Gastritis, Catarrhal

Clinical

• Catarrhal gastritis can be fatal since it makes the animal vomit and can produce rapid dehydration.
  • May die in day or two if vomiting is persistent and untreated.
• Extracellular fluid (isontonic) is lost, and so blood very quickly becomes viscous.
  • Death may occur from hypovolaemic shock
    • Particularly in young animals (can be very quick).

Pathology

• The mucosa appears swollen and hyperaemic, with thickened rugae.
  • Mild inflammation, hyperaemia, and oedema
  • Infiltration of inflammatory cells
  • No fibrin or haemorrhage.
• The surface of the mucosa is covered by a white, sticky catarrhal exudate which lines the stomach.

Pathogenesis

• There are numerous causes of catarrhal gastritis
  1. Ingestion of mild irritant
  2. Systemic bacterial diseases
  3. Infectious enteric diseases e.g.
     • Transmissible gastro enteritis (TGE)
     • E.coli
     • Salmonella etc.
• Dogs are very prone catarrhal gastritis.
  • Anything that affects dogs tends to produce vomiting.
  • Dogs eat almost anything and this can make them vomit for a short time.