Gastritis in Ferrets
Gastritis refers to inflammation of the “gastric mucosa” or the membrane that lines the stomach in ferrets. This inflammation can lead to erosions of the stomach lining that can cause pain and and irritation. In addition to the stomach, the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal system may be affected by this disease
Symptoms and Types
Depending on the type and severity of the gastritis (acute or chronic), there are various symptoms that may occur. Some of the most common ones include:
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Black, tarry stools
- Green-stained vomit (from bile from the gallbladder) containing undigested food, flecks of blood, and/or digested blood with a “coffee ground” appearance
Causes
The causes for gastritis in ferrets are also varied. Environmental stressors, toxins, chemical irritants, chronic liver diseases, and viral infections such as from distemper, are some of the more typical causes. Foreign objects, which are accidentally ingested, can also damage the stomach lining and cause gastritis.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will want to first rule out causes of accompanying symptoms and underlying disorders or diseases. These may include ruling out kidney disease, gastrointestinal nausea associated with lymphoma, and perhaps lower intestinal disease.
He or she may also order several laboratory tests, such as a urinalysis and serum blood tests, to confirm dehydration, the presence of systemic diseases, and ascertain the levels of enzymes in the liver, which can help confirm the severity of the disease. X-rays and other imaging studies, meanwhile, can confirm the thickening or damage to the intestinal or abdominal wall. In addition, the lymph nodes of ferrets with gastritis are examined for swelling or damage.
lymph nodes
Small structures that filter out the lymph and store lymphocytes
gastrointestinal
The digestive tract containing the stomach and intestine
lymphoma
A term for a type of neoplasm that is made up of lymphoid tissue; these masses are usually malignant in nature
systemic
Something that is related to the whole body and not just one particular part or organ
urinalysis
An in-depth examination of the properties of urine; used to determine the presence or absence of illness
gastritis
A medical condition in which the stomach becomes inflamed
esophagus
The tube that extends from the mouth to the stomach
bile
The fluid created by the liver that helps food in the stomach to be digested.
acute
Term used to imply that a situation or condition is more severe than usual; also used to refer to a disease having run a short course or come on suddenly.
dehydration
A medical condition in which the body has lost fluid or water in excessive amounts
digestive tract
The whole system involved in digestion from mouth to anus
abdominal wall
The abdominal wall is a group of bones, muscles, and vital tissues that make up the wall around the organs in the abdomen. Inside these bones, muscles, and tissues is a cavity, and the cavity is what houses the vital organs found inside the abdomen. The abdominal wall is vital for protection of these organs.
gastric
Anything having to do with the stomach