Ulcerative lesions of the digestive system are not uncommon among felines. The most commonly diagnosed gastric ulcer occurs as a result of exposure to various factors.
The disease is characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the lining wall of the digestive muscular organ, with a further process of necrosis.
Factors in the development of ulcerative lesions can be disturbances in feeding regimen, poisoning and chemical burns of the mucous membrane. The danger of a stomach ulcer is possible perforation and bleeding from the wound surface.
Treatment of a stomach ulcer is a rather lengthy process that requires a highly qualified doctor and strict adherence to all his recommendations by the owner of the sick cat.
Causes of peptic ulcers in dogs and cats
It is sometimes very difficult to understand why exactly this disease occurred in an animal, and sometimes the cause remains unidentified. But, basically, the development of stomach ulcers can be provoked by:
- Certain medications (for example, steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- Metabolic disorders - uremia, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, liver diseases.
- Stress.
- Endocrine diseases – hypoadrenocorticism.
- Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach.
- Lead poisoning.
- Bacteria Helicobacter Pylori.
- Tumor process – lymphosarcoma, adenocarcinoma.
How do symptoms appear?
At the very beginning of the disease, you may notice a small red spot on the cat's upper lip. Much less often, such spots appear on the lower lip or in the oral cavity. If measures are not taken in time, the animal is not shown to the veterinarian and treatment is not started, then such a spot gradually grows and turns into a large weeping ulcer with jagged edges and a very unpleasant odor.
First, a small spot appears on the cat's lip, which over time develops into a weeping ulcer.
Over time, the ulcer becomes even larger and deeper and can completely erode soft tissue, exposing the gums and teeth. At this stage, it is not possible to cure Jacobs ulcer.
Important. Unlike other types of skin lesions, cats with Jacobs ulcer do not experience any pain or itching.
The animal behaves as usual, does not lose its appetite, and does not have any problems with stool or digestion. But this applies only to the initial stage of the defeat. When the ulcer becomes penetrating and the teeth are clearly visible through the wound, the pain syndrome in the cat will be very strong and noticeable. In this case, an infection can get into the open wound, leading to a weakened immune system. The cat becomes lethargic and apathetic, stops eating and drinking and ultimately dies painfully.
Signs of a stomach ulcer
In some animals, the disease may be asymptomatic for a certain period of time. Vivid symptoms of a stomach ulcer:
- Vomiting with or without blood.
- Melena is black, tarry stool that contains digested blood.
- Abdominal pain.
- Lack of appetite.
- Pale gums.
- Weakness.
- Shock.
Sometimes the disease occurs quite quickly, acutely and can lead to sudden death. If you suspect a stomach ulcer, you should immediately take the animal to a veterinary clinic!
Prevention of ulcers
In veterinary medicine, the prevention of diseases of the digestive system is of no small importance. Therapists recommend that owners adhere to the following recommendations and tips when keeping pets:
- Balanced, nutritious nutrition. Feeding food from the table, canned, smoked, and fatty foods is strictly prohibited. It is also not recommended to constantly feed the animal with industrial dry food. Mixtures should only be premium and super-premium.
Super premium food
- Feeding regimen. Frequent, small meals. Food should be warm, not rough.
- Treatment of concomitant diseases, in particular gastritis.
- Prevention of stressful situations, keeping your pet in comfortable conditions.
- The use of sedatives and sedatives when the animal is exposed to negative psycho-emotional factors.
Gastric ulcers in domestic cats are most often caused by gross violation of the rules of feeding the animal, as well as ignoring the symptoms of gastritis and lack of treatment for inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Ulcerative processes can lead not only to indigestion, but also to such dangerous complications as gastric bleeding, perforation of the stomach, peritonitis and death of the animal.
Timely diagnosis and thorough adherence to the doctor’s recommendations will ensure a comfortable existence for your pet.
