Why do dogs get gastritis

Pet Assure is the largest veterinary network in the U. Pet Assure powers DVM Network, a brand built to support our participating veterinary professionals and help them grow their practice. Visit www. Canine Gastritis Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining.

It is a common condition. Both can be caused by the following: Chemotherapy Antibiotics Infections Inflammatory bowel disease Kidney disease Liver disease Food allergy Many times, acute gastritis is brought on by: Viruses, bacteria, or parasites Spoiled food Plant material Eating hair Eating fertilizers Swallowing cleaning agents Human medications: lead aspirin, antibiotics, steroids Chronic gastritis tends to be caused by long-term exposure to: Any of the causes listed for acute gastritis Inflammatory bowel disease Stomach cancer Chronic gastritis means your dog has been vomiting for longer than two weeks.

Your veterinarian will most likely recommend the following: Withhold food for 24 hours, which allows the stomach to rest Offer small amounts of water If your dog does not vomit for 24 hours, offer it a small amount of a bland food Gradually increase the amount of food over the next few days If vomiting returns, withhold all food and drinks and call your veterinarian Chronic gastritis will be treated based on the cause of inflammation.

You can take measures to lessen the issue, though. If your dog has a habit of getting into food, put the food in places where they are unable to access it. If your dog has a few specific things they like to get into, like a houseplant, you can purchase repellant sprays that should keep them from indulging the behavior.

A lot of times, these behaviors are also the result of anxiety, stress , or a lack of exercise. Make sure that you give your pet plenty of exercise and spend an appropriate amount of time with them. Thankfully, most of the symptoms of gastritis are fairly visible and obvious, making it an easy condition to spot. The most common and easily recognizable symptom of gastritis is vomiting, and often it is the only symptom.

Vomiting is not the same thing as regurgitation, however. Regurgitation is performed from the esophagus, not the stomach, and is caused by different reasons than vomiting. To tell the difference, pay attention to your dog's abdomen when they are spitting food back up; if their abdomen is contracting, then they are vomiting. Dog vomit is typically yellowish and foamy, with bits of undigested food throughout. Green vomit is also normal, and not a reason for concern.

If you notice red or blood in your dog's vomit, especially if it has a "coffee ground," appearance, you should seek vet attention for your dog right away, as this means that there is a more serious underlying issue. Just like with humans, an upset stomach can lead to a lack of appetite , usually due to nausea or other abdominal discomforts.

It is recommended to withhold food from your pet for a day or two when you first notice signs of gastritis to help their system rebalance; however, if their appetite does not return afterward, then you should seek a vet for assistance. Stomach pain is another common symptom of gastritis. In humans, it's relatively easy to know if someone is experiencing stomach pain because all they have to do is tell you.

Because dogs are not able to communicate so easily, it's up to you to keep a watchful eye on your pet. Stomach pain usually occurs when dogs ingest something that is potentially harmful to them, like ibuprofen or naproxen, and can lead to a burning or cramping sensation.

A difference in your dog's appetite for fluids can also be an indicator of gastritis. This is very important to monitor since gastritis leads to a loss of fluids through vomiting or diarrhea. Always make sure that your pet is getting plenty of fluids, and consult with your vet if you are having a hard time getting them to ingest water as they may be able to help with fluid therapy.

Just like we lose our usual energy levels when under the weather, your dog may be more lethargic, depressed , or listless while going through gastritis.

This is because your dog's body is hard at work removing any harmful substances, fighting off bacteria, and bringing their system back to the way it's supposed to be. It's important to note, however, that lethargy and listlessness on their own aren't necessarily an indicator of gastritis; they should be accompanied by other symptoms as well.

If your dog is less energetic than normal and not showing any other signs of gastritis, then you should take them to a vet to get to the bottom of the issue. Digestive issues like diarrhea or constipation are usually side effects of gastritis as well. This is because the condition causes the digestive glands and fluids to be less effective than normal. It could also be that your pet's system is trying to rid itself of whatever it is that made it sick in the first place.

Either way, if you notice that your dog is experiencing digestive issues, make sure that you are giving them enough fluids to compensate for the issue. Excessive drooling or salivation is a common side effect of lots of health issues in dogs.

While drooling itself is relatively harmless, look for other concurrent symptoms, as they will help you determine the root of the issue. Weight loss goes hand in hand with gastritis because your pet is not eating as much nor retaining food long enough to get all the nutrients from it that they need. So long as the weight loss doesn't become severe, it shouldn't be an issue and will return to normal once your pet is back in good health.

Of course, if you notice that it is severe, take them to a vet to resolve the issue. Aside from diarrhea, an abnormal stool is a slightly less common symptom of gastritis, though it can still occur. If you notice that your pet's stool is black, tar-like, or contains blood, you should take them to a vet immediately, as it can indicate a more serious problem than just gastritis.

Determining if gastritis is the cause of your dog's symptoms is important, especially if they're experiencing symptoms over a longer period of time because there could be a more serious health concern behind the issue. While the cause of acute gastritis usually goes undetermined due to its short duration, there are a clinical signs to determine the underlying cause of chronic gastritis. Your vet may also choose to conduct other tests like urinalysis or a complete blood count, depending on the effectiveness of a chemical blood profile.

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Knowing what is happening to them and how to fix it requires additional effort. If you are noticing that your dog is not working as well as it normally does, particularly with issues related to digestion, you may be suffering from gastritis. It is a fairly common ailment, especially when these are young, since they tend to eat more things without any control.

Do you want to know what exactly canine gastritis is, what are its symptoms and how to treat it? So keep reading to find out everything. Gastritis is an infection, in this case in dogs, the result of inflammation of the gastrointestinal lining in the stomach. This inflammation causes a variety of very annoying symptoms to the animal. Gastritis can be acute , where symptoms appear suddenly and severely, or chronic , where they appear constantly and may even worsen over time.

If you have the feeling that your dog may be suffering from some kind of gastritis, do not hesitate to consult your vet. Next, we will tell you more about the possible symptoms, the causes of gastritis and the possible treatments. As we have previously said, the symptoms of gastritis in dogs are the result of inflammation in the gastrointestinal lining.