Effective Ways to Prevent Dog Gastric Ulcers - Tips for
The Mechanism Behind Canine Gastric Ulcers
Stress Ulcers
Stress ulcers refer to the formation of ulcers due to stress responses triggered by environmental changes, surgery, temperature fluctuations, and other factors.
Side Effects of Medications
Many medications used in veterinary medicine can lead to gastric ulcers in small animals, including corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotics. These drugs, especially those with a long halflife in dogs, can cause symptoms like perforation and bleeding. Ibuprofen is particularly hazardous for dogs.
Excess Gastric Acid Secretion
The ultimate cause of gastric ulcers is the damage to the gastric mucosa by gastric acid and pepsin. Therefore, an overproduction of gastric acid is a primary factor in the development of ulcers.
Poor Diet and Management
Dogs, being companion animals with poor selfcontrol, may overeat, consume spoiled food, or be fed irregularly, all of which can disrupt gastric secretion and lead to ulcers.
Other Factors
Other causes of gastric ulcers include the ingestion of toxic substances, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, chronic kidney failure, and more.
Symptoms of Canine Gastric Ulcers
These include vomiting (often with blood, resembling coffee grounds), abdominal pain, weight loss, anxiety, restlessness, decreased appetite, dark or tarry stools, dehydration, and in severe cases, shock and coma.
Diagnosis of Gastric Ulcers in Dogs
Diagnosis is typically based on clinical signs such as depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, and melena (dark, tarry stools). Laboratory tests and imaging procedures are also used.
Blood tests and blood chemistry analyses are common laboratory checks.
Imaging techniques include Xrays for diagnosing foreign bodies, ultrasounds for identifying thickened gastric walls or mucosal damage, and endoscopy, which is one of the most accurate diagnostic methods for confirming ulcers.
Common Medications for Pet Gastric Ulcers
Antacids
Common antacids include aluminum, magnesium, and calcium alkalis (such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium oxide or hydroxide, and calcium carbonate). These agents neutralize stomach acid, forming water and neutral salts, and are generally not absorbed by the body.
Antagonists of Gastric Acid Secretion
This category includes H2 receptor antagonists (e.g., cimetidine), muscarinic receptor antagonists, somatostatin receptor agonists, prostaglandin E analogs, and irreversible inhibitors of the H+/K+ATPase (proton pump).
Treatment of Canine Gastric Ulcers
Treatment involves addressing the underlying causes (such as NSAIDs, shock, or gastric foreign bodies) and may include medications to reduce gastric acid secretion, such as cimetidine or other antiulcer drugs. If medication does not improve after 5 to 6 days or if lifethreatening bleeding occurs, surgical removal of the ulcer may be necessary.