Diagnostics
To diagnose a stomach ulcer in a dog, a whole range of tests and a set of diagnostic measures are used. Since the disease can lead to potentially life-threatening consequences for the animal, in addition to diagnosing the ulcer itself, it is also necessary to check the functions of internal organs, the functioning of blood cells, digestive organs, and study hormonal levels.
Clinical blood test
– is important for excluding anemia in an animal with peptic ulcer disease (since a fairly large volume of blood can be lost through bleeding ulcers and sometimes a blood transfusion is required), shows the presence of a strong inflammatory process, allows you to determine the number of platelets (cells associated with blood clotting).
Biochemical profile
blood helps to evaluate the functioning of the kidneys, liver, electrolyte balance, total protein content, blood sugar levels. All these parameters are important for animals with already diagnosed gastric ulcers, since these tests can determine the primary disease, or whether it is associated with any metabolic disorders.
Analysis of urine
– helps evaluate kidney function and the level of dehydration in the animal.
Fecal occult blood test
– examined to look for digested blood (from the upper gastrointestinal tract), which is a symptom of a gastric ulcer.
Abdominal x-ray
– to exclude the presence of a foreign body or tumor in the stomach (which gives the same symptoms as a peptic ulcer).
X-ray contrast examination of the stomach with barium
– informative for identifying ulcers. In addition, barium is used to diagnose foreign bodies in the stomach and tumors. A safe dye is given to the patient by mouth, and then a series of X-rays are used to monitor the barium's passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Also, with the help of such a study, perforation (perforation) of the stomach wall is diagnosed.
Abdominal ultrasound
– evaluates the structure of the abdominal organs and excludes the presence of tumors. Ultrasound is also used for monitoring biopsies of tumors, lymph nodes, and liver.
Gastroscopy
- This is an examination of the inner surface of the stomach using an endoscope, which is inserted into a cat or dog through the mouth. The study is carried out under sedation. As a result of this study, the presence of ulcers and tumors is revealed, biopsy material is taken for histological and cytological examination, and foreign objects are removed.
Coagulogram
(blood coagulation test) - may be recommended in cases where a blood clotting disorder is suspected. A bleeding disorder can produce the same symptoms as a stomach ulcer - bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhea.
ACTH test
– recommended to exclude hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease), which can cause gastrointestinal ulcers.
Bile acids
– are determined to evaluate liver function, since some liver diseases can cause stomach ulcers.
Measuring blood lead levels
– may be tested in a patient with a peptic ulcer if it is known that there is a possibility of lead poisoning.
Gastrin level
– Investigated in any patient with multiple or recurrent ulcers or signs of ulceration. Elevated gastrin levels are usually observed in patients with gastrinomas (tumors that secrete gastrin), resulting in increased production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which contributes to the development of peptic ulcers.
Diagnostic laparotomy
is an operation in which a veterinary surgeon can examine organs, confirm the diagnosis, and, if necessary, take tissue samples for histological analysis. Diagnostic laparotomy is usually performed when other types of diagnostics have not given the desired result.
Neoplasms
Proliferative ulcerated skin lesions in cats, especially solitary lesions, should always raise red flags for neoplasia. Blastomatous ulcers are formed as a result of the breakdown of tumor tissue. Cytological signs of malignancy of neoplasms are: anisocytosis (change in cell size), pleomorphism (change in cell shape), change in the color intensity of the cytoplasm, anisokaryosis (change in the size of the nuclei), change in the size and shape of the nucleoli, change in the value of the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio. The most common examples of tumors leading to the formation of ulcerative skin lesions in cats are basal cell carcinomas (photo 5), squamous cell carcinoma, mastocytomas (photo 9), less commonly ceruminomas and tumors of the sebaceous glands, tumors of mesenchymal origin (fibrosarcomas, angiosarcomas and others). Erosions and ulcers in the abdominal area, accompanied by lumps in and under the skin, are often associated with breast carcinomas (Figure 7).
Treatment
Treatment for stomach ulcers in a dog or cat generally involves treating the underlying cause, suppressing stomach acid secretion, and controlling bleeding.
