Gastric pythiosis in a dog

Abstract

A 1-year-old, female intact, mixed breed dog had eaten a live duck prior to the onset of chronic vomiting and hyporexia, which progressed to severe weight loss. Vomiting improved with the administration of antacids, gastrointestinal protectants, anti-emetics, antibiotics, and appetite stimulants. These clinical signs returned once medical management was stopped. Endoscopic gastrointestinal biopsies showed a lymphoplasmacytic gastritis and enteritis. As the dog continued to decline, an exploratory laparotomy was done, revealing a severely enlarged, firm stomach that bled when touched. No gastrointestinal foreign body was found. The patient was humanely euthanatized.