Shih-Tzu dog with chronic vomiting diagnosed with atrophic gastritis

Abstract

We report the case of a female Shih-Tzu dog with chronic vomiting and hematemesis not responsive to symptomatic treatment. Due to the non-specific clinical signs, the patient underwent endoscopy and biopsy of the gastric mucosa. Histopathological analysis revealed atrophic gastritis, a disease rarely reported in dogs and characterized by the destruction of parietal cells of the mucosa and their replacement by fibrosis. This analysis allowed an adequate treatment based on the administration of corticosteroids by the anti-inflammatory effects and action in the regeneration of parietal cells, associated with a soft, hypoallergenic diet formulated with a low fat content, low digestible fibers, and high contents of complex carbohydrates, which resulted in the resolution of the clinical condition in a few weeks. In a second endoscopy, performed after eight months of treatment, the gastric mucosa presented a pink color, regardless of the degree of distension, no lesions or discontinuity points. Fragments were collected for histopathological analysis, which confirmed the recovery of gastric lesions and restoration of the macroscopically healthy mucosa. Most gastric diseases require histological analysis for a definitive diagnosis. In this context, endoscopy has brought unquestioned benefits to the patient since it allowed an accurate diagnosis with a quick and safe collection of gastric mucosa samples.