1. To reduce (inhibit) the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, the following are used:
- cimetidine,
- famotidine,
- ranitidine,
- omeprazole
These drugs protect the stomach wall from the aggressive effects of gastric juice and accelerate the healing of ulcers.
2. Intravenous infusion - necessary to combat dehydration in patients with peptic ulcer disease, to correct the electrolyte composition of the blood. In addition, blood transfusions may be recommended for patients with severe anemia.
3. Antiemetic drugs should be used with caution. Basically, drugs such as metoclopramide and chlorpromazine are used.
4. Antacids and adsorbents - help protect and soothe the irritated gastric mucosa, and they also bind harmful and toxic substances. The most commonly used are sucralfate and bismuth subsalicylate.
5. Antibiotics – indicated in case of bacterial infection (for example, Heliobacter Pylori).
6. Endoscopic surgery - can be used to remove foreign bodies, stomach tumors or to stop bleeding.
7. Diet - helps to quickly restore normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and the soft consistency of the food does not injure irritated mucous membranes.
8. Stress management is important for dogs and cats in which severe stress is a possible cause of peptic ulcer disease. Animals with an easily excitable nervous system can be prescribed sedatives and pheromones.
Mycoses
Fungal infections rarely lead to erosive and ulcerative skin lesions in cats. Candidiasis of the mucocutaneous areas is a rare cause of erosion associated with wet maceration of the skin. However, the defeat of Candida spp.
must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic ulcers in the lip area in cats, because this mycosis occurs against the background of immunosuppression, incl. caused by the unreasonable use of GCS. Cytological preparations reveal typical budding yeast fungi, with a weak leukocyte reaction observed.
Dermatophytosis does not often lead to the development of erosions and ulcers, but excoriation, especially in kittens, can manifest itself as erosions in the head area (photo 8). Rare cases of pseudomycetoma in the area of the body and base of the tail in Persians also manifest themselves as ulcerated nodules on the skin.
Treatment is carried out comprehensively, combining the local use of drugs (for example, povidone-iodine) and eliminating the causes of mycosis. In the absence of improvement and/or generalization of lesions, systemic antimycotic therapy is used (intraconazole po 10-20 mg/kg every 24-48 hours, ketoconazole 5-10 mg/kg every 12-24 hours).
Caring for an animal with a stomach ulcer
An animal with a stomach ulcer should be examined regularly by its veterinarian. Since this disease occurs with relapses, medications may be recommended that the cat or dog will receive for quite a long time or at certain intervals. It is important to follow the recommendations of a veterinarian and not cancel or skip medications.
The diet recommended for the pet must also be strictly followed. Feeding any other foods is not allowed, it is prohibited to pick up food on the street, or receive treats “from the table”. Strict adherence to the diet is another chance to prolong the period of remission of the disease.
Limiting stress and strenuous exercise is also important for animals with stomach ulcers. High-quality home care, combined with qualified and timely veterinary care, helps a cat or dog with stomach ulcers live long enough and increases the period of remission.
Peculiarities of animal nutrition during treatment
Diet therapy for stomach ulcers is one of the important conditions for a cat’s recovery, along with drug treatment. The animal should be given slimy porridges, rice broths, and weak meat broths.
It is useful to season porridge with butter. It is necessary to include dairy products in your pet's diet: kefir, low-fat cottage cheese and cream. Dietary foods for ulcers include chicken and quail eggs. It is useful to give boiled vegetables: carrots, turnips, broccoli.
If the animal is accustomed to ready-made food, then the veterinarian will prescribe therapeutic food from manufacturers such as Hills, Eucanuba, Royal Canin. In this case, preference is given to canned food. Dry medicated food must be soaked in water until it becomes mushy before feeding. A sick pet is fed often, but in small portions.
Veterinary services for cats
The veterinarian offers additional services that improve the quality of life of the animal and owner. Call the number or leave a request on the website and wait for the veterinarian to arrive soon to treat your cat.
