Gastritis in Cats

Even cats that are fortunate enough to be fed the tastiest and most nutritious pet food available are not above rifling through the rubbish bins to ‘treat’ themselves to something different once in a while. However, these treats could well backfire as a few mouthfuls of spoiled food can often be enough to give a curious feline a nasty bout of gastritis.

Gastritis
Acute gastritis is defined as vomiting that lasts less than seven days. There are a great many things that can cause cats to get acute gastritis; however, the most common are typically ingesting spoiled food, plants, a foreign body or hair. Gastritis can become chronic if an animal experiences long-term exposure to the causes of acute gastritis.

Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
Nausea, vomiting and lethargy are the usual signs of gastritis. Vomiting episodes that last for more than 24 hours may indicate that a cat has a serious illness such as pancreatic  Owners who suspect their feline companion is suffering with gastritis should consult their pet’s veterinarian before deciding to withhold water or administer any kind of home treatment.

Recovery
It is important for owners to follow their veterinarian’s recommendations regarding diet and hydration to the letter. Fortunately, it is often the case that withholding food and water for a prescribed time and gradually introducing a bland diet encourages gastritis to resolve itself. Once an owner is satisfied that the symptoms of gastritis have passed, they can put their pet back on their normal diet.