Mary Allen
Heartburn occurs in dogs when stomach acid flows into the esophagus and irritates it painfully. If left untreated, it can become chronic and inflame the esophagus.
To help your dog with heartburn, this article will give you a quick overview and explain what you need to know about using omeprazole.
In a nutshell: What helps with heartburn in dogs?
Heartburn in dogs is best relieved by a veterinarian with medication. But you can also alleviate the symptoms by giving your dog herbal tea, psyllium husk or cottage cheese.
If your dog tends to have heartburn, you can help in the short term with food that is easy on the stomach or a fasting day and in the long term with a change in diet.
Simply book your appointment for an online consultation via WhatsApp and you will be connected immediately.
Symptoms: How do I recognize heartburn in my dog?
A dog with heartburn suffers from stomach acid rising up the esophagus. He tries to get rid of this and at the same time alleviate the caustic, painful effect.
Therefore, dogs with heartburn swallow a lot, lick their mouths and paws and smack their lips. You belch and choke to the point of vomiting. Saliva production is usually also increased and Licky Fits Syndrome often occurs.
To combat heartburn, dogs eat more grass and earth or refuse their food. Abdominal pain and flatulence are also frequent companions.
Both the pain and the acid can cause diarrhea.
Treatment of heartburn in dogs
A vet is most likely to treat your dog’s heartburn with medication. This works quickly and reliably, but does not eliminate the causes. These must also be considered and dealt with.
With medication
Veterinarians most commonly use omeprazole for heartburn. The drug belongs to the so-called proton pump inhibitors, which inhibit the release of gastric acid.
Pantoprazole is also an acid blocker that acts on the secretion of gastric acid. Both drugs come from human medicine, but are approved for animals.
Ranitidine used to be one of the drugs that veterinarians prescribed to treat heartburn in dogs. However, medicines containing ranitidine are suspected of containing carcinogenic substances, which is why you should no longer use them.
For medication to help your dog, you need to use the right dose. The professionals at Dr. Sam.
Every day and almost around the clock – here you will receive immediate answers online from an experienced veterinarian.
With home remedies
Some home remedies can also relieve symptoms in the short term or help prevent heartburn for sensitive dogs. However, these do not replace medication or an appointment with the veterinarian.
Herbs for relief
Elm bark binds gastric acid, which protects and soothes the gastric mucosa. It must be administered one hour before or after eating and helps both acutely and preventively.
Other effective herbs are teas made from fennel, anise or caraway. You can let the tea steep and then cool it down and add it to the drinking water.
Chamomile or ginger and lovage are also good for your dog’s stomach in small doses.
Psyllium husks
Many dog owners swear by pre-swollen psyllium husks. They are available in most supermarkets and just need to soak in regular water for a few hours. They soothe the gastric mucosa and work well against overproduction of gastric acid.
Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is high in protein but extremely low in fat. This makes it very well tolerated by your dog and easy on the stomach.
You can mix two to three tablespoons with his food – most dogs also like the taste very much.
What food can I give my dog for heartburn?
If your dog is suffering from heartburn, you should discuss dietary changes with your veterinarian.
Low-fat feed with a meat content of 50 – 60 percent can also be fed long-term and is gentle on sensitive stomachs. It is also healthy to have a “vegetarian” day every now and then and to feed them fruit, vegetable soup or boiled potatoes.
For a short time, light food with rice, soup, boiled carrots and quark is also recommended.
A dog with heartburn can also go on a fasting day to calm the body.
However, puppies and older dogs should not fast without consulting the veterinarian.
What could be the causes?
All dogs can suffer from heartburn, but young dogs are affected much more often than adults. That’s because their bodies aren’t fully grown yet, so the sphincter muscles of the stomach can’t be strong enough.
A diaphragmatic rupture is just as often the cause of a tendency to heartburn in dogs. But the after-effects of anesthesia, medication, stress or chronic vomiting also promote the development of heartburn.
Very sensitive dogs also react quickly to food that is too fatty with acid reflux.
Conclusion
Heartburn can range from uncomfortable to painful for a dog. It is usually easily treatable and temporary, but it can be a permanent problem in sensitive dogs. Therefore, you should not only relieve symptoms, but also look for a long-term solution.