Gastritis, Chronic (Canine)
| PrintCanine chronic gastritis is a condition that may be caused by many different disease processes, all of which result in irritation of the lining of the stomach. Chronic gastritis is a common condition that causes intermittent vomiting in dogs. The word chronic means that the vomiting has been occurring over a period longer than 1 to 2 weeks.
Common name: Chronic vomiting
Scientific name: Canine chronic gastritis
Diagnosis
Signalment
The average age, breed and sex vary greatly depending on the specific cause.
Incidence/prevalence
Chronic gastritis is a relatively common condition. Gastritis may be seen more commonly in free-roaming dogs.
Geographic distribution
There is no specific geographic distribution for chronic gastritis.
Clinical signs (primary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms)
Vomiting, Anorexia (loss of appetite), Clinical signs (secondary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms), Weight loss, Dehydration, Melena (dark, tar-colored stool).
Causes (secondary, most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms)
Inflammatory/immune mediated (e.g., lymphocytic-plasmacytic, eosinophilic, etc.) , Dietary intolerance or indiscretion, Infectious (e.g., Helicobacter, viral, etc), Parasitic (e.g., Physaloptera), Drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, steroids, etc.), Metabolic/endocrine (kidney disease, liver disease), Neoplasia (cancer).
Organ systems affected (most to least affected)
Gastrointestinal (stomach, esophagus), Respiratory (aspiration pneumonia)
Diagnostic tests
Routine blood work and fecal exam, Abdominal radiographs (X-rays, may include contrast studies), Abdominal ultrasound, Endoscopy with biopsies, Abdominal exploratory surgery.
Differential Diagnosis
Chronic regurgitation, Foreign body, obstruction, Intestinal inflammation, irritation, Systemic diseases (liver, kidney, etc.), Neoplasia (cancer of the stomach or intestines).
Overview
Canine chronic gastritis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. Dogs with gastritis usually have intermittent vomiting for at least 1 to 2 weeks. Although the most common clinical sign is vomiting, some animals may show only a decreased appetite. Other signs may include dark, tar-colored stool, decreased energy and weight loss.
Long-standing irritation of the lining of the stomach may be caused by various chemical irritants, drugs, infections, foreign bodies, chronic allergies and immune-mediated diseases. Gastritis is a common condition with a wide variety of causes. Many diagnostic and treatment options are available.
Treatment
Home Care
It is important to differentiate vomiting from regurgitation. Observation at home can help determine if your pet is vomiting (the forceful expulsion of stomach contents) or regurgitating (the passive expulsion of esophageal contents), similar to spitting up.
Vomiting is commonly associated with heaving or retching, and dogs often show signs of nausea (drooling, pacing, whining, etc.). With regurgitation, pets do not heave or retch and usually do not show any signs prior to the episode. The vomiting dog should be held off all food and water for 12 to 24 hours to allow the stomach to rest. A veterinarian should be consulted about possibly discontinuing any medications that may be causing stomach irritation.
After 12 to 24 hours, a small amount of water should be offered. If the dog does not vomit, a small amount of food can be offered several hours later. Feed a bland diet, such as boiled chicken and rice, or a prescription diet for the next few days. If the pet vomits at any point, withhold all food and water and consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Professional Care
Based on the dog's history and physical exam findings, routine blood work and fecal analysis may be performed to rule out various underlying causes (e.g., kidney disease, Addison's disease, parasites, etc.). Abdominal X-rays and/or ultrasound are the second set of tests usually performed.
Endoscopy is also an important tool and allows the stomach to be visually examined. Biopsies (small samples of the stomach) can be collected with endoscopy and are usually required to make a definitive diagnosis. Biopsies can also be collected by a surgical procedure.
Action
Once the diagnosis of chronic gastritis has been confirmed by a veterinarian, a treatment plan will be devised. If the pet is stable, testing and trial diets or medications may be performed on an outpatient basis. If the pet is unstable, it will likely be hospitalized and treated with intravenous (IV) fluids and anti-vomiting medications.
Depending on the underlying cause of gastritis, antacids, stomach protectant medications and various other medications may be prescribed. Follow-up examinations and tests, as recommended by the veterinarian, should be performed to help increase the chance of successfully treating the patient and to ensure potential side effects are minimized.
Outcome
The outcome and prognosis vary according to the underlying disease process.
References/Additional Readings
Willard, Micheal D. Disorders of the Stomach. In: Nelson, R.W. & Couto C.G. Small Animal Internal Medicine 3rd Edition. St. Louis: Mosby, 2003; 418-424.
Tilley, Larry P & Smith, Francis W.K. In: Troy, D.B. The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult Canine and Feline Third Edition. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004; 498-499.
Author
Marisa Altieri, DVM
Editor
Steven Hansen, DVM, MS, MBA, DABVT, DABT
Copyright 2007. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Please note that PetVet should only be used as a guide and in no way should be substituted for licensed veterinary care.
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