Content
- Can you give omeprazole to a dog?
- Dog omeprazole: what is it for?
- How to give omeprazole to a dog
- Omeprazole for dogs: side effects
- Ranitidine or omeprazole for dogs
Omeprazole is an antacid drug very commonly used in human medicine. However, you've certainly wondered "can i give human omeprazole to dog?” The answer is yes, but you should only administer this medicine to the dog if prescribed by the veterinarian. In addition, you should always respect the dose and days of treatment prescribed by that professional.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will talk about dog omeprazole, explaining what it is for, the side effects and if this medication can cause an overdose. Of course, as harmless as a drug may seem, you you should never use it without a prescription.
Can you give omeprazole to a dog?
In fact, omeprazole is a possible treatment for some canine problems. The problem arises when it is used without a veterinary prescription. As it is a very common remedy in home medicine cabinets, it is not surprising that some caregivers are tempted to offer it to their dogs when they seem to have symptoms characteristic of treatments with omeprazole.
Medicating a dog on your own means exposing him to a risk. In this particular case, it is difficult for omeprazole to cause severe poisoning, but what can happen is that while you are giving this drug, we will remain without knowing what the real problem is. of the dog. That's why it's so important to always go to the vet.
Also, it is not uncommon for many people to misuse omeprazole and use it without a prescription whenever they experience gastrointestinal discomfort. This inappropriate prescription will be given to your dog and this may worsen digestive symptoms, delaying diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Dog omeprazole: what is it for?
Omeprazole for dogs basically acts on the gastric level, reducing acid production. More technically, it's a group drug. proton bomb blockers, which prevents the formation of hydrochloric acid. It is because of this effect that you are able to control the amount of acid that forms in your stomach.
An excess of acid can cause gastric ulcers in dogs, lesions in the gastric mucosa of greater or lesser depth. As we will see in more detail in the next section, omeprazole for dogs will be prescribed for disorders in which it is needed. control acid production.
How to give omeprazole to a dog
Omeprazole for dogs may be prescribed as part of the treatment of different problems, and also as prevention in some cases. Therefore, the veterinarian is likely to prescribe omeprazole for gastritis in dogs. Gastritis is an irritation of the stomach that causes symptoms such as severe vomiting and lethargy. With the use of omeprazole, the hope is to protect the stomach while it recovers, avoiding excess acid.
Omeprazole may also be prescribed for diarrhea in dogs when the diagnosis is acute infectious enteritis, a gastrointestinal infection characterized by the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea, fever and apathy. It is important to highlight that omeprazole is just one of the medications that should be prescribed in this case.
However, the most common use of omeprazole is perhaps for prevention. This medication is often prescribed in cases where the dog needs to take steroids for very long periods or for life. This is because this type of medication has among its side effects the formation of gastrointestinal ulcers.
Also, dogs with liver disease, kidney failure, severe stress problems, or chronic gastritis are more likely to develop ulcers. You skin tumors mast cell tumors they can also cause ulcers, so omeprazole can be given to dogs. Also, in cases of esophageal reflux, where acid rises from the stomach.
Omeprazole for dogs: side effects
As long as you stick to the veterinarian recommended dose of omeprazole for dogs, you will rarely see any side effects, as this is a safe medicine with a very specific purpose in the body. Of course, if your dog is hypersensitive to this medication, you should not use it. The dose of omeprazole is established based on the condition to be treated, so only the veterinarian can prescribe it.
Side effects of omeprazole for dogs, when they happen, are restricted to the digestive system, causing diarrhea, nausea, gas or vomiting. Omeprazole overdose in dogs is very rare. If the dog is already taking any medication, it is necessary to notify the veterinarian, as there are some medications with which interactions occur.
Ranitidine or omeprazole for dogs
Ranitidine is a drug that acts similarly to omeprazole, interfering with the production of acid in the stomach. Overall, omeprazole appears to have a more potent effect. In any case, it will be the veterinarian who, evaluating each specific case, will decide between one drug and the other.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.