Key Points to Discuss with the Pet Owners 

• Avoid sudden changes in your pet’s diet. Mix the new food gradually with the old diet over one week.
• If your pet vomits 2–3 times, withhold food and water for 24 hours. Contact your veterinarian if vomiting continues.
• Dogs and cats do not require a varied diet every day. Avoid feeding table scraps or human food, as these may cause gastritis.
• Keep foreign objects and chewable items that can be swallowed away from your pet.

Acute Gastritis 

Acute gastritis is a common cause of vomiting in dogs and cats.

It occurs when the stomach lining (gastric mucosa) becomes damaged and inflamed.

Common causes include:

• Dietary causes: spoiled food, sudden diet change, food allergy, or food intolerance.
• Infectious agents: bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections
• Toxins: chemicals, poisonous plants, drugs, or toxins associated with organ failure.
• Ingestion of foreign objects.

Once the stomach lining is damaged, inflammation develops and causes clinical signs such as vomiting.

Withhold all food and water (nothing by mouth) for 24–36 hours.

After 36 hours, gradually introduce a low-fat, easily digestible diet, such as:

• Low-fat cottage cheese (1 part) with boiled rice (2 parts).
• Well-drained boiled meat (1 part) with boiled rice (3 parts).

Key Points to Discuss with the Pet Owners 

• Some dogs may have a genetic or familial predisposition to GDV.
• Avoid feeding one large meal per day; offer several small meals instead.
• Do not allow vigorous exercise immediately after eating.
• Feed a high-quality protein, low-fat diet and avoid easily fermentable diets.
• The average hospital stay is 3–7 days.
• The reported mortality rate is 15%–18%.
• Gastropexy (stomach tack-down surgery) reduces the risk but does not completely prevent future GDV episodes.

Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV)

GDV is a life-threatening condition seen mainly in large- and giant-breed, deep-chested dogs aged 2–10 years, but it can occasionally occur in small breeds.

The exact cause is not fully understood.

Factors that may contribute include:

• Diet and exercise
• Delayed gastric emptying
• Pyloric obstruction
• Aerophagia (swallowing air)
• Overeating (gastric engorgement)

Some affected dogs may have gastric dysrhythmias (abnormal stomach contractions) that increase the risk of GDV.

As the stomach fills with air, food, or fluid, the stomach outlets can become blocked.

The stomach may:

• Become dilated (gas-filled), or
• Twist on its longitudinal axis (volvulus).

During volvulus, the pylorus moves beneath the stomach and lies above the cardia on the left side of the abdomen.

The enlarged stomach:

• Presses against the diaphragm, causing breathing difficulty.
• Compresses the hepatic portal vein and caudal vena cava, reducing venous return.

Increased pressure within the stomach wall decreases blood supply, leading to ischemia and possible gastric wall necrosis.

The spleen may become congested.

Endotoxins from the gastrointestinal tract activate inflammatory mediators.

The final result is hypovolemic and endotoxic shock.

Key Points to Discuss with the Pet Owners 

• The exact cause is usually unknown, but injury or trauma can sometimes lead to this condition.
• The swelling contains saliva, not pus or a tumor.
• Removing the affected salivary gland is usually required to prevent the swelling from recurring.
• If the gland is not treated, saliva will continue to accumulate.
• A small number of cases may resolve on their own, but veterinary evaluation is still recommended.

Salivary Mucocele

• Salivary mucocele is the most common salivary gland disorder in dogs and may also occur in cats, usually after trauma
• It develops when saliva leaks from a damaged salivary gland or duct and collects under the skin, causing a fluid-filled swelling.
• Most commonly seen in dogs 2–4 years of age, especially German Shepherd and Miniature Poodle.
• In most cases, the exact cause is unknown, although trauma may be responsible.
• Typical signs include a slowly enlarging, soft, painless swelling on the neck.
• Large mucoceles may cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or breathing difficulty by compressing the throat.
• In cats, a ranula (a saliva-filled swelling under the tongue) may be present.

Key Points to Discuss with the Pet Owners 

• Maintain good oral hygiene from an early age.
• Brush your pet’s teeth daily using a pet-specific toothpaste. Avoid human toothpaste.
• Schedule regular professional dental cleanings with your veterinarian.
• Treat gingivitis promptly to prevent irreversible periodontal damage.
• In advanced cases, extraction of severely affected teeth may be necessary to eliminate chronic infection.
• Dry, crunchy diets may help reduce plaque buildup, but cannot remove hardened tartar.
• Complete removal of plaque and calculus requires professional dental cleaning under anesthesia.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a progressive inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth, caused by the accumulation of dental plaque.

It typically progresses through:

• Gingivitis (early gum inflammation)
• Gingival hyperplasia (gum overgrowth)
• Periodontitis with destruction of the supporting bone (vertical or horizontal bone loss)

If left untreated, it can eventually result in tooth loss.

Disease Severity

• Grade 1: Mild gingivitis.
• Grade 2: Mild gingivitis with tartar deposits on most or all teeth.
• Grade 3: Severe gingivitis with significant bone loss, oral pain, and advanced periodontal damage.

Gingivitis

• Gingivitis is the earliest and reversible stage of periodontal disease.
• It develops when plaque and tartar accumulate along the gum line (gingival sulcus).
• Bacteria usually do not invade the gums directly. Instead, bacteria within plaque release enzymes that trigger inflammation.
• The body’s inflammatory response may lead to redness, swelling, and gingival hyperplasia. In some animals, gingival hyperplasia may also be breed-related or drug-induced.
• As plaque hardens, it forms dental calculus (tartar), which protects bacteria and promotes further disease.

Disease Progression

In gingivitis, inflammation is limited to the gums, and the attachment of the teeth remains intact.

Without treatment, the disease progresses to periodontitis, where:

Periodontal pockets develop.

• The periodontal ligament begins to break down.
• Alveolar bone is progressively resorbed.

Once bone and supporting tissues are lost, the damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.