A stomach ulcer is a sore, small hole or erosion in a dog's stomach lining. Ulcers can be painful and detrimental to the dog's health and almost always require treatment from a veterinarian. Dogs that have stomach ulcers may lose their appetite, then vomit even when they don't have any food in their stomachs, and if not treated, they may begin to vomit blood. If dogs display any of these symptoms, they need to be tested for stomach ulcers immediately.
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Causes
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Ulcers are really caused by too much acid in the dog's stomach, but there are a number of reasons causing this, including medications, illnesses, stress and injury. Sometimes owners are advised to give dogs small doses of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or aspirin, but any amount of these medications can cause serious stomach ulcers in dogs. Any stressful situation can cause the stomach to overproduce acid, especially for dogs that already have nervous tendencies.
Home Remedies
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In addition to any treatment the veterinarian recommends, adding honey to the dog's meal may help settle the stomach. Give one teaspoon of honey with meals to help coat the stomach and aid in digestion. This will help the ulcer to heal faster and minimize irritation.
Special Diet
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While the ulcer is healing, dogs may have to be on a special, bland diet. Especially for the first few days, owners may have to feed the dog several very small meals throughout the day. The goal of this diet is to minimize food content in the dog's stomach at any given time, so that the dog's body doesn't have to produce as much acid as it would for a large meal.
Medications
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The veterinarian may prescribe medications to help the dog's stomach ulcer to heal as quickly as possible. The vet will probably prescribe an acid blocker in order to reduce the acid content in the stomach, a stomach lining medication to make the lining of the stomach thicker, or a combination of both.
Emergencies
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Ulcers are emergencies. If you suspect that your dog has a stomach ulcer, you should see your veterinarian immediately. Stomach ulcers are often accompanied by excessive vomiting, which will dehydrate the dog. If the dog is vomiting, the veterinarian may have to give the dog fluids subcutaneously.
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