Gastritis is a condition that
describes inflammation, irritation or damage of the stomach lining and is one
of the most common digestive disorders in dogs and cats. The stomach secretes
gastric juice
which is
rich in hydrochloric acid and it needed for digestion. Gastric acid is produced
by cells lining the stomach. When the stomach lining is irritated due to
secretion of gastric acid, symptoms arise that may bring about pain and
discomfort. Gastritis is always uncomfortable for affected animals, but fortunately
it usually is not life-threatening.
Gastritis can be either sudden
or slow in onset. Sudden onset of
gastritis is known as acute gastritis which always involves severe abdominal
pain and persistent vomiting, whereas the slow onset refers to as chronic
gastritis. Unfortunately, in many cases, the cause of the dog’s
gastrointestinal discomfort will never be determined.
Acute
gastritis
It occurs when dogs eat
garbage, rotting or spoiled substances, toxic plants, caustic household
chemicals, antifreeze, fertilizers, rodenticides or inanimate objects such as
plastic wrap, bones, toys or needles. Some dogs develop sudden stomach
inflammation from eating the feces of other animals or other unnatural articles
of food; this unpleasant habit is called “pica.” Irritating medications, such
as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, corticosteroids and some
antibiotics can also cause acute gastric inflammation.
Chronic
gastritis
It is caused by long-term
disruption of the mucosal lining and normal bacterial flora of the digestive
tract. Prolonged gastrointestinal inflammation can be caused by ingestion of
indigestible materials, such as plastic, rubber, paper, carpet remnants,
hairballs or string. These items can remain in the stomach without being passed
with the stools.
Bacterial and viral infections
can also cause chronic gastritis. Parvovirus is a fairly common cause of severe
gastritis, particularly in puppies that are not properly vaccinated. Distemper
is another viral disease associated with chronic gastritis. Dogs that
frequently eat grass or other plant material are prone to developing chronic
gastrointestinal discomfort, as well.
Symptoms
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Bad breath
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Regurgitation
- Flatulence
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea/Constipation
- Blood in the stool
- Dull hair coat
- Pale or yellow mucous membranes
- Excessive salivation
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of gastritis is based
on the symptoms presented as well as a physical examination. Certain tests such
as blood tests, urine samples, feces analysis, and x-rays may be taken to
determine the cause of gastritis. Sometimes additional testing which includes
an abdominal ultrasound, radiograph or endoscopy may also be performed.
Treatments
- Restrict food intake, avoiding
further contact with whatever caused the condition for 12 to 48 hours.
- Ice (crushed or cubes) can be
provided as the only source of water initially
- Administration of subcutaneous
or intravenous fluids to rehydrate the dog and restore the proper balance of
sodium, potassium and other electrolytes
- The initial diet should be
soft, low-fat and bland, ideally from only one easily-digestible carbohydrate
and one low-protein source. Cooked rice and potatoes are common starch sources
for this diet
- Sources of protein include
non-fat cottage cheese, skinless boiled white-meat chicken and boiled ground
beef
- Meals should be given in small
amounts and frequently, for at least 2 to 3 weeks, to assess whether the dog’s
gastritis has fully resolved
- Antiemetics will help to stop
vomiting, and antacids will help to coat the stomach lining. Metoclopramide (0.3 mg/kg, PO or SC, tid
or 1–2 mg/kg/day
- H2 receptor antagonists - used
when stomach ulcers are suspected – ex; Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Nizatidine or Famotidine
- Proton pump inhibitor - such as
Omeprazole - used in severe cases with stomach ulceration
- Antibiotics and medication that
kills parasites are indicated in cases of bacterial or parasite related
gastritis.
- Treatment of Helicobacter spp.
in dogs usually entails a 2- to 3-week course of triple therapy:
- Amoxicillin(20 mg / kg PO
BID 14d), Metronidazole (20 mg / kg PO BID 14d) and Famotidine (0.5 mg / kg PO
BID 14d)
- Amoxicillin
(20 mg / kg PO TID 2Id), Metronidazole (20 mg / kg PO TID 21d), and Omeprazole
(0.7 mg PO SID 2Id)
- Amoxicillin (20 mg / kg PO BID),
Clarithromycin (7.5 mg / kg PO BID) and Metronidazole (10 mg / kg PO BID) for
14 days
- Clarithromycin (30 mg PO BID
4d), Metronidazole (30 mg PO BID 4d), Ranitidine (10 mg PO BID 4d), and Bismuth
(20 mg PO BID 4d)
The Food Animal and Reproduction Medicine (FARM) Club at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine recently won a new, handheld digital ultrasound machine in a national competition among veterinary medicine university organizations. After initial entries of photos and an essay — which were judged on knowledge, creativity, and desire for the machine — the contestant list was narrowed to the top eight universities. Those eight then had to create a short video which would be voted on by the public.
The FARM Club’s “COW-lifornia Girls” (spoofing the popular “California Girls” by Katy Perry) proved to be the most popular video. After a widespread marketing campaign, the FARM Club’s video garnered more than 2,000 votes out of a total of 8,000 for all eight videos. Being the only entry from the state of California, the FARM Club reached out for promotional help to a wide network of closely connected organizations that were eager to support a California cause, including the California Beef Council, the California Veterinary Medical Association, California 4-H, CBS13 Sacramento Evening News and Good Day Sacramento.
