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Signalment
Can affect both dogs and cats.
Description
Abnormal gastric motility has been cited as a contributing factor of conditions such as gastric dilatation-volvulus and gastric outflow obstruction that has resulted from pylorospasm. Many potential causes of gastric stasis have been proposed:
- nervous inhibition due to pain or trauma
- electrolyte or acid-base imbalances
- uraemia
- hypothyroidism
- hepatic encephalopathy
- pancreatitis
- inflammation or ulceration of the stomach
- anticholinergic drugs and narcotic analgesics used to treat vomiting and diarrhoea
- idiopathic
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of gastric motility disorders is usually made once other causes of vomiting have been ruled out. The normal gastric emptying time of a dog is 10-12 hours. Therefore, a dog that vomits an undigested meal more than twelve hours after feeding should be strongly suspected of having a gastric motility disorder if an outflow obstruction and inflammatory disease have been excluded. =
Clinical Signs
- chronic belching and vomiting
- anorexia
- weight loss
- poor body condition
Radiography
Contrast radiography may support a diagnosis of a gastric motility disorder:
- Retention of a barium meal for more than 10 hours