144 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH 



Diagnosis.— Acute non-infectious gastritis is not very 

 difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are very characteristic 

 and quite often the anamnesis is of value. The primary 

 infectious form, however, may be confused with that due to 

 specific infectious diseases (distemper, etc.), but this can be 

 distinguished by the general symptoms, especially the tem- 

 perature which in the latter cases rises more abruptly and 

 shows less variation than in the former. 



Prognosis.— In primary acute gastritis, due to errors in 

 feeding, the prognosis is usually favorable. 



When due to poisons, foreign bodies, and injuries, it 

 depends largely upon the extent of injury to the stomach 

 and the possibility of removing the cause. In infectious 

 gastritis, when not due to specific infection, the prognosis is 

 usually favorable, but if accompanying a specific disease it 

 depends on the primary disease. 



Treatment. — Dietetic— In strong animals all food should 

 be withheld twenty-four to forty-eight hours and then only 

 a small amount of easily digested food given at frequent 

 intervals until recovery takes place. In weak individuals 

 easily or predigested food may be allowed unless it induces 

 persistent vomiting when nourishment should be given via 

 the rectum. 



Medical.— Mild cases usually recover promptly following 

 the use of a purgative (ol. ricini, dogs 15.0 to 60.0, cats 5.0 

 to 20.0; calomel, dogs 0.3-0.4, cats 0.01-0.005; cascara Ad. 

 ext. dogs, 5.0-10.0, cats 1.0-5.0). 



In severe cases unless vomiting has occurred an emetic, 

 such as apomorphin hydrochlorate (dogs 0.005-0.01, cats 

 0.002-0.005) given subcutaneously is indicated to expel 

 irritating material and foreign bodies which may be present. 

 Following vomiting, irrigation of the stomach with a sodium 

 bicarbonate solution (2 per cent.) is advisable to remove irri- 

 tating material from the surface of the mucous membrane. 

 This can be accomplished by the use of a rubber tube or 

 horse catheter inserted into the stomach. The warm sodium 

 bicarbonate solution (500.0-1000.0) may be introduced into 

 the stomach by elevating the free end of the tube and using 

 a funnel. Allow the tube to remain in the stomach for a few 



