Introduction
Gastritis in dogs is often diagnosed based upon the dog’s history, symptoms, and response to treatment. In chronic or severe cases of gastritis, blood tests, x-rays, and even a biopsy of the tissue of the stomach may be needed to conclusively diagnose gastritis.
Diagnosing Gastritis in Dogs
Most cases of gastritis in dogs occur when a dog ingests the wrong type of food. If a dog comes to a veterinarian clinic with gastritis symptoms, the veterinarian will ask if the dog has possibly eaten anything, perhaps from a recent trip to the garbage, which could be causing the symptoms.
Mild or Acute Gastritis
If a dog is having mild gastritis, or acute gastritis from ingesting the wrong foods, a response to treatment will help to diagnose gastritis. Treatments such as withholding food and giving anti-inflammatory medications may begin even without a conclusive diagnosis. If the dog does have mild, or acute gastritis, then he or she will begin improving immediately from these treatments.
Severe or Chronic Gastritis
Severe or chronic gastritis will need further diagnostic tests to determine what is causing the condition. Blood tests can help to rule out any disease such as parvo or conditions like kidney disease. X-rays may be used to determine if any un-digested material is stuck in the dog’s stomach.
In cases where a dog is experiencing chronic gastritis, and regular treatments are not resulting in improvement, an examination of the stomach and a biopsy of the tissues may be needed. The stomach may be examined through an endoscopic procedure while the dog is sedated, and if needed a tool on the end of the endoscopic wand can be used to grasp a small bit of stomach tissue for further tests and cultures.