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With ‘gastric’ referring to stomach and ‘enteric’ meaning the intestines, the term ‘gastroenteritis’ means both the stomach and intestines are inflamed. This is actually a very common issue in our canine companions, so it is useful for owners to know how to manage symptoms and when veterinary intervention is required.
This article discusses the various signs that can occur, what diagnosis and treatment can look like, a general recovery timeline and how best to prevent gastroenteritis. Thankfully, for the vast majority of dogs, this is a medical condition that resolves quickly and completely.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: This article is informational only and should not replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian before starting any treatment or medication for your dog. Only a qualified veterinary professional can properly diagnose your pet's condition and recommend appropriate treatment based on individual circumstances.
Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines, commonly leading to vomiting and diarrhea
As well as a stomach upset, dogs can experience signs such as bloating, lethargy, a reduced appetite, and bloody stool.
Most cases will resolve within a couple of days, although some dogs may be affected for several weeks
Some cases require urgent care, including dogs who are vomiting blood, who experience weakness or extreme lethargy, or who are visibly dehydrated
Very sick patients may be admitted to the veterinary clinic for therapy such as intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medicine, and antacids.
Let’s take a closer look at this common medical issue: Canine gastroenteritis.
Acute gastroenteritis comes on quickly, and usually resolves very promptly too. In contrast, chronic gastroenteritis is one that lasts many weeks. This ongoing inflammation warrants investigation and a more precise and tailored treatment plan.
As mentioned, when we talk about gastroenteritis, this is an inflammation that is localised to the stomach and intestines. This is generally the upper or small intestines. Colitis is a different condition that occurs within the colon (lower or large intestine). Colitis typically causes diarrhea that contains fresh blood and mucus.
Usually, we will see vomiting if a dog has gastroenteritis, rather than regurgitation. These are two similar but different methods of expelling contents from the body via the mouth.
Vomiting is associated with nausea, gagging and stomach contractions. Conversely, regurgitation seems to happen out of the blue; the dog does not feel sick, and the food comes back undigested.
There are quite a few different symptoms of gastroenteritis in dogs, and not every dog will exhibit all of them.
Almost every dog is going to experience runny stool and vomiting. The vomiting is strongly linked to nausea, which can lead to a reduced appetite. When the dog is losing fluids but not replacing them quickly enough, they can develop dehydration and lethargy.
Some other potential signs include:
Abdominal discomfort
Mild abdominal bloating or swelling
Fever
Mucus or blood in the stool
Blood in the vomit
Weight loss
There are some symptoms that should never be ignored, and that would warrant an immediate vet visit. These include:
Repeated vomiting when water cannot be held down
Weakness, dizziness or collapse
Obvious dehydration (sunken eyes, dry gums)
If the dog is very young, very old, or known to have poor health
A known foreign body ingestion or toxicity
Frank blood being brought up
Frustratingly, this is a medical condition that has a huge range of potential causes. This means, it is sometimes difficult to determine exactly why it happens in each case.
Dietary indiscretion is when a dog eats something they should not. Some common examples would include vegetation or soil, garbage, or animal remains.
When the regular diet is being changed over, this is best done gradually over the course of several days. An abrupt diet change frequently causes stomach upset, especially in more sensitive dogs.
Sometimes the gastroenteritis will be due to an infection, which may be bacterial (like Salmonellosis) or viral (like Parvovirus). Dogs may contract these infections from other animals or from the environment around them- such as those fed on a raw food diet.
Parasites like worms or coccidia tend to cause a more chronic gastrointestinal upset. Dogs may be losing weight despite hunger and can have a poor coat quality. We see parasites most in young puppies, especially if they have not been routinely de-wormed.
Dogs are notorious for eating things they shouldn’t and some of the more ‘frequent flyers’ involved in my clinic would include rat bait, flowers, chocolate, grapes, and greasy foods like burgers and sausages.
When it comes to toxins, it is always best to contact your vet immediately. For many, time is of the essence, and early contamination can have a huge impact on prognosis and recovery.
Anything that is going to increase your dog’s stress hormones can impact their digestion. Every dog will have different triggers but very common culprits include a stay in boarding kennels, a trip to the vet or groomers, or a nearby fireworks display. For most, this is more associated with diarrhea than vomiting.
A range of medical issues will lead to stomach upset. This can include endocrine disorders like Cushing’s, GI conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, or organ disease like chronic renal failure.
In reality, vets will not always reach a specific diagnosis or find a definitive cause for symptoms. Most of the time, for healthy dogs, the signs are treated symptomatically and the dog improves.
However, we may consider taking a closer look at things if the signs are persisting, or are very severe.
The first step is to hear about what is going on and to get information on things like recent diet changes and worming history. The vet will also check your dog from nose to tail, assessing things like their hydration level and temperature.
Which tests are run will depend on the vet’s suspicions, as well as the owner’s finances. Some common diagnostic tests used include:
Fecal exam, looking under the microscope for parasites and culturing the feces for bacteria.
