My dog has gastritis and delayed stomach emptying. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would talk to your vet about daily anti-nausea medicine like Cerenia (from your vet) or famotidine (Pepcid- over the counter). They can give you a dose and how often to give. Good luck and kisses to Tommy!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Continued vomiting is concerning for a blockage in the GI tract. I recommend the following: 1. x-rays of her stomach and intestines to see if there is a blockage 2. Ultrasound of her abdomen if x-rays are unclear or don't give an answer 3. If seems just like gastritis- talk to your vet about anti-nausea medications and if she needs to be on IV fluids. I am worried she either has peritonitis or a blockage in her gut. The bloodwork that you have included is unremarkable. No concerns. Best of luck with Masha, I hope she feels better soon.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Gremlin evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. The decreased appetite is also concerning and could be caused by what is driving the diarrhea. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

I am sorry you aren't happy with the level of communication you are receiving. I can't really speak intelligently about what is going on at your hosiptal, but I can tell you the usefulness of the barium test. Typically, the barium series is run over a course of either 4, 6, or 8 hours. A contrast medium is force fed to the patient, which allows us to serially monitor the movement of fluids through the GI tract. If there is a structural obstruction or GI motility issue, this is usually a great diagnostic tool in telling us exactly where the issue is arising. Depending on the problem they may find, some of these issues are surgical while others are medically treatable. For instance, if there is a GI blockage, they often have to enter surgically to correct the issue. If there is just some sort of medical issue that is delaying the emptying of the stomach or preventing intestinal contractions, medications can often resolve this type of problem. I wouldn't worry too much until you have something definitive to worry about! Lets wait and see what the results are first.

The symptoms do overlap for all of these disorders. Most have vomiting and diarrhea and the appetite is variable. In advanced cancer or gastritis they are anorexic but early on can still have an appetite. An ultrasound is a good way to distinguish cancer and IBD from gastritis though. However IBD and cancer have thickened intestines and are hard to distinguish unless there is an intestinal biopsy obtained.

As long as Selene is eating and not vomiting I would not be too worried about the gas. If it is affecting her appetite and she begins to lose weight then I would be concerned. If Selene continues to have issues like this she may need to be on a long term medication to help her digestion and/or a special diet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Probiotics are definitely helpful with gastritis. Simple gastritis usually lasts a few days. With this going on for 5 days, your pup may need some additional support such as prescription bland diet. I would recommend checking in with your vet every couple of days until this is under control.