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Gastritis in Dogs
What is gastritis?
Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It may occur as a short episode (acute) or have a long duration (chronic) and may be associated with underlying conditions that are more serious.
What are the clinical signs of gastritis?
The most common clinical signs associated with gastritis are sudden vomiting and decreased appetite (anorexia). Other clinical signs may include dehydration, lethargy or depression, increased thirst, blood in the vomit or feces, and abdominal pain. Acute gastritis is typically self-limiting and of short (less than twenty-four hours) duration. The cause is normally not discovered because the clinical signs usually resolve before diagnostic testing is performed.
What causes gastritis?
Acute gastritis occurs frequently in dogs. Dogs are particularly prone to dietary indiscretion, including the ingestion of spoiled or raw food, garbage, cat litter, foreign objects, plants, toxins, molds, and fungi (mushrooms). Feeding inappropriate foodstuffs, such as table scraps or leftovers, or being fed large quantities of food can also cause gastritis. With acute gastritis, most dogs recover in one to three days with supportive treatment, which includes a short period of withholding food. The prognosis is usually good, even if the primary cause is not identified. Some of the common causes or conditions associated with gastritis in dogs include:
Antibiotics Fungal infection Liver Disease Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) Fungal toxins Mast cell tumor Bacterial infection Gastrinoma or other cancers Molds Chemical irritants Granulomatous gastric disease Overeating Chemotherapy Heavy metal poisoning Pancreatitis Corticosteroids Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) Poisonous plants Diabetic ketoacidosis Idiopathic (unknown cause) gastritis Spoiled food Dietary indiscretion Immune-mediated disease Stress Endocrine disease Inflammatory bowel disease Toxins Food allergy Intestinal parasites Uterine infections Foreign body Kidney disease Viral infections
How is gastritis diagnosed?
Tests for gastritis may include blood tests, urinalysis, fecal tests, abdominal radiographs (X-rays), abdominal ultrasound, and endoscopy. In acute cases, only minimal diagnostics such as blood and urine tests are required.
If the gastritis is chronic, more involved testing will be undertaken to determine the exact cause of your dog's vomiting.
How is gastritis treated?
Treatment is based on the specific cause. Most acute cases resolve without medical intervention. Non-medical treatment guidelines for acute gastritis include:
Medical treatment for dogs with gastritis may include:
The prognosis is good for cases of acute gastritis. For chronic gastritis, the prognosis is based on the underlying cause.
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on Aug 8, 2022.
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