How to Deal With Gastritis in a Dog

Just like humans, dogs get upset stomachs too. Many of the same things that affect us, make a dog sick too. Gastritis can be a frustrating problem if it continues for a long period of time. Many things can cause this stomach irritation such as bad food, foreign objects, speedy eating, bacteria or viruses, diet changes, allergies or other health issues. Hopefully by following some of these basic steps, your dog will feel better and his stomach irritation will cease. As with any continued health problems, if they worsen the animal will need to see a vet.

Instructions

1. Some of the common signs that your dog is suffering from gastritis is vomiting, refusing to eat food and general lethargy. If the dog vomits you can give it Pepto Bismol in the following dosage amounts:

   Large Dog 80-100 lbs. - 2 tablespoons
   Medium Dog 40-70 lbs. - 2 teaspoonfuls
   Small Dog - 1 teaspoonful

   Wait two hours and withhold food and large amounts of water. The dog will want to drink and by him ingesting too much, he will only throw it and the medicine up. If the dog is still throwing up, give him another dose of medicine 2 hours later. If this still doesn't work you may have to take it to the vet in case of dehydration. If you are dealing with a very small dog or puppy, withholding food for 24 hours may be dangerous, so you may need to check with a vet. You can give the dog a teaspoon of honey to keep some substance in his body.

2. Vomiting more than 24 hrs. can lead to serious problems. The dog may become dehydrated and may require the care of a vet. In serious cases, the dog may need intravenous fluids to rehydrate his body. If the dog's temperature is above 103 degrees, veterinarian care is required to get the fever under control. Don't feed the dog during this time and restrict his water intake by small amounts to ward off more vomiting. Placing a few ice cubes in their drinking bowl will help in not allowing them to drink too much water.

3. If it seems you have the vomiting under control, feed the dog a very small meal of a bland food such as chicken & rice, pasta, oatmeal or potatoes mixed with a small amount cottage cheese. Do not feed the dog any dry food at this time as it's harder to digest.

   If the dog seems to keep this down, you can feed it another small meal in 2-4 hours. Continue this schedule for another 24 hours. If the dog seems to be holding down the food and not throwing up, you can restart feeding the dog at his regular time. Keep feeding the dog a bland diet for several days to get his system back in shape. If your dog seems to be better, you can start reintroducing dry food by mixing a little in with their bland diet. As long as the dog seems ill, make sure not to leave a large amount of water for it to get to.

4. To help prevent further outbreaks of gastritis make sure you feed your dog on a regular schedule. Make sure the diet is appropriate for its age and health. Do not suddenly change the dog's food. If the animal has a sensitive stomach, this may upset it. Add new food gradually to see if the dog's system will adjust to the change.

   Don't let your dog eat garbage. Dogs love to eat just about anything, and nothing looks better than some old food in your neighbors trash. Also, make sure any foreign objects your dog may ingest, are safely put out of its reach. The stuffing out of more than one stuffed animal has made a dog ill. Be carefull of what you leave out if you know your dogs likes to eat things.

   If your dog likes to gobble his food, feed it smaller meals several times a day. This will cut down on the chance of your dog getting an upset stomach by eating too fast.

   Make sure you have your dog regularly checked out by a vet. By keeping the animal properly vaccinated and checked for viruses or parasites, you'll be assuring your pet is in tip top shape. Remember, if your dog continues to vomit for over 24 hours, it will need veterinarian care because the underlying cause may be more serious.