What is gastric ulcer

Gastric ulcer, also known as gastric ulcer, is an ulcer or rupture of the lining of the stomach. Ulcers can penetrate deep into the sensitive layer of the stomach wall and are extremely painful. They can be caused by many factors, including ingestion of corrosive substances or foreign bodies, irritating medications, stress, shock, allergies, infections, cancer, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, liver disease, and kidney disease Failure and other factors cause gastric ulcers.
Dogs with gastric ulcers often vomit and have abdominal pain that manifests itself in a "praying" or "bowing" posture. They tend to be depressed, weak, nervous, and anxious. Their appetite is diminished and they may lose weight, become dehydrated, feel confused, and may even collapse. One of the most important complications of gastric ulcers is anemia, which is caused by the loss of blood in this condition. In severe cases, the stomach perforates or ruptures, leading to septic peritonitis, shock, and sudden death.

Causes of gastric ulcers in dogs

Gastric ulcers can be caused by many things. Common reasons include:

1. Ingestion of toxic substances

2. Ingestion of foreign bodies

3. Irritating oral drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids)

4. Pressure

5.Shock

6. Allergy (anaphylaxis)

7. Cancer (primary or metastatic tumor)

8. Bacterial or viral infection

9. Chronic gastritis (endogastric)

10. Inflammatory bowel disease

11. Pancreatitis

12. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

13. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (Addison’s disease)

14. Liver (liver) disease

15. Chronic renal failure

16. Intervertebral disc disease

17. Mast cell tumor (releases histamine, a powerful stimulator of gastric acid secretion)

18. Other neurological, metabolic, endocrine or systemic abnormalities

Preventing Gastric Ulcers

Dietary modification and management can help prevent gastric ulcers and can also reduce the severity of symptoms in dogs who already have severe gastric ulcers. A highly digestible diet reduces the inflammation and irritation associated with ulcers. Feeding small amounts of food multiple times a day can also help relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation (eating smaller meals more frequently). Dogs are free to drink fresh water unless advised by a veterinarian.

Certain drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids) may cause stomach discomfort leading to a risk of gastric ulcers and should be taken with caution. Try not to give these antibiotics. A drug called misoprostol can reduce the risk of stomach ulcers. Because stress often causes gastrointestinal upset in dogs, owners should evaluate their dog's environment to identify and eliminate any peculiarspecial stress, such as noise. Owners should also ensure that their dogs have a safe, private place to rest and regular exercise and play time.

ps: Blood loss anemia is one of the most important complications of gastric ulcer. Another critical complication is gastric perforation, which can lead to septic peritonitis, shock, and even death.

Preliminary diagnosis

Dogs often vomit, and their vomit contains substances like coffee grounds, which should be suspected of gastric ulcers. Dogs with this condition should have a complete physical examination, including a rectal exam. Full physical examination, urine test, etc. These tests can confirm whether it is a gastric ulcer.

The attending veterinarian will recommend investigation of abdominal x-rays, but x-rays are not very useful for gastric ulcers and are better for looking for gastric perforations. Abdominal ultrasound can also provide valuable information about the health of the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract tissues. These imaging techniques may cause gastrointestinal obstruction through tumors or foreign bodies, which may cause or contribute to the patient's vomiting and discomfort. Diagnostic paracentesis, which is a free sampling of abdominal fluid, can also reveal evidence of gastric perforation. Another diagnostic technique is peritoneal lavage.

The gold standard for diagnosing gastric ulcers in dogs is an endoscopy, also known as a "gastroscopy." During this procedure, the dog is sedated (anesthetized) and a flexible endoscopic wand is passed through its mouth, down the throat (through the esophagus) and into the stomach. The tip of the wand houses a small camera that allows veterinarians to scan the monitor screen for signs of ulcers in real time during the exam. Superficial ulcers are patches of inflamed and eroded tissue that are covered by white or yellow pustules. Deep ulcers present as funnel-shaped lesions that penetrate the stomach wall more than severe cases. Gastric tissue biopsy specimens can also be taken under the guidance of an endoscopic wand for subsequent microscopic examination in a specialized laboratory.

ps: The process of diagnosing gastric ulcers through gastroscopy is not particularly difficult. If there is a gastric ulcer, it may help to identify the cause of the ulcer. If it is a stomach tumor (cancer), especially the tissue around the ulcer is thickened. Multiple or widespread ulcers have different causes.

Stomach ulcer symptoms

The symptoms of gastric ulcer are very similar to those of gastritis:

1. Vomiting (vomiting; can be sporadic or chronic; vomitus often contains blood and looks like coffee grounds)

2. Abdominal pain (often manifested in a "praying" or "bowing" posture)

3.Depression

4. Anxiety

5. Nervous

6. Irritability

7. Loss of appetite (anorexia; anorexia)

8. Lose weight

9. Dehydration

10. Pale, sticky gums and other mucus membranes

11. Black tarry feces (expelled from the digested blood)

In severe cases, blood loss from a stomach ulcer can lead to more severe symptoms, including:

1. Lethargy

2. Confusion

3.Crash

4. Loss of consciousness

5.Shock

Any dog ​​suffering from chronic vomiting symptoms with evidence of digestive blood may have a gastric ulcer and should seek medical attention promptly.

Dogs prone to gastric ulcers:

Dogs of any age and breed may develop gastric ulcers. Certain commonly used medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen), and corticosteroids, can also cause gastric ulcers in dogs. Prolonged dehydration can reduce the amount of blood circulating through the gastrointestinal tract and can also predispose dogs to gastric ulcers.

Treating gastric ulcers

Dogs suffering from acute symptoms of gastric ulcers (such as severe vomiting, dehydration, and blood loss) require immediate treatment and may require hospitalization. Intravenous fluids, nutritional and electrolyte support, antibiotics, pain relievers (analgesics), and medicines to relieve vomiting (antiemetics) may be helpful. Medication to treat stomach ulcers is a very common treatment, although certain medications may cause stomach ulcers, including NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Your veterinarian can prescribe medications to reduce stomach acid production and coat the stomach lining, which can help reduce the discomfort of ulcers.

A blood transfusion may be necessary. Dietary changes when dogs have severe ulcers may help reduce the condition. Easily digestible foods may help reduce inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract. Feeding small amounts of food multiple times a day can also help reduce gastrointestinal irritation (eating smaller meals more frequently). Don’t stop drinking water unless your veterinarian advises it! Avoid giving medications and foods that may cause or contribute to stomach ulcers. Dogs with gastric ulcers usually require dietary modifications and prescription medications for a period of time after they are discharged from the hospital.

Surgery may be needed if the ulcer penetrates deeply into the stomach lining, bleeds profusely, perforates the stomach wall, or is otherwise difficult to heal. Surgical correction involves removal of the tissue containing the ulcer and closely related tissue.