146 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH 



When due to chemicals the proper antidote should be 

 administered (see Poisons). 



Surgical. When foreign bodies are present and cannot be 

 expelled by emesis or purgation, gastrotomy must be per- 

 formed (see Foreign Bodies of the Stomach) . 



Chronic Gastritis. Chronic Catarrh of the Stomach. 

 Chronic Dyspepsia. Definition. A chronic catarrh of the 

 stomach with a disturbance in digestion, increased mucus 

 formation, changes in the gastric secretions, partial paralysis 

 of the muscular walls and alterations in the structure of the 

 mucosa. 



Etiology. Chronic gastritis is a rather common condition 

 especially in the dog. It results very frequently from several 

 repeated attacks of acute gastritis and is therefore produced 

 by causes similar to those found under acute gastritis (see 

 Etiology of Acute Gastritis). It often occurs as a secondary 

 complication to various diseases, such as ulceration of the 

 stomach, gastric tumors, diseases of the liver, chronic con- 

 stitutional diseases (anemia, chlorosis, chronic nephritis, 

 etc.). Parasites, by constant irritation to the membranes 

 for a long period, will produce chronic gastritis (see Parasites). 



Pathology. The stomach is usually enlarged, the mucous 

 membrane pale, becomes gray in color and its surface covered 

 with a thick, tenacious mucus. The veins are found distended 

 and small hemorrhagic erosions and ecchymoses are seen 

 distributed over the mucous membrane. In the later stages 

 the mucous membrane becomes greatly thickened, especially 

 toward the pyloris, and the mucous glands large and indur- 

 ated from the constant irritation. Microscopically there is 

 every evidence of a parenchymatous and an interstitial 

 inflammation. 



Symptoms. This affection persists for an indefinite period 

 and like most chronic conditions changes from time to time. 

 In the dog, the animal most commonly affected, the appetite 

 is variable, sometimes greatly impaired and at other times 

 very good. Vomiting and retching are frequent symptoms 

 and are especially noticeable a short time after eating. The 

 vomited material consists of undigested food particles covered 

 with a thick, tenacious mucus and has a very sour, disagree- 



