Stomach and Intestinal Inflammation Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $300 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,800
Frequent vomiting is a symptom which may contain the following:
Other signs which may present are:
Types
Inflammation can occur at almost any point along the gastrointestinal tract. Most forms of inflammation can be either short term or chronic.
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Short term inflammation can often be attributed to poisoning, bad food or even overeating. Some possible causes of long term inflammation include:
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Diagnosis of inflammation is often a system of elimination. There are many known viral and bacterial infections which cause vomiting, including canine parvovirus, so the veterinarian will first try to eliminate these as a possibility. Radiographs and ultrasound might be necessary to help with the diagnosis. Complete blood work will usually be taken. This often shows deficiency from constant vomiting and poor nutrition absorption, but if no other abnormalities are present it can rule out other conditions. Urine and feces tests can help to eliminate some known diseases.
The veterinarian may recommend an endoscopy or a colonoscopy to evaluate the state of the mucosa on the gastrointestinal walls. Biopsies are usually taken during these procedures to evaluate the cells at a microscopic level. Both of these procedures are somewhat invasive and will require an anesthetic. Your dog will also have to fast for several hours. Exploratory surgery is another option to ascertain the extent of the inflammation on the walls of the stomach or intestine.
All the information you can give the veterinarian regarding the type and frequency of the symptoms as well as when they first started will be important in making an accurate diagnosis.
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Most dogs will be given medication to aid with the vomiting symptoms. Antacids and anti-inflammatory drugs are also commonly prescribed. Fiber is often added to the diet for dogs with colon inflammation. This can be effective for short term problems, but long term issues will often return.
Changing your dog’s diet is usually the first treatment for chronic inflammation. You may need to withhold food for several days, and start your dog back eating on the “novel protein diet.” This involves feeding your dog a type of protein he has never eaten before such as duck, or even kangaroo in order not to immediately retrigger the same allergic response. The veterinarian may also give you hydrolyzed protein, which has been specifically designed to minimalize the chance of an allergic reaction. Starting with the novel protein, you will slowly add elements back into your dog’s diet. If the symptoms start again, you will know what specific food triggered it, and you may be able to find a substitute.
If diets are unsuccessful, several medications can help reduce long term inflammation of the stomach and intestine. An immune suppressant, cyclosporine, is one common choice for limiting the auto-immune response and reducing inflammation. The steroid prednisone is also effective, and some veterinarians are turning to a dog adapted from of CellCept, the drug which is given to humans to avoid rejection of a new organ after a transplant.
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Inflammation of the stomach and intestine isn’t usually dangerous or life threatening, but it can cause your dog a lot of misery. Follow the veterinarian’s advice and stick strictly to any dietary program. This may be difficult at times, especially when it requires withholding foods your dog loves, but it can be important for his recovery. In some cases your dog may be able to return to a more normal diet once the triggering factor is found; in others, you may have to manage his diet for some time. If the veterinarian prescribes a long term medication, check the side effects and try to give the smallest effective dosage.
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Stomach and Intestinal Inflammation Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $300 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,800
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Huggie
Rottweiler
3 Years
Mild severity
2 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
Help My 3 yr old Rottweiler he has been pooping not normal its diarrhea with blood in it his. pooped like 4-6 time today he's relatively:Update now it getting worst but he doesn't want to eat or drink and hes lethargy I can't tell what's wrong with him
Aug. 26, 2018
Huggie's Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
There are many reasons that this might be happening with Huggie, but since it doesn't seem to be getting better, it would be best to have him seen today by a veterinarian, as they can examine him, see what might be happening, and get him any treatment that he might need.
Aug. 26, 2018
Updates he is now eating and drinking again their is no more bloody diarrhea thou the poop is a little mushy and he's acting normal again what could it be then
Aug. 29, 2018
Huggie's Owner
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Fenty
Yorkie mix
7 Months
Mild severity
5 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
My 7month old Yorkie/ Maltese Mix Fenty weighs about 4lbs and has been sick for about two weeks now eating much and barely drinking water. I’ve taken her to the vet three times. The first time I took her in because she was throwing up yellow bile and excessively and she had diarrhea. They did x-rays and said they didn’t find anything alarming besides that her intestines looked swollen but they didn’t seem worried and gave her subQ fluids, cerenia injection and send her home with metronidazole and FortiFlora for 5days. On the 3rd day after our visit she threw up again though her pop looked normal and she no longer had diarrhea so I took her in to have blood work done. They injected fluids again and B-12 she slept for most of the afternoon but got up like 7hrs later wanting play, ate her kibble, drank a little bit of water and was acting like her normal self. The follow day the vet calls me and tells me everything they tested for was normal and to continue to give her the metronidazole and see what happens. The following day she started to loss her energy again, she wouldn’t eat or drink water, she wasn’t herself so the vet recommended an ultrasound. Yesterday they did the ultrasound and said they found irritation of the stomach and intestines again they gave her guilds and cerenia and prescribed another 5days of metronidazole. I read the discharge paperwork and the diagnosis says gastroenteritis small but normal adrenal glands. And they recommended I make her an appointment another doctor for further diagnostics such as ACTH and GI Panel. I’m scared that one I’m over medicating her and two all these vet visits are stressing her out. I’m not sure what I should do. I feel so helpless and I don’t want to keep putting my baby through tests I’m scared her little body cannot handle it. Please help.
Aug. 17, 2018
Fenty's Owner
5 Recommendations
From the treatment described in your question, I wouldn’t be concerned about over medicating as your Veterinarian seems to be giving metronidazole which will cover some bacterial infections and some protozoal infections and is a common treatment in cases of unexplained diarrhoea and gastroenteritis. I would recommend you visit the other Veterinarian for follow up to see if there are any other issues; it is important to get to the bottom of a diagnosis, even if it is stressful because you need to think about the long term. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 18, 2018
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Stomach and Intestinal Inflammation Average Cost
From 367 quotes ranging from $300 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,800
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