A Bristol veterinary nurse has given her advice for spotting signs of a virus that has broken out in northern parts of the UK.
Bristol Live spoke to a number of vets in and around the city and while none of them had actively noticed an increase in the number of dogs with gastroenteritis in the area, one vet told us what dog owners should be aware of.
It comes as reported cases of the disease are “higher than usual” in the Midlands.
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Sara Jackson (RVN), Head Nurse at Longwell Green Vets4Pets, told Bristol Live: “Gastroenteritis is a condition that we see regularly in the practice and refers to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
“This inflammation usually leads to vomiting and diarrhea, which can be very uncomfortable for both dog and owner.
“In healthy, fit dogs, this condition often resolves within 24 to 36 hours with a bland diet and rest, but veterinary intervention is required in some cases.
“Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with underlying health problems are more susceptible to complications from gastroenteritis and often require veterinary attention.”
According to Sara, the signs to look out for are:
- Vomit
- diarrhea with or without blood
- lethargy and depression
- loss of appetite
- temperature
- abdominal pain and tenderness
- Sunken eyes/skin folds/sticky gums, dry gums – when dehydrated
She added that gastroenteritis can have many causes, and vets often fail to find the cause.
However, some of the causes of this condition may be due to:
- Dogs eating something they shouldn’t, such as B. spoiled/rotten feed, rich feed, human food or non-food items
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- viruses or bacteria
- parasites/protozoa
- toxins
- foreign body
- Certain types of cancer
- Underlying health conditions
If you suspect your dog has gastroenteritis, you should contact your veterinarian or an after-hours veterinarian.
Sara said: “They will take a medical history and decide if your dog can be treated at home with over-the-counter medication and a bland diet, or if veterinary intervention is needed.
“If the vet feels they need to see your dog they will also do a full health check/examination and in some cases blood/faecal tests may be done.
“Once the vet is confident that your dog is not overly dehydrated, they can prescribe a veterinary diet specifically designed for dogs with gastroenteritis, anti-emetic medication, antibiotics and pre/probiotics to maintain the gastrointestinal tract.
“In some cases patients will need to be hospitalized and placed in the dog’s vein where we can then provide constant fluid at a rate that will rehydrate the dog, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the improvement. The benefit of the intravenous.” Catheter also means we can administer drugs directly into the vein.”
Earlier this week, Birmingham Live reported that a large number of pets in the Midlands had begun suffering from a “violent” bout of the bug.
And a veterinary practice in the area confirmed that experts are “seeing a higher than usual incidence of gastroenteritis in dogs.”
The rise in cases in the Midlands “fits into a broader phenomenon as reported by the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET),” the operation added.
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