How to Treat Ulcers in a Dog

When your dog shows symptoms of stomach ulcers over a prolonged period--lack of appetite, listlessness or vomiting after eating, a trip to the veterinarian is in order. After diagnosis, supplement the doctor's treatment by changing his diet and routine. You can make your pet more comfortable and go a long ways towards restoring his health.

Instructions

1. Cut back on giving your pooch aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs, if possible. One of the most prevalent causes of ulcers in canines is aspirin or other painkillers used to treat canine arthritis. Ask your veterinarian about alternative dog medication that does not cause stomach irritation.

2. Add arthritis dog medication to his meal if your dog cannot get along without it. With the additional food in his stomach, the medication may not irritate the lining of his stomach as much. Choose a buffered variety if you must dose him with aspirin.

3. Brush his fur on a regular basis. Not only is this fun and relaxing for your dog, it removes loose fur, especially from longhair breeds, that can be swallowed when they lick themselves, adding to stomach ulcer discomfort.

4. Provide many dog-appropriate chew-toys. Some dogs will gnaw on just about anything they find laying around, including coins, batteries, soap or wood. Many dog ulcers start by the ingestion of sharp or caustic items in the stomach. Rubber toys and bones will satisfy his urge to chew, safely.

5. De-stress your dog's life. While stress is not as great an ulcer factor in dogs as it is in humans, it may play a role. If you can't spend time with your pooch as much as you'd like, get him a companion pet.

6. Leave table food on the table. Spices used in human food, especially salt, can be harmful to your dog's stomach. Feed him a quality dog food and if he's used to getting scraps at the table, keep some dog biscuits handy so he doesn't think he's missing out.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your veterinarian about prescribing an acid-reducing dog medication to calm your dog's stomach. Tagamet, prescribed for people, also treats dog ulcers.

• Call your vet if your dog vomits blood. A bleeding ulcer is much more serious than a non-bleeding one. Your dog needs emergency treatment.

Resources

• The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health: The complete pet health resource for your dog, cat, horse or other pets - in everyday language. (Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)
• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative
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