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November 8th, 2011

VERG’s 411 on Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea. Cause for concern when..

Gastroenteritis

What is gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis, gastritis, enteritis, and colitis are all doctor words for inflammation of different parts of the digestive tract when animals have a “stomach flu” or “food poisoning” symptoms, i.e. vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, inappetance, etc.  Your veterinarian will ask you specific questions such as the duration, frequency, quantity, and contents of the vomit and diarrhea in an attempt to determine which part the intestinal tract is affected, and in theory, point to a list of potential causes.  This is not always straight forward, as the inflammation can start in one area of the digestive tract, and migrate to other regions.

What causes gastroenteritis?

Many times the exact cause will be unknown; however, dietary indiscretion (i.e. eating stale, rotting foods), rapid diet changes, toxins, stress (boarding, new pets in house), certain medications (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories), infections (bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites), auto-immune diseases, and cancer are a few causes that can results in various signs of gastrointestinal upset.

When should I seek veterinary care?

Many times we forget that our pets are small and can quickly become very sick with a few episodes of vomiting, diarrhea, and not eating.  They can become dehydrated and lose electrolytes quickly, especially if they are puppies or kittens who cannot properly regulate the sugar levels in their blood.  Usually acute onset of mild, nonspecific gastroenteritis will be self-limiting, and show signs of improvement over 24-48 hours.  If you know your pet has eaten a foreign body (e.g.  piece of a toy, string, rocks) or a toxin, it is best to seek medical attention as soon as possible to begin treatment and prevent possible future complications, such as obstruction of the intestinal tract, or some toxins can permanently affect other important organs.  If you know your pet ingested a toxin/poison, you can call the ASPCA poison control (888-426-4435) on your way to your veterinarian and provide them with the toxin name, quantity, and pet’s weight to help expedite treatment.  If you note blood in the vomit or feces at any time, or your pet has not eaten/drank for the past 24 hours, it is important to have your pet examined.  It is also important to understand that medical tests like x-rays and bloodwork are necessary to eliminate underlying, more severe disease processes before conservative treatment can be attempted.

Treating gastroenteritis:

There are many levels of treatment for gastroenteritis, depending on the signs and status of the patient.  Short-term management revolves around preventing vomiting and/or diarrhea, while providing hydration and electrolytes lost from these signs.  Medications can be discussed with your veterinarian and will be prescribed if appropriate.  It may also be advised by your veterinarian to “rest” the digestive tract be removing food and water for a certain period of time and then slowly introducing a bland, easily digested diet.  There are several commercial diets you can obtain from your veterinarian or a lean, unseasoned poultry protein with cooked white rice can be fed on a short-term basis.  More serious symptoms may require aggressive treatment and hospitalization.

Prevention:

Throw away toys that can be swallowed or have been chewed into small pieces.  Keep thread, rubber bands, floss, etc. out of reach.  Keep food and water bowls clean and secure trash cans with strong lids.  If you are planning on changing your pet’s diet, gradually introduce the food by mixing it with the old food over 2-3 days.  Recurrence or worsening of symptoms should be addressed with your veterinarian to further investigate the underlying disease.