Bloodwork to assess the dog’s general health and to check for markers of infection or inflammation.
Imaging of the abdomen using X-ray and ultrasound can be really useful for identifying issues such as gut obstructions or intestinal thickening
More specific tests like Parvo tests or GI blood panels may be run, depending on the patient’s age and signs
Many conditions present in the same way- a dog who is not very well and who has a stomach upset. It can be tricky to differentiate a puppy with Parvo from one who has eaten something toxic, or who has got food poisoning.
Your vet will gather all of the information they have, and will focus their testing based on the most likely diagnoses.
For many patients, treatment looks quite similar.
When deemed appropriate by the vet, some patients can be managed at home. These dogs should be happy to eat and go on walks and should quickly improve.
You can:
Stick to a bland diet of e.g. white fish or boiled chicken with rice
Offer a course of probiotics and anti-diarrhea medicine like Kaolin and Pectin
Encourage rest and sleep
Improve hydration by adding water to meals and offering dog safe soups and broths
Ensure the dog’s parasite prevention is up to date
Check that there is no evidence of ‘garbage can exploration’ around the home
Do not:
Persist with home care if your dog is not responding or is obviously unwell
Offer human medicine, unless explicitly approved by your vet
Withhold fluids
Over-exercise your pet as they recover
For those patients who have more concerning signs or who are not improving at home, veterinary care is important. Prescribed treatment may include anti-nausea medicine, gastroprotectants, and pain relief.
If a dog is dehydrated, they may be admitted for intravenous fluid therapy. Some dogs will also be provided with nutritional support, such as syringe feeding or feeding tubes.
Many owners are surprised to learn that antibiotics are often not needed. Indeed, giving them when inappropriate can do more harm than good, and can lead to dysbiosis (an imbalance in the good bacteria in the gut).
If a specific bacterial infection has been identified or if there is concern for sepsis, antibiotics are likely to be prescribed by the vet.
The dog’s microbiome is the community of microorganisms that live in their gut. Studies have shown that by supporting the microbiome during stomach upsets, we can potentially reduce the recovery time. This is why many vets recommend feeding prebiotics and probiotics when your dog has gastroenteritis.
Rarely, a dog may require surgery. This is the case, for example, if the dog has ingested a foreign body that needs to be removed. In my clinic, we often see corn cobs, socks, and plastic toys.
A number of things you do can influence your pet’s recovery and hopefully speed it up.
A mild case usually lasts only a day or two, but more complicated or severe cases can last many weeks. In fact, for chronic cases caused by diseases like IBD or food allergies, symptoms can persist until a solid treatment plan is in place.
Most dogs will do best on a plain, highly digestible diet for the few weeks after their bout of gastroenteritis. After this, it's normal to slowly transition back to their regular food.
Mild dehydration can linger for a few days after signs settle, so it is a good idea to continue to offer plenty of fluids.
Although we can’t always prevent another episode from occurring in the future, it is a good idea to:
Attend routine health checks with your vet
Provide regular vaccinations and parasite control
Stick to safe, dog-specific foods and treats
Lock away toxins, medicine, and cleaning products
Use garbage cans your dog can’t open
Change diet over the course of several days
Avoiding scavenging when out and about. For repeat offenders, consider keeping them on leash and using basket muzzles
Try to identify and reduce stressful triggers
It is not always easy to make the call, particularly if it is the weekend or your dog is coping well at times. As a rough guide, seek vet care if any of the following apply. This is not a definitive guide however, and pet owners should use their best judgment based on their particular situation and pet.
Your dog has been vomiting for more than a day
There is blood in the stool or vomit
Your dog is very young or old
There is significant abdominal pain (which can present as hunching over or stretching repeatedly)
You know your dog has eaten something indigestible or toxic
Your dog has a history of illness, such as a previous bout of pancreatitis
You are concerned or feel something is not right
What causes gastroenteritis in dogs?
Lots of things can cause canine gastroenteritis, such as infections, parasites, stress, or dietary indiscretion.
How to treat gastroenteritis in dogs at home?
From home, it helps to keep the diet plain and to offer rehydration solutions and probiotics.
How long does gastroenteritis last in dogs?
Many episodes last about 24-72 hours. However, sometimes signs will last longer.
Are probiotics safe for all dogs?
Probiotics designed for dogs can be very useful and may reduce the duration of a stomach upset by about a day.
Should I switch food immediately after diarrhea starts?
It is a good idea to switch to a plain diet such as a sensitivity diet or boiled chicken and rice, to help settle the stomach.
Is antibiotic use necessary for acute diarrhea?
Antibiotics are usually not needed, except in very specific cases.
Is gastroenteritis contagious to other pets?
It is possible for infectious gastroenteritis (such as one caused by food poisoning or Parvovirus) to pass from one dog to another.
Can stress trigger gastroenteritis?
Absolutely, stress is a common trigger for stomach upset, especially in more sensitive dogs.
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