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Gastritis Affects Pets

An Irritated Stomach is a Common Reason For Veterinarian Visits A dog or cat can spend many happy moments investigating the contents of a garbage can.    His good feelings may be short-lived, however. A few mouthfuls of spoiled food could spell misery for him. And he’s not alone.

Gastritis, the inflammation of the stomach lining, was the second most-common reason VPI Pet Insurance policyholders brought their cats to the veterinarian last year, and was the fourth most common reason dogs visited vets. If your pet has been vomiting for a few days or longer, and is lethargic, he may have gastritis. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your pet has this condition. Causes of Tummy Upset Acute gastritis is vomiting that lasts for less than seven days. The most likely causes are:  Your pet ate something that disagreed with him, such as spoiled food, plants, a foreign body or hair. He had an allergic reaction or sensitivity to something he ate. He ate a chemical irritant like fertilizer or a cleaner. A drug or medication upset his stomach. He has a bacterial or viral infection or a parasite. He has sepsis or is in shock. Chronic gastritis can be caused by long-term exposure to the causes of acute gastritis. It could also be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome or even stomach cancer. Symptoms of Gastritis Nausea, vomiting and lethargy are the usual signs of gastritis.   Your veterinarian may opt to run blood tests, a urinalysis and analyze the feces. In some cases, your pet may need further testing such as an abdominal ultrasound, radiograph or endoscopy.   Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet continues to exhibit signs of gastritis even after food and water has been withheld for a prescribed period of time, if he has blood in his vomit, or shows any other signs of illness. Nausea, vomiting and lethargy are the usual signs  of gastritis. Help Your Pet Feel Better Follow your veterinarian’s suggestions as far as diet and hydration are concerned. Often, after withholding food and water for a prescribed time and then gradually introducing a bland diet, gastritis resolves on its own.      Your pet’s gastrointestinal tract needs to rest. Usually, after a few days with no symptoms, your pet can resume his normal diet. Some pets with acute gastritis need antacids such as Tagamet or gastrointestinal protectants such as PeptoBismol. Protect Your Pet No matter how closely you watch your pet, there is always a chance he will ingest something he shouldn’t. Or maybe he’ll have a reaction to a new food or medicine.    VPI Pet Insurance policy holders filed more than 30,000 claims for gastritis for dogs last year, and close to 2,500 claims for cats.     Your VPI Pet Insurance policy offers reimbursement benefits for conditions such as gastritis. So if your dog or cat should make a bad eating decision, VPI has him covered. Return to the VPI Pet HealthZone >>

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