Health
Gastritis in cats
Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Gastritis in Cats
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What are the consequences of gastritis in cats?
When the lining of your cat’s stomach becomes inflamed, this is known as gastritis. As the name suggests, the stomach lining is located in the stomach; more precisely, in the inner layer of the stomach, where the mucus it produces protects the stomach wall from gastric acid.
This acid helps digest the food your cat eats. However, overproduction can damage the stomach lining. If the lining is irritated or already inflamed, there is a risk that the aggressive gastric juices may attack and damage the stomach wall.
Veterinarians distinguish between acute and chronic gastritis in cats. The latter occurs when the stomach lining is persistently irritated, resulting in significant damage to the mucosa.
With early treatment, acute gastritis usually heals quickly. In the following article, you will find useful information about gastritis in cats.
Causes of gastritis in cats
Gastritis can develop in cats for many different reasons. In addition to everyday factors such as long intervals between meals or portions that are too large, stress or nervousness may also be possible causes.
Veterinarians distinguish between primary triggers, which come from outside the body, and secondary triggers, which are caused by the body itself.
Primary factors include:
- Spoiled food
- Incompatible or harmful plants
- Parasites, such as roundworms
- Food allergens
- Medications, such as antibiotics
- Indigestible foreign bodies or bones
- Toxic substances, such as cleaning or disinfecting products
Secondary causes:
- Systemic and organ diseases, such as kidney disease
- Allergies
- Heart and circulatory problems
- CNS diseases, meaning diseases of the central nervous system
- Tumours
Damage to the stomach lining can increase the production of gastric acid. Possible consequences of gastritis include stomach ulcers and tumours.
Symptoms of gastritis in cats
The most common symptoms of gastritis are loss of appetite, lethargy or sleepiness, and tenderness or pain in the upper abdomen. Sudden, frequent vomiting, especially shortly after eating, may also indicate a disease of the stomach lining.
In addition to undigested food, the vomit may contain mucous and even blood. As a result, your cat may also suffer from strong bad breath and heartburn.
It is completely normal for your cat to seem physically weak and lacking in energy in this situation. There is also a risk of dehydration, so you should make sure your cat always has access to fresh water. Acute gastritis can be recognised by symptoms that appear suddenly, whereas chronic gastritis often goes unnoticed for a long time.
Veterinary diagnosis
As soon as you notice the symptoms above in your cat, you should see a veterinarian promptly. They will usually perform a gastroscopy, since gastritis in cats generally cannot be detected on ultrasound images or X-rays. These tests only help show whether there may be foreign bodies, an intestinal blockage, or stomach dilation.
During the gastroscopy, the veterinarian uses an endoscope with a small camera to locate possible changes in the stomach lining. At the same time, any foreign bodies in your cat’s stomach can be removed directly using small forceps.
A biopsy, or tissue sample, may also be taken from the cat’s stomach to diagnose inflammation or bacteria. A blood test can also help identify other internal medical causes or an infection, and support the diagnosis of gastritis in your cat.
Treatment of gastritis in cats
If your cat is examined soon after the first symptoms appear, the outlook for successful treatment of gastritis is usually good. Once the veterinarian has diagnosed gastritis, treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Various medications are available for this purpose.
In many cases, temporary food withdrawal, also known as fasting, is enough. Make sure your cat takes in enough fluids during this time, otherwise there is a risk of dehydration. In severe cases, intravenous fluids with special infusion solutions may be recommended to prevent dehydration. Antiemetics can help control frequent vomiting.
Acute gastritis is usually associated with excess stomach acid. To treat this, the veterinarian will normally prescribe acid blockers. These reduce acid production, protect the stomach lining, and help it regenerate more quickly. In cases of infection or severe damage to the stomach lining, specific antibiotics may help.
If kidney disease is the cause of the gastritis, it must also be treated. If a tumour or an open ulcer has already formed in your cat’s stomach, the prognosis becomes worse depending on the severity of the condition.
You know your cat best. That is why any information about your cat’s normal behaviour, together with the symptoms you have noticed, can help your veterinarian make the most accurate diagnosis possible.
Preventing gastritis in cats
Unfortunately, gastritis in cats is difficult to prevent. Even so, there are a few things you can keep in mind in everyday life. For example, it is advisable not to feed your cat highly acidic food. You should also make sure your cat does not ingest irritating or toxic substances.
Cats vomit fairly often, so you do not need to panic immediately if your cat throws up from time to time. It does not automatically mean gastritis. However, if vomiting happens unusually often, especially together with other unusual symptoms, it is advisable to see a veterinarian. As a rule, the earlier the disease is identified, the better the outlook for successful treatment. In Australia, if you are in a paralysis tick area vomiting may also be a sign of tick paralysis. Prompt veterinary assessment is required.
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