Cat Gastropathy: Symptoms, Causes, Effects, and Treatment

Gastropathy, also known as stomach inflammation, is a common health issue in cats. It can occur in two main forms: acute and chronic.

Acute gastritis comes on suddenly and lasts for a short time, while chronic gastritis develops and persists for a longer period of time¹.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of cat gastropathy include¹²:

1. Vomiting: This can start suddenly, and you may find food, bile (yellow or green fluid made in the cat’s liver), froth, and blood in the vomit¹.
2. Decreased appetite or anorexia².
3. Lethargy or depression².
4. Increased thirst².
5. Abdominal pain².
6. Blood in the vomit or feces².
7. Dehydration².

Causes

There can be many different causes for gastritis in cats¹²:

1. Dietary indiscretion: Your cat may have eaten something they shouldn’t have, such as foreign objects like glass, string, metal, grass, bones, or plastic. They may have also eaten spoiled or contaminated food¹.
2. Drug or toxin ingestion: A cat may have swallowed drugs or toxins in the form of antibiotics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, or chemicals¹.
3. Systemic illness: Sometimes, your cat’s gastritis may be caused by other conditions in the body, like neoplasia (including cancer-like lymphoma), diabetes, kidney disease, irritable bowel disease (IBD), pancreatitis, hypoadrenocorticism, or uremic gastropathy¹.
4. Parasites and viruses: Your cat may have a parasite or a virus¹.
5. Stomach ulcers and tumors: Stomach ulcers in cats can cause gastritis, as can tumors in the stomach¹.

Effects

If left untreated, gastritis can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with blood, leading to decreased appetite, dehydration, and an electrolyte imbalance³.

Chronic gastritis can also lead to weight loss and a general decline in your cat’s health¹.

Treatment

Treatment for cat gastropathy is based on the underlying cause or condition¹².

Your vet will physically examine your cat and review their medical history before deciding on a course of treatment¹.

An initial round of tests including x-rays, ultrasound, and fecal tests may be done to look for parasites and to rule out foreign body blockage called obstruction or cancer¹.

For acute gastritis, your vet may start off with small amounts of oral fluids and gradually increase these if the vomiting starts to ease up¹.

If there is no vomiting, they may feed a small amount of highly digestible, low-fat, low-fiber food².

Medical treatment for cats with gastritis may include²:

1. Anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medications, such as maropitant (Cerenia®) or metoclopramide (Reglan®)².
2. Fluid therapy if the cat is dehydrated².
3. Gastrointestinal protectants used to prevent stomach ulcers, such as famotidine (Pepcid®) or ranitidine (Zantac®)².

Conclusion

Early treatment is key to helping your cat recover from gastropathy quickly¹.

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s important to contact your vet immediately.

With the right treatment and care, your cat can recover and continue to live a healthy and happy life.

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice or diagnosis provided by your veterinarian. If your cat shows symptoms, please consult your veterinarian immediately.