Gastritis is defined as a condition in which there is inflammation occurs in the stomach. This condition can be very painful and results in very unpleasant symptoms. Gastritis is a very common condition in dogs. There can be various causes behind this problem. The stomach lining can get irritated by viruses, bacteria, and any foreign substance.
Usually, gastritis in dogs appears in two forms acute and chronic form. In acute, chronic gastritis, the symptoms can be severe and sudden. In chronic gastritis, the symptoms appear slowly and get worse with time.
Gastritis has a very adverse effect on dog health
That is why if you find any symptoms in your pup, consult your vet immediately. Here we will discuss gastritis in a dog, its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Causes of Gastritis in Dogs
Acute gastritis is very common in dogs. Dogs are very careless when left alone regarding their food choices. That is why they often eat non-food items. It includes garbage or raw food, foreign objects, kitty litter, plants, molds, toxins, fungi, table scraps, or leftovers.
It usually takes two to three days for dogs to recover from acute gastritis.
However, supportive treatment along with some dietary modifications can help them recover.
The prognosis for acute gastritis is good, and the dog can recover. The common condition and causes associated with acute and chronic gastritis include:
- Chemotherapy;
- Infections;
- Antibiotics;
- Inflammatory bowel disease;
- Liver disease;
- Kidney disease;
- Food allergy;
- Viruses, bacteria, or parasites;
- Plant material;
- Eating fertilizers;
- Eating hair;
- Cleaning agents;
- Human medications.
Top Signs of Gastritis in Dogs
The most common sign that appears as a result of gastritis is extensive vomiting. This symptom is more obvious if the stomach is empty.
The vomit is different than normal as it contains yellowish foamy bile.
At some point, blood may also appear in the vomit. It may happen if your dog has eaten something inappropriate, such as any foreign object.
Other signs appear that the pet is breathing with difficulty or gagging after drinking and eating. Also, there will be pain around the stomach when pressed. The dog will feel restless, bored, lose appetite, and reluctant to get up. If vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, dogs can become severely dehydrated. Some other obvious ones that will appear are
- Excessive thirst;
- Abdominal pain;
- Lethargy and depression;
- Blood in the feces or vomit;
- Black stool.
Diagnosis of Gastritis in Dogs
The diagnosis of gastritis in dogs is very simple. Most vets diagnose it through the exclusion process. They can exclude other conditions showing the same symptoms before a final diagnosis. The first step your vet will do is ask about your puppy’s medical history. With the help of signs and information, you will provide, your vet will evaluate different things.
- What is your dog’s diet, and what is the frequency?
- How much and what type of food your pet has consumed in the last two days?
- Any treats that your dog has eaten in excess?
- Exposure of pesticides, medications, or any other cleaning agents to your dog?
- The last illness your puppy has suffered in recent months?
- Exposure to any other sick animal?
- Last episode of vomiting and diarrhea?
- Any medication administered in the last few weeks?
After knowing all about your puppy’s history, the vet will perform a physical exam.
Your vet will look for signs of foam in the vomit. They will also look for signs of abdominal pain or tenderness, bloating, fever, gas, dehydration, or bloating. The diagnostic tests that will be performed are
- A complete blood count (CBC) is done for dehydration and infection;
- An abdominal X-ray is done to look for any abnormalities in the intestine and stomach;
- Urinalysis is done to check for diabetes, urinary tract infections, and kidney disease;
- Endoscopy is done with a detailed analysis of the stomach.
These tests, along with history, help in diagnosing the problem more easily.
Treatment of Canine Gastritis
The first line of treatment for severe gastritis symptoms is to provide rehydration therapy. Intravenous fluids, such as electrolytes help restore fluid balance. If there is any bacterial infection involved, antibiotics are given to control vomiting and diarrhea.
If vomiting is severe, it is best to interrupt the daily diet and provide a small amount of water.
Give fluids intravenously for the first 24 to 48 hours and then begin giving food in small amounts.
A low-fat diet can also help cure gastritis. Consult your vet and give your pup the best diet that is safe and helps in recovery.
If there is any unusual cause behind gastritis, it is important to treat it first.
If your puppy has eaten something toxic, stop your puppy’s access to that substance. In case of obstruction in the stomach or intestine, surgery is recommended.
If gastritis is due to exposure to toxic chemicals or any allergens, the substance must be removed from the environment. Your vet will administer antihistamines for treatment.
If there are any other conditions along with gastritis, they should be treated separately. There are some dogs that experience gastritis frequently, so special measures are taken for them. Take note of your dog’s allergic reactions and how severe symptoms your dog shows when suffering from gastritis.
Prevention
The best way to avoid this problem is to prevent it in the first place. Gastritis can be prevented with a proper diet, and fresh, clean water. Also, teach your puppy not to put his mouth in the trash. It has been noted that the main cause of gastritis is a poor diet for a long time. Use positive reinforcement to teach your dog not to eat from the trash.
Both human and pet organisms rely on various microorganisms to keep everything functioning properly and keep us healthy. Sometimes organisms need help to function better and fight against problems like gastritis.
That is when solutions like digestive supplements come in to stimulate the growth of good bacteria.
For instance, Black Balance by Medrego digestive supplements are fully natural snacks for dogs in the form of cookies, which are filled with multi-beneficial ingredients such as fluvic and humic acids, which have been used for a long time in human traditional medicine.
Thanks to these ingredients this solution improves the work of the stomach and intestinal microbiome. In addition, the product improves the absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract and removes heavy metals and free radicals from the body, thereby helping to manage gastritis.
Read more about Black Balance’s success regarding pet digestive health improvement here.
Prognosis
The prognosis for acute gastritis is good, and dogs can recover quickly. However, the prognosis of chronic gastritis depends on the underlying cause. If there is any long-term infection, chronic gastritis can cause serious harm to your dog’s health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your puppy suffers from acute gastritis, see your vet right away. A complete body exam, medical history, and laboratory tests help find the cause of the problem. Treatment, if given on time, helps to recover more easily.
The Medrego team always suggests consulting a qualified veterinarian for personalized advice.
