VetHealth – solution for chronic idiopathic gastritis

A little blood and pieces of half-digested food can often be seen in the regurgitated contents, especially if the dog takes food that does not suit him (if he eats something from the street or the owners are unaware of a possible allergy to some proteins). Additional symptoms can be agitation and shortness of breath when vomiting. Still, if vomiting lasts longer than 24 hours, there is a risk of dehydration. Acute gastritis results from inflammation of the stomach lining and results in vomiting or nausea.

Eating certain (wrong) foods or anything irritating can cause acute gastritis, the most common cause of vomiting in dogs. This often occurs after consuming spoiled food, a foreign body, certain medicines, or bones. When liquid/soft stools and vomiting are present, we can more easily distinguish the cause. In this case, it is usually a toxic substance consumed or a pathological process on the intestines (e.g., corona or parvovirus infection). Therefore, it is good to know that the cause of vomiting is not always in the stomach and that every vomiting is not the result of gastritis.

Acute gastritis symptoms are increased water intake, depression, and food refusal. in acute conditions, treatment in case of prolonged vomiting is mainly reduced to compensating for lost fluid, giving antibiotics and drugs that stop vomiting, and denying food and water for 24-48 hours, depending on the severity of the condition. Food is then gradually reintroduced in smaller quantities, and sometimes the veterinarian will recommend food with a lower fat content (most often low-fat canned food).

Chronic gastritis, i.e., chronic stomach inflammation, is a long-term phenomenon that can appear occasionally or be permanently present for weeks, months, or years (if not treated). As in humans, the chronic form of gastritis can also be caused by Helicobacter spp. - which leads to changes in the stomach lining. However, only those dogs in which this bacterium has been confirmed are given antibiotic treatment.

In addition to inadequate food, drugs that irritate the stomach lining, or specific bacteria, chronic gastritis can also be caused by some types of parasites, such as nematodes (Physaloptera spp. and others).

To diagnose chronic gastritis, it is necessary to perform a series of tests - hematological and biochemical blood tests will rule out the problems in the organ systems. Special attention during blood tests should be paid to the function of the kidneys and liver because the proper functioning of these organs greatly influences the occurrence of vomiting in dogs. Blood tests can also determine the existence of some metabolic issues.

Chronic gastritis is mostly of unknown origin - idiopathic. If chronic gastritis is not treated, an ulcer may appear on the stomach lining, usually manifested by blood in the ejected contents.

Reflux gastritis is characterized by yellowish foamy contents, especially at night or in the morning. Despite the high frequency of gastritis, the true cause is rarely identified.

The symptoms that occur in acute and chronic forms of gastritis are usually similar - vomiting of food or bile and reduced appetite, so when diagnosing, you should also pay attention to other symptoms.

If there are changes in the skin, it may be a case of hypersensitivity to certain types of food. Typical changes in the gastrointestinal system often occur in certain dogs with a breed predisposition. For example, Basenjis are known to suffer from hypertrophy of the mucous membrane of the stomach's fundus, which manifests through persistent nausea and vomiting. At the same time, brachiocephalic breeds often experience vomiting due to hypertrophy of the mucous membrane of the pylorus (exit part of the stomach), due to which they have an increased tendency to vomit.

If the dog regurgitates food hours after a meal, there may be an obstruction in some parts of the digestive system. X-ray diagnostics with contrast helps to detect the presence of ulcers or thickening of the stomach wall.

Gastroscopy is used to determine changes in the structure of the stomach, possible bleeding and thickening of the stomach lining, the presence of foreign bodies, parasites, etc. During each gastroscopic examination, a stomach biopsy is performed. It is essential to find out the cause - if the gastritis is not idiopathic, because if it is the wrong food consumption, it should be avoided in the future.

Vomiting due to a foreign body requires surgical intervention; gastritis is only a passing symptom in these cases.

Certain types of chronic gastritis require lifelong therapy. Some so-called infiltrative gastritis is treated for a long time with antiulcer medications, corticosteroids, prokinetics, etc.

Therefore, gastritis therapy can be very complex and requires consistent action.

So-called infiltrative gastritis is treated for a long time with the use of drugs from the group of antiulcer medications, corticosteroids, prokinetics, etc. Thus, the therapy of gastritis can be very complex and requires consistent action by the veterinarian and the owner because untreated or misdiagnosed gastritis can harm the dog's health.

VetHealth Broad Spectrum oil has a beneficial effect on cases of idiopathic chronic gastritis.

It is, at the same time, the only condition in which we recommend giving them orally instead of our permanent recommendation - rubbing them into the gums.

It is best to put a few drops on a piece of white bread or some other neutral bite of food that the dog can eat half an hour before a regular meal.

Dogs with gastritis should eat several small meals daily. Suppose you divide the daily ration of food into three small meals, apply VetHealth half an hour before each meal.

Giving it with a small bite of food allows it to work locally, directly on the stomach.

For strength and dosage, contact us before buying - but be sure to perform diagnostic procedures beforehand to rule out other possible causes of gastritis!

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This article is meant for informational purposes only. If your pet has the listed complaints, seek the help of your veterinarian and let them perform the necessary diagnostics.