We have seen a number of dogs with Gastro in the last few days so wanted to share some information on what it is, what you need to look out for and how you can help your dogs.
Many dog owners will have seen gastroenteritis (gastro) in their dogs before but for new dog owners it can be worrying so we wanted to share some information to help.
What is Gastro?
Gastro is a term used to describe the inflammation of the stomach and/or intestines.
What causes it?
This could be things like eating usual or mouldy food, virus/bacteria (picked up on walks) or underlying health problems.
Symptoms to look out for.
Most dogs will have loose stools which will range in severity, vomiting, painful tummy, loss of appetite, lethargic and refusing to do much.
Some dogs can get a severe case of gastro which is called haemorrhagic gastroenteritis which may cause blood to be in the dogs stools too.
Diagnosing Gastro
If you suspect your dog has gastro, keep an eye on them and consult your vet. Most dogs will bounce back quickly but if they are not eating, drinking and losing fluids they will need to be seen by a vet. Do not delay taking young puppies, older dogs or vulnerable dogs to the vets as they could deteriorate quicker than older healthier dogs.
Treatment of Gastro
Treatment will vary with each case. You will most likely have some medication and asked to feed your dog a very bland diet of plain rice and chicken – this helps to give their stomach and intestines a bit of a break.
With a more serious case of gastro, most dogs will be kept in and popped on a drip to help give them fluids to rehydrate them. You should see an improvement within a few days but it is always important to keep an eye on your dogs stools and behaviour.
How to prevent Gastro
It is very hard to prevent gastro but there are things you can do to keep it at bay as much as possible.
If you suspect your dog has gastro, try not to take them to the park or on busy dog walking routes as it can spread easily.
If you dog is known for eating everything it sees, try and muzzle your dog on walks if they are off the lead a lot.
When switching your dogs food, do this gradually, as a big change in diet can upset their stomach and make them ill.
Keep your dogs vaccinations and worming up-to-date.
