29 Dec Gastritis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment (Part 1)

Gastritis in dogs is an acute or chronic syndrome that causes vomiting and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach’s swelling or inflammation in dogs can lead to gastrointestinal upset, with a wide range of symptoms. One of the most common reasons dogs sees a veterinarian is when they vomit or have diarrhoea. Both of these are nonspecific symptoms of a variety of diseases. One of these diseases is gastritis. Stay tuned to learn more.

Significant symptoms of gastritis in dogs

Because the dog’s stomach is part of the animal’s upper gastrointestinal tract, the main symptom of gastritis is vomiting. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite and lethargy, complications such as irritation, infection, ulcers and obstruction of stomach function. The examination of this disease may indicate inflammation of the gastric mucosa. In the case of gastritis, gastric acid secretion also increases. In more severe cases, vomiting may persist in dogs, and gastritis may become a chronic illness. Endoscopy is one of the tests performed during the diagnostic process to evaluate a pet. 

Other symptoms of gastritis

In general, some of the symptoms of gastritis in dogs include:

• Lethargy
• stomachache
• Vomiting with blood, bile, food or foam
• Squatting in an attempt to relieve abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Weight Loss
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Intermittent and chronic vomiting
• Flatulence and bloating
• Pale red blood in the urine
• hair loss
• Reluctance or lack of appetite
• Melena (black tarry stools, a sign of digested blood)

Vomiting in dogs

Most dogs that suffer from gastritis experience extensive vomiting. Vomiting may have yellowish bile and foam. It’s especially true if the stomach is empty. You may find blood or food in the vomit if the dog has eaten improper food. After eating or drinking, you may notice your pet breathing heavily. In this situation, your dog may not have the energy to move. If persistent vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, your dog may become dehydrated. Sometimes multiple episodes of vomiting can irritate the oesophagus. This condition can lead to blood vomiting. Of course, vomiting blood can be a sign of something more serious, so if you see this symptom, always seek treatment and veterinary advice. Consult your veterinarian if your pet suffers from excessive vomiting.

Types of gastritis in dogs

Scientists classify gastritis in dogs as acute or chronic. Inflammation can often cause acute gastritis. Conditions such as allergies or parasitic infections can also cause chronic gastritis.

Causes of gastritis in dogs

Acute gastritis is a condition that is commonly seen in dogs. This condition is more likely to be caused by a lack of dietary precautions, meaning that your dog has eaten something that upsets his stomach. It can be from spoiled dog food, raw food contaminated with bacteria, fatty foods and even non-food items such as litter. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, moulds, liver disease, fungal infections, mast cell tumours associated with your dog’s gastrointestinal tract, and pancreatitis can also cause gastritis. If your dog suffers from chronic or intermittent vomiting and lasts two weeks or more, he may be suffering from a more chronic type of gastritis.

There are several possible causes of vomiting that your pet experiences. So, the veterinarian tries to perform various tests to rule out certain causes and conditions:

• Tumour
• Pancreatitis
• Neoplasia
• Poisoning
• Parvovirus
• Dietary carelessness (consumption of rotten food – foreign items – plant – hair or overeating)
• Food allergy
• Eating chemical stimulants or toxins (chemical fertilizers-cleaners, etc.)
• Taking some medications (aspirin -antibiotics-steroids)
• Infectious agents (viral-bacterial-parasitic)
• Shock or sepsis (systemic infection)
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• gastric cancer

Improvement

Most acute gastritis usually has a good prognosis after receiving adequate hydration (water intake) from the pet. If there is no improvement within two days of receiving treatment, the veterinarian will re-evaluate the patient’s condition. Chronic vomiting is treated by eliminating the underlying cause. Depending on the animal’s condition, you may need to hospitals your dog.

Treatment for chronic gastritis depends on what causes your dog to have chronic symptoms. Likewise, the prognosis for an acute problem is good, but the forecast for chronic gastritis depends on the underlying cause. If you’re concerned about your dog vomiting, talk to your veterinarian about the risk of the disease.