Treatment of Stomach and Intestinal Ulcers in Dogs
The veterinarian will explain that treating the underlying cause of the ulcers is an important part of the medical care required to heal your pet. In the meantime, immediate care will begin with intravenous fluids if necessary, depending on the present condition of your dog.
Medication, such as Cimetidine, will be given to reduce gastric acidity. Preventing more damage to the mucosa is very important so steps will be taken to ensure this happens, including more prescriptions of medication. It should be noted that the drugs may need to be given for a period of six to eight weeks.
Antacids and additional drugs aimed at promoting healing must be given on a frequent basis in order to prevent the return of the previous gastric acidity. Careful scheduling of all medications is a must because some must be taken without food or other drugs in the system.
If bacteria is a concern, antibiotics will be prescribed as well. If there is the unfortunate circumstance of life-threatening hemorrhaging due to the ulcers, or if the ulcers cannot be dealt with through medical therapy and medication alone, surgery and blood transfusions will be needed.
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How do you know if your dog has an ulcer?
An ulcer can cause some abdominal pain or sensitivity. Your dog may or may not show signs of pain with a gastric ulcer. If your dog has stomach pain, you may notice whining or your dog sitting in a prayer position, with their front legs on the ground and their rear end in the air.
Check for other potential symptoms of a gastric ulcer in your dog as well, such as:
Gastric ulcers are most common in German Shepherds and Rottweilers, especially when heavily medicated on anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, or ibuprofen. If you believe your dog may have a gastric ulcer, see a veterinarian immediately.
How long does it take for an ulcer to heal in a dog?
A dog’s prognosis with a stomach ulcer is generally positive, except in the most severe cases. A typical gastric ulcer is treatable with noninvasive care, such as drug therapies. If a veterinarian diagnoses a gastric ulcer in your dog, expect an average treatment time of a few weeks. Sadly, a severe ulcer that has resulted in perforation has a worse prognosis for recovery.