Symptoms and Treatment of Gastritis in Dogs

Dogs like humans, are prone to gastroenteritis attacks among other illnesses. Gastritis is actually a common ailment that dogs suffer from. It happens when the stomach lining becomes inflamed and can cause the poor pet a considerable amount of irritation.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of gastritis means you can catch the problem really early and take your pet to the veterinarian for treatment. Vomiting is generally the most frequent signs of a gastritis attack. Symptoms may be quite mild, but should not be ignored. Gastritis when left untreated can reach very severe proportions and put the dog in intensive care.

Knowing about the problem will give you a better grasp of the pertinent facts and the preventive care you can practice. Gastritis is of two types – acute and chronic. Acute is a single episode and chronic refers to a dog suffering the same problem repeatedly.

Acute gastritis can be caused by a dog eating spoiled food, too much food, eating too fast, consuming a chemical agent by accident, allergy, reaction to a certain medicine, eating something foreign, or a viral infection. Chronic gastritis comes from eating the wrong thing on a regular basis, swelling of the bowels or stomach cancer. Some diseases like ulcers, kidney disease, liver disease and neurological diseases can cause both types of gastritis problems.

Common signs and symptoms of gastritis include: vomiting, blood resembling coffee grounds in the vomit, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, weakness and lethargy. Dog owners generally find that gastritis tends to cure itself and there is no need to worry. However, if the symptoms persist it is better to take your dog to the vet. No animal should be allowed to vomit or have diarrhea for more than 24 hours at a time.

Dogs that vomit or have diarrhea become dehydrated; the first task of the vet is to put electrolytes into the dog’s system. Then the vet will conduct tests that may include taking x-rays and performing an ultrasound test. Once the results are in, the vet will prescribe medication to treat the problem.

When you find that your dog is exhibiting symptoms of gastritis either by vomiting, diarrhea or both, stop giving your dog food and water, and contact your vet. You may be advised to wait for a period of 24 hours before taking the dog in to the vet.

The best way to keep your pet healthy is to pay attention to your pet on a daily basis.