Gastritis refers to digestion issues that can be acute or chronic. Whether in humans or animals, occasional gas, abdomen pain, bloating, and other signs of digestive problems can be expected in daily life.
Your little pupper having a tummy upset after excessively indulging in food shouldn’t be surprising; consider trying some home remedies if it seems like a one-time thing. However, you should meet your vet when the issue becomes more chronic and painful for your pet.
The vet may run some basic tests to identify the problem and then prescribe treatment and medications depending on the severity of the issue. Consider being equipped with pet insurance so that dealing with unplanned vet costs is much easier.
Dog insurance covers a puppy’s basic medical care during distressing health situations and medical emergencies, which is why you should contemplate purchasing a policy if you haven’t bought one already. In the meantime, read this article to learn some essential information related to gastritis.
Gastritis
This condition is characterized by inflammation of the endothelial lining of the stomach. It is usually classified into acute and chronic conditions. In the former case, gastritis occurs suddenly in short bursts; however, in the latter case, it can trouble your pet for weeks or months at a time.
Symptoms
The most common signs of gastritis are –
- Reduced appetite
- Increased thirst
- Dehydration
- Excessive vomits
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in vomit/stools
- Black, tarry stools
- Lethargy
- Depression
Many dogs are prone to developing acute gastritis due to their eating habits. Puppies may eat anything and everything within their reach, but know that not every item agrees with their tummy standards, and some items can be non-edible or toxic too.
Typically, puppies recover within a few days of implementing dietary changes, including withholding food for short durations in the case of voracious eaters and sometimes medical treatments.
However, many a time, gastritis can be due to underlying physical health conditions like food allergies, infections, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, neurological diseases, renal dysfunction, and stomach cancer.
Contact your vet when unsure about your fur pal’s health status, for the proper medical guidance. This is an essential step to alleviate the pain and discomfort your furry baby might be going through.
Diagnosis
This condition is often diagnosed by running blood tests, urine analysis, fecal tests, x-rays (abdomen), or gastrointestinal ultrasound scans. A few basic tests are performed to confirm acute conditions; however, deep testing may be required in chronic gastritis cases.
Once your vet discovers the root cause of the issue, finding a solution can be easy. Typical treatments in acute cases look like this –
- Withholding food for specific durations.
- Providing small quantities of water during the initial twenty-four hours.
- Feeding easy-to-digest food in small quantities post twenty-four hours.
- Switching to a normal diet but offering only small meals every few hours.
- Increase the food intake gradually over a period.
Fluid therapy, gastrointestinal protectants, medications, proton pump inhibitors, and other relevant treatments can be adopted based on the symptoms and causes of gastritis. Take your pupper to the vet for early resolution of the problem, so it doesn’t escalate to a more severe condition.
At the same time, consider being prepared with pet insurance so getting medical help need not be financially cumbersome during non-routine vet visits and emergencies. Contemplate purchasing dog insurance so both can win while battling unanticipated pet health issues.