Gastroenteritis in dogs

  • Up to £15,000 vet fees
  • No compulsory excess or bill share, even as your pet ages
  • No upper age limit
  • Free 24/7 access to FirstVet video consultations
  • All pre-existing conditions considered*

Why choose Petgevity pet cover for gastroenteritis in dogs?

Up to £15,000 vet fees

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Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.

Tailored pet insurance

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Your pet is unique. Chose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.

Switch with continuous cover

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Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.

What is gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is a condition where the stomach and intestines become inflamed, leading to digestive upset. Any dog can get gastroenteritis – it’s a common condition that usually goes away within a couple of days.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, and a painful abdomen. This page explains how to tell if your dog’s gastroenteritis is mild or severe and what treatments can get them feeling right as rain again.

What Causes What Causes
What causes gastroenteritis in dogs?

Gastroenteritis can be caused by many different things, some of which include:

  • eating spoiled food or inedible items
  • viruses or bacteria from contaminated water, food, or infected dog poo
  • parasites like worms
  • fungal infections
  • the gut folding in on itself and causing a blockage (intussusception)
  • tumours and cancer
  • endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes
  • toxins from products like household cleaners and weed killers
  • other conditions like kidney disease, liver disease
What Causes What Causes
What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis?

Dogs with milder gastroenteritis can show some or all of the following symptoms:

  • tender or painful abdomen
  • vomiting a few times a day, retching on an empty stomach, or bringing up bile
  • diarrhoea, either as slightly softer poo with mucus or very watery
  • gurgling and squeaking sounds coming from the stomach
  • eating less or a complete loss of appetite
  • feeling lethargic

See a vet as soon as possible if any of these symptoms quickly appear or your dog is rapidly getting worse.

Diagnosis

If your dog is showing any gastroenteritis symptoms, speak to your vet. They’ll check over your dog and ask about their behaviour and activities over the last few days. This may help them work out what could have caused their symptoms.

What Causes What Causes
Treatment of gastroenteritis

Treatment options your vet may recommend for your dog’s gastroenteritis include:

  • a period of fasting or change in your dog’s diet
  • a fluid drip to keep them hydrated
  • anti-sickness medication (if appropriate)
  • antibiotics (if bacteria is the cause)
  • gastrointestinal protectants
  • parasite medication (if parasite infection is the cause)

You may be able to care for your dog at home if they have milder vomiting or diarrhoea but are otherwise bright and happy. At-home care can include:

  • smaller meals more frequently throughout the day
  • a bland diet (ask your vet for guidance)
  • lots of fresh clean water
  • plenty of calm and quiet rest time
  • a slow reintroduction to their normal food

If you’re at all worried about your dog or they’re declining quickly, bring them in to see the vet.

Prognosis

Most cases of gastroenteritis clear up within a few days, but it’s important to monitor your dog’s recovery

Always bring your dog to the vet if they’re not improving or show signs of getting worse. A vet can check for other problems using:

  • x-rays
  • ultrasounds
  • blood tests
  • urinalysis
  • stool samples
What Causes What Causes
What are the signs and symptoms of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)?

Smaller breeds are more prone to getting this severe form of gastroenteritis and symptoms are similar to those of parvovirus. This can include:

  • vomiting, which may contain blood
  • diarrhoea, which may contain blood and pieces of gut lining
  • lack of appetite
  • feeling lethargic
  • a painful abdomen
  • pale gums
  • Weakness or collapse

Diagnosis

It’s important to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible if you think they have HGE. The condition can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Your vet may run blood tests and x-rays to try and find the cause (such as a disease or bacteria).

What Causes What Causes
Treatment of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)

Your dog is likely to be referred to a vet hospital for treatment and may need a few days there to recover. They may also be kept away from weaker dogs to stop the condition from spreading.

  • Treatment for HGE includes:
  • anti-sickness medication
  • fluids via an IV drip
  • antibiotics if needed
  • a period of fasting or change in your dog’s diet
  • gastrointestinal protectants
  • parasite medication (if parasite infection is the cause)

Prognosis

Most dogs show huge improvements within the first day of treatment and are feeling better again within a few days.

What Causes What Causes
Can I get dog insurance for gastroenteritis?

When getting a Petgevity dog insurance quote, tell us about your dog’s gastroenteritis and any other conditions they’ve had in the past two years.

If your pup can be covered, you can be confident of a fair price without any hidden costs.

Find out more about our dog insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.

What Causes What Causes

Award-winning pet insurance provider

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Defaqto 5 star rating when you choose vet fees over £4,000 with all optional add-ons included.

Basic cover alone has 3 star rating

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Awarded Best Pet Insurance Provider at the Insurance Choice Awards 2022.

What’s included in your pet cover

Choosing Petgevity to protect your pets gives you more than just vet fee cover. Here's what you get from our policy.

Dental accident

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If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.

Behavioural treatment

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Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).

Complementary therapy

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This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment).

Emergency care

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If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.

Third-party liability for dogs

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This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.

Choice of optional extras

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Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pet’s needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.

Compare our multi-pet cover

petgevity-logo-white p-only-petgevitylogo ManyPets Petplan Agria
Maximum vet fees £15k per year £15k per year £12k per year £20k per year
Cover for pre-existing conditions?
No compulsory excess?
No compulsory co-payments for older pets? 20% (from age 9) 20% (from age 7) Min. 10% (from any age)
Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy
Dental treatment for accidents?
Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy?

†For Lifetime policies only – details correct as of 10 September 2024 via competitor websites. Competitor products are subject to their own T&Cs and can have different limits and requirements for cats versus dogs at different ages. For full details, please check the relevant policy wording.
For full details of Petgevity pet insurance, please read our policy wording.

Frequently asked questions about gastroenteritis

  • Is gastroenteritis contagious for dogs?

    Gastroenteritis can be contagious for other dogs and even humans depending on the cause.

    Practising good hygiene can help to stop its spread, so remember to:

    • wear protective gloves and use dog-safe cleaning products that are both antiviral and antibacterial
    • regularly wash food and water bowls
    • wash your hands thoroughly after touching your dog
  • How long does gastroenteritis last in dogs?

    Milder forms of gastroenteritis may only last for 24 hours or clear up within a couple of days.

    If symptoms last any longer than this, get immediate help from your vet.

  • What’s the difference between pancreatitis and gastroenteritis?

    Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, while gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and/or intestines.

    Both have very similar symptoms so it can be hard to tell them apart without running proper tests.

    Your vet will be able to diagnose your dog and offer the right treatment depending on which condition they have.

  • Are there any natural remedies for dogs with gastroenteritis?

    Giving your dog probiotics may help to ease diarrhoea during milder bouts of gastroenteritis.

    Always check with your vet before introducing a new food to your dog’s diet.

*Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.

**Illnesses and symptoms won’t be covered in the first 14 days and accidents won’t be covered in the first 2 days of the policy. This is unless you are switching from another lifetime pet insurance product with no break in cover and the claim you want to make would have been covered by your previous policy. Other exclusions may apply to other sections.