Helicobacter is the name of a genus of spiral shaped bacteria. This type of bacteria is especially unique because it is able to live within the stomach. Depending on the type of Helicobacter Infection, and how deeply the infection penetrates the layer of the dog's stomach, it can cause dogs to experience pain, nausea, and/or vomiting.
Helicobacter infection in dogs can occur through exposure to bacteria. This bacteria has a spiral shape, and it is able to bore deep within the dog's stomach tissues where it can thrive. The activity of the bacteria in the stomach’s tissues, and in the lower GI tract, can lead to inflammation and irritation which can cause gastritis.
The most common symptom associated with Helicobacter infection in dogs is periodic vomiting that sometimes contains bile. Unexplained weight loss with no vomiting or diarrhea has also been linked to this bacteria. In most cases, the bacteria causes sub-clinical gastritis. This is a form of gastritis which does not produce any noticeable symptoms.
Fortunately there are a number of diagnostic tests that can be used to identify if Helicobacter bacteria is causing the dog’s symptoms. Non-invasive tests for Helicobacter infection include the urea breath test and blood tests. More invasive tests include the rapid urease test, cytology, and histopathology.
Once a Helicobacter infection is conclusively diagnosed by a veterinarian, the current treatment protocol is fairly straightforward. Various combinations of antibiotics with so-called “antacids", have proven successful in alleviating the clinical signs of infection.