Gastritis in Dogs

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach’s lining. It may occur as a short episode (acute) or it may continue for a long time (chronic) and may be associated with underlying conditions that are more serious.

What are the signs of gastritis?

Clinical signs associated with gastritis include:

• Decreased appetite (anorexia) and sudden vomiting (the most common signs)
• Dehydration
• Lethargy or depression
• Increased thirst
• Blood in the vomit
• Blood in the feces
• Abdominal pain

Acute gastritis is typically self-limiting and of short duration (less than 24 hours). The cause is usually not discovered because the clinical signs resolve before diagnostic testing is performed.

How is gastritis diagnosed?

Tests for gastritis may include blood tests, urinalysis, fecal tests, abdominal radiographs (X-rays), abdominal ultrasound, and endoscopy (a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera used to examine the gastrointestinal tract). In acute cases, only minimal diagnostics may be done, such as blood and urine testing, and the results are often normal. In chronic cases, your veterinarian will use more involved testing to determine the exact cause of your dog’s illness.

What causes gastritis?

Acute gastritis occurs frequently in dogs. Dogs often eat things they should not eat (dietary indiscretion), including spoiled or raw food, garbage, cat litter, foreign objects, plants, toxins, molds, and fungi (mushrooms). Eating large quantities of food or eating inappropriate foods like table scraps or leftovers can also cause gastritis.

Some of the common causes or conditions associated with gastritis in dogs include the following:

How is gastritis treated?

Treatment is based on the underlying cause or condition. Most acute cases resolve without medical intervention. However, if your dog has fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or dehydration, bloody vomit, it is important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible to identify the underlying cause and provide effective treatment.

Non-medical treatment guidelines for acute gastritis include:

• Withhold food for 8–12 hours.
• Offer small amounts of water frequently during the first 24 hours. If fluids cannot be given orally without inducing vomiting, seek immediate veterinary treatment.
• If there is no vomiting after 12 hours, feed a small amount of highly digestible, low-fat, and low fiber food.
• Resume feeding with small, frequent meals (usually about half the normal daily amount of food, divided into four to six meals).
• Gradually increase the amount of food over the next two to three days.
• If vomiting returns, contact your veterinarian.

Medical treatment for dogs with gastritis may include:

• Anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medications, such as maropitant (Cerenia®) or metoclopramide (Reglan®)
• Fluid therapy if the dog is dehydrated
• Gastrointestinal protectants used to prevent stomach ulcers, such as sucralfate (Carafate®, Sulcrate®)
• Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, can be used in severe cases of stomach ulceration
• H2 receptor antagonists, such as famotidine (Pepcid®) or ranitidine (Zantac®), may be recommended for mild gastritis

What is the prognosis for gastritis?

The prognosis for acute gastritis is good. Most dogs recover from acute gastritis in one to three days with supportive treatment. For chronic gastritis, the prognosis is based on the underlying cause and how successfully it can be treated.