Gastritis in dogs

Gastritis in dogs is not only inflammation but also irritation of the gastric lining. Both conditions are far from pleasant for the pet. Digestion becomes difficult, which only worsens the disease. It's a vicious cycle. Without treatment, gastritis quickly worsens. Ulcers and even gastritis can develop. enteritis.

Reasons

Gastritis in dogs develops for a variety of reasons. Any one of these factors, or a combination of several, can worsen the pet's condition.

Wrong diet

Most often, veterinarians diagnose gastrointestinal diseases due to improper feeding. It all starts with indulgence. It could be a piece of sausage from the table, a chicken bone, smoked meat, spicy meat, or even letting your dog finish off your plate. All of these are contraindicated and can cause gastritis in dogs.

Unsuitable food for pets. Spicy, smoked, fried, spiced, fatty foods—all of these should be off-limits. Even for humans, such foods aren't ideal. They irritate the mucous membranes. But animals aren't naturally accustomed to such foods. In the wild, they don't add salt or pepper to their food. They don't need it. Dogs eat only to feel full, get energy, and get essential vitamins and minerals, not to overindulge. Their stomachs aren't designed for that. Cheap food can also cause gastritis in dogs.

An unbalanced diet is also bad. Even if you feed only cooked food and without seasonings, but the menu is poorly planned, the stomach lining can also become inflamed. A monotonous diet can be considered unbalanced. Feeding the same food day after day can lead to problems with enzymes and, ultimately, digestion. It's recommended to even alternate dry foods (we're talking about "flavors").

Other reasons

Other possible causes of gastritis in dogs:

• PoisoningBoth poisons and poor-quality food. The body always resists toxins.
• Infectious and parasitic diseasesThere are a huge number of them.
• Foreign body in the stomachAnything that can't be digested will inevitably damage the mucous membrane, leading to irritation and inflammation. This could be a bone that the owner didn't want to throw away, but the dog chewed on it. It could also be a hairball formed after licking (especially during shedding season). It could also be sausage skins, or metal staples attached to these skins, which the dog might retrieve from the trash.
• MedicinesMany medications are contraindicated for pets or require careful use! Therefore, you shouldn't give your pet anything from your medicine cabinet. The same aspirin can cause serious damage to the stomach lining. But the list of potentially dangerous medications is long.

Symptoms

The symptoms of gastritis in dogs can be confused with those of other digestive disorders, such as ulcers, enteritis (including viral infections), helminths, hepatitis, and others. Therefore, making a diagnosis without further testing is challenging even for the most experienced veterinarian. After all, gastritis may not be the underlying disease, but a symptom of another. How does gastritis manifest in dogs?

• Vomit;
• Diarrhea (loose stools) – if the stomach's acidity is low. Constipation can also occur if the stomach produces more than the normal amount of hydrochloric acid.
• Decreased or absent appetite;
• Lethargy, apathy, and reluctance to play. The dog may sleep more and try to move less. It may adopt one body position and be reluctant to change it (the most pain-free position).
• Stomach pain. Palpation of the stomach area reveals pain. At home, the dog may whine and lick its belly, trying to get your attention.

If you notice one or more symptoms of gastritis in your dog, don't delay visiting a doctor, as the disease may worsen.

Treatment

How to treat gastritis in dogs? Gastritis can be acute or chronic. Both require immediate veterinary attention. Acute gastritis is easier because treatment begins immediately. With chronic gastritis, the doctor's initial actions are aimed specifically at aggravating the inflammatory process (as strange as that may sound). This is necessary to facilitate the treatment of a dog with gastritis. Otherwise, a chronic condition will flare up and then subside, and the dog will suffer constantly.

Fasting days

So, treatment for a dog with gastritis begins with a fasting diet, usually lasting 24 hours. During this "fasting" day, only water is allowed. Protect your dog from "caring" family members who might try to sneak treats. Don't give in to this temptation yourself. Your dog will beg for treats, but remember that a fasting diet is not a whim, but a necessity!

Special preparations

Special medications for the treatment of gastritis in dogs. Caution! Before using these medications, confirm your diagnosis and prescription with your doctor!

• Almagel A and its analogs. Prescribed medications protect the mucous membrane, "creating" a protective layer. This helps prevent further irritation of the mucous membrane by aggressive gastric juice. Inflamed tissue recovers more quickly. Almagel A and phosphalugel have proven effective.
• Analgesics and antispasmodics. Painkillers and antispasmodics also help speed up your pet's recovery.
• Antibiotics. Antibiotics prevent the proliferation of secondary microflora, which can complicate gastritis. However, they should not be prescribed without a doctor's permission. Only a veterinarian can decide whether to prescribe them.
• Antiemetics. If your pet is constantly vomiting, Cerucal and other medications with similar antiemetic properties are prescribed. However, if your pet is vomiting due to poisoning, vomiting actually helps remove the toxin from the gastrointestinal tract.

Intravenous infusions

IVs are essential if your dog has severe diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration, or exhaustion. Depending on the severity of the condition, different solutions are needed. Therefore, contact your veterinarian to have an IV administered.

Prevention

Eliminate contributing factors and direct causes of mucosal inflammation – that’s all there is to preventing gastritis in dogs.

• Be careful what you feed your pet.
• Don't give anything from your table.
• Do not self-medicate.
• Treat your animal (and all family members) for intestinal worms on time.
• Don't forget about vaccinations.
• Brush your pet to prevent it from swallowing its own hair after licking itself.
• And don't forget about preventive visits to the veterinarian.

Feeding a dog with gastritis

First, you need to review your dog's diet. Proper feeding of a dog with gastritis helps speed up the recovery process. Therefore, after a fasting diet, begin revising the menu. A sick dog needs something astringent and coating, as well as easily digestible: porridges (rice, oatmeal), jelly, and lean meat broths. Cook vegetable soups without adding salt or spices.

Feeding rules

What should you feed a dog with gastritis? The basic recommendations are as follows:

• You can't give your dog onions, garlic, or milk.
• Drinks should only be warm! Water is preferable. Fermented milk products are welcome.
• Feed your pet more frequently, but in small amounts. Feeding in small portions won't hurt anyone. Don't overfeed your pet. The more food you give, the more hydrochloric acid is produced, and the more severe the mucous membrane damage.
• Do not give raw vegetables and fruits during the treatment period.
• WITH meat be carefulOnly very lean, finely chopped food. The first time, administer it a week after starting therapy. And only if there's a noticeable improvement in the animal's well-being.
• We recommend preparing special porridge for dogs.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

Veterinarian's recommendations for feeding a dog with gastritis on video (watch from 1:47):

Read also:

• Zantac for dogs
• Veracol for dogs
• Liarsin for dogs
• Serenia for dogs