Vomiting and Regurgitation in Small Animals Flashcards
How do you differentiate between vomiting and regurgitation?
Vomiting Abdominal effort Prodromal nausea Usually digested No swallowing pain Alkaline/acidic
Regurgitation Passive No prodromal nausea Indigestion food Alkaline
What are the clinical signs of regurgitation?
Hypersalivation Painful eating Anorexia Dysphagia Nasal discharge Coughing
What anatomical reasons would explain regurgitation?
Vascular ring anomaly
Cricopharyngeal disease
What obstruction reasons would explain regurgitation?
Mural (stricture)
Luminal (FB)
Extraluminal (neoplasia)
Oesophagitis is one reason for regurgitation, what are the causes of oesophagitis?
Chemical injury
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Foreign body
What motility disorders can cause regurgitation?
Megaoesosphagus
Neuropathy
What are the causes of megaoesphagus?
Idiopathic
Myasthenia Gravis
Thomas
Addison’s disease
What are the treatment options for regurgitation?
Raise food bowl
Hold vertical after feeding
Manage any aspiration pneumonia
Feed small, high protein meals, give sucralfate as a chemical bandage and omeprazole if oesophagitis.
What are the primary causes of acute vomiting?
Dietary intolerance
Bacterial/parasite infection
Motility diseases
Obstruction
What are the primary causes of chronic vomiting?
Uraemia Addison’s disease Hepatic disease Pancreatitis Toxins Iatrogenic
How do you treat vomiting?
In acute cases, usually fasting and symptomatic treatment (e.g. maropitant). Sucralfate, omeprazole and ranitidine can be used for gastric ulceration. Chronic vomiting, underlying causes need to be identified.
