Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM • 269
other foreign materials can be incorporated into a hard mass called a bezoar.
Bezoars may grow to a size that makes it impossible for them to pass out of the
stomach (see Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies, page 276). Note that in many
cases of chronic vomiting the cause is not known.
Hypertrophic gastropathy is a thickening of the mucous membranes of
the lower half of the stomach, which can lead to gastric obstruction and food
retention. Vomiting occurs three to four hours after eating. Hypertrophic
gastropathy occurs most often in middle-aged dogs of the small breeds. It may
also be seen as a congenital problem called pyloric stenosis in brachycephalic
breeds such as Bulldogs and Boston Terriers. The cause is unknown in older
dogs, but may be related to histamine release from mast cell tumors in
some dogs.
Chronic atrophic gastritis involves a thinning of the stomach wall. This is
primarily seen in Norwegian Buhunds, and may develop from an immune
problem.
Eosinophilic gastritis is a chronic condition characterized by the accumulation
of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the mucous lining of the
stomach, along with thickening and scarring of the stomach wall. The cause
is unknown, although a food allergy or parasites have been proposed.
Eosinophilic gastritis is more likely than other types of gastritis to be associated
with ulcers and bleeding.
Stomach and duodenal ulcers also produce sporadic vomiting. Finally, if
there is no obvious explanation for the sporadic vomiting, the dog may be suffering
from a systemic disease, such as liver or kidney failure, which can be
diagnosed by blood tests.
Treatment: Dogs with chronic vomiting should be seen by a veterinarian.
Gastroscopy with a biopsy of the stomach wall is the quickest way to make a
diagnosis of chronic gastritis.
Treatment involves switching to a bland, high-carbohydrate diet such as
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d. Alternatively, you can feed a homemade diet of
boiled rice and cottage cheese. Offer frequent small feedings and avoid large
meals. As the dog recovers, gradually introduce a high-quality commercial
premium dog food, or consult a veterinary nutritionist for a balanced homemade
meal you can cook.
Histamine blocking agents, such as Tagamet (cimetidine), Pepcid (famotidine),
and Zantac (ranitidine), may help in cases of hypertrophic gastropathy.
While not approved for use in dogs, they can be used safely under the guidance
of your veterinarian.
Eosinophilic gastritis responds well to a course of corticosteroids, but sometimes
the dog needs other immunosuppressive drugs and a hypoallergenic diet
prescribed by your veterinarian. Gastritis associated with gastric outflow
obstruction is treated as described for Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers (page 262).