We carry out preventive vaccinations to protect the animal from the danger of fatal disease or disability. Vaccinations against infectious diseases are the only guarantee of the healthy existence of purebred animals vulnerable to distemper and rare pathological processes. We perform emergency and planned surgery, and if a cure is not possible, we guarantee a dignified death (medical euthanasia).
In the absence of plans for breeding, castration of males and sterilization of females is important. The latter reduces the risk of cancer and hormonal abnormalities and eliminates the risk of possible problems from pills. Dentists treat molars and baby teeth using hypoallergenic materials. If the quality of the undercoat deteriorates or to solve cosmetic problems, shearing and grooming are available. Also, upon examination, a special diet is prescribed, taking into account individual characteristics.
Prices for visiting a veterinarian for a cat
| Call a veterinarian to your home (within the Moscow Ring Road) | |
| From 9:00-21:00 | 600 rub. |
| From 21:00-9:00 | 1200 rub. |
| Each subsequent kilometer of distance from the Moscow Ring Road | km 50 rub. |
| Patronage visit by paramedic (9:00-21:00) | from 500 rub. |
| Clinical examination | |
| From 9:00 to 21:00 | 500 rub. |
| From 21:00 to 9:00 | 1000 rub. |
| Consultation on the care and maintenance of animals | 500 - 1000 rub. |
| Development of a treatment regimen | from 500 rub. |
| Fixation of animals | 300 rub. |
Treating scratches at home
Most often, the owner decides to observe the development of events; in the end, the cat may itch due to nervousness. If the cause is not determined correctly, the situation worsens and scratching becomes painful. The progression of the disease can be determined by the reaction of the animal, which does not allow the scratches to be examined or simply hides.
There is another scenario for the development of events - the external scratching is delayed, and the infection that has “settled” on open wounds goes into the deeper layers of the skin. This happens for two reasons - complete ignorance of the problem or treatment of the animal’s skin at random.
Simply put, when you see a scratch or scratch, you should not smear it with all the ointments that can help; it is better to adhere to the standard treatment regimen or consult a doctor. If abscesses and boils form, you need to consult a doctor, since for recovery you need to remove the infection from the deep layers of the skin as quickly as possible.
If the inflammation does not seem extensive or painful, treatment at home comes down to preventive measures. If you do not allow infection to occur, and the cause of scratching does not lie in illness, the wounds will heal within a few days.
To disinfect and relieve discomfort, wounds are wiped with non-alcohol tincture of calendula. It is best to buy a collection of herbs and make a decoction yourself. If you need to act quickly, and only an alcohol solution is on hand, you need to fill it with hot water or boiling water so that the alcohol evaporates as quickly as possible.
Local discomfort is successfully relieved with cool lotions. For cooling, you can use herbal decoctions - oak bark, calendula, chamomile, etc. You need to be careful with lotions because wounds need to dry out to heal. By the same logic, scratches should not be bandaged or sealed. If the cat actively licks wounds, use an Elizabethan collar or follow the regimen prescribed by the veterinarian.
If you want to rid your cat of scratching, you need to heal not the wounds, but the reasons for their appearance. The word comb comes from “to itch”, which means that the cat is bothered by itching. You need to understand that when the skin just itches, the animal does not tear the skin to the point of wounds.
Medical nutrition
Part of the treatment is the transfer of the pet to Royal Canin Gastro food. It is recommended to treat ulcers in cats with the right diet. You should not give your pet dry food. But if the cat loves it very much, it is necessary to soak it in water before using it. You also need to exclude coarse and tough foods from your diet; raw meat should be ground in a meat grinder. Meals should be fractional, divided into small portions.
If the ulcer is not treated, it may perforate with the appearance of characteristic symptoms: a decrease in body temperature by 2 degrees, pale mucous membranes, heavy breathing. What needs to be done to eliminate the consequences is demonstrated by a specialist from the Veterinary clinic Beethoven in practice (issue “Perforated ulcer in a cat”).
