Dogs are more commonly affected by acute gastritis because of their less discriminating eating habits. Signs usually consist of acute onset of vomiting; food and bile are typically vomited, although small amounts of blood may be present. Affected animals are typically uninterested in food and may or may not feel sick. Fever and abdominal pain [...]
Unless the dog was seen eating some irritative substance, acute gastritis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion based on history and physical examination findings. Abdominal radiographs and/or clinical pathologic data are indicated if the animal is severely ill or if other disease is suspected.
Once alimentary foreign body, obstruction, parvoviral enteritis, uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoadrenocorticorticism, hepatic [...]
Regurgitation is the expulsion of material (i.e., food, water, saliva) from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus.
It must be differentiated from vomiting (the expulsion of material from the stomach and/or intestines) and expectoration (the expulsion of material from the respiratory tract). Historical and physical examination findings sometimes allow these three to be differentiated.
Expectoration is generally [...]
Continue reading about Distinguishing regurgitation from vomiting
Diarrhea refers to feces containing excessive water. Fecal mucus is principally caused by large bowel disorders. The best approach to the assessment of dogs and cats with diarrhea is to first distinguish acute from chronic problems.
Acute diarrhea is usually caused by diet, parasites, or infectious diseases. Dietary problems are often detected by history; parasites by [...]
Constipation (the infrequent and difficult evacuation of feces) and obstipation (intractable constipation) have several causes. The initial use of symptomatic therapy is often successful, but it is preferable to look for causes, because some problems that are initially treatable may become irreversible if symptomatic therapy masks the signs for too long.
A search of the history [...]