What Are the Treatments for Acid Reflux Gastritis in Dogs?

Acid reflux gastritis occurs when gastric acids from the stomach back up and enter into the esophagus. The acid inflames and irritates the esophagus and causes pain. People are not alone in this disorder as dogs also suffer from this condition. Symptoms that your dog may have acid reflux include gagging after eating, not eating entirely, whimpering and even vomiting. There are many treatments for acid reflux in dogs to relieve their pain.

  1. Withhold Food

    • The first treatment for acid reflux in dogs is to withhold food for a day or two. This will allow the swelling in the esophagus time to reduce and heal. Food should be reintroduced in small, frequent feedings to reduce the chances of additional issues. Big feedings should be avoided as they produce larger quantities of acid along with taking up more space within the stomach, increasing the likelihood of acid reflux.

    Change Diet

    • A change in diet is one of the most important aspects in the treatment of heartburn. Two major causes of heartburn are fats and proteins. Fats decrease the strength of the muscles between the stomach and esophagus, which allows more gastric acids to enter and inflame the esophagus. Proteins stimulate the stomach to produce more acids to break them down. Changing the dog's diet to a low-fat, low-protein plan will help reduce the incidence of acid reflux.

    Medications

    • Certain medications can be used to treat your dog's heartburn and acid reflux. There are antacids and acid blockers available for dogs similar to those for humans; however, these medications could result in significant side effects, which makes them a last resort. Vets can also prescribe gastrointestinal pro-kinetic drugs that help move stomach contents through the intestine and increase the strength of the gastro-esophageal sphincter, which keeps acids out of the esophagus.

    Home Remedies

    • Some home remedies include using honey as a way of coating the esophagus and the throat prior to eating to help reduce acid reflux effects. The honey protects the esophagus from the acid, providing some relief to the dog. Coat a piece of bread with honey and feed it to the dog 20 minutes prior to a large feeding.