omeprazole is an antacid drug widely used in human medicine. But, even if we have it in our medicine cabinet, can we give omeprazole to dogs? The answer is yes. Of course, we will only administer this drug if our veterinarian has prescribed it. In addition, we must always respect the dose and days of treatment prescribed by this professional.
In this article on our site we will talk about omeprazole for dogs, explaining what it is for, the side effects of this drug or if it can an overdose occur. Of course, no matter how innocuous a drug seems to us, we should never give it without a prescription
Can dogs take omeprazole?
Indeed, omeprazole for dogs is a possible treatment for some canine conditions. The problem comes when it is used without a veterinary prescription. As it is a very common drug in home medicine cabinets, it is not surprising that some caregivers are tempted to give it to their dog if they think it has symptoms that are consistent with what they experienced before taking it.
Medicating a dog on our own means exposing it to risk In this case it is difficult for omeprazole to cause serious poisoning but it is It is possible that, while we are giving him this medication, we will leave the real problem of the dog undiscovered. That is why it is so important to always go to the vet.
Furthermore, it is not uncommon for many people to misuse omeprazole, using it without a prescription every time they notice gastrointestinal discomfort. This inappropriate prescription will be transferred to your dog. This can aggravate digestive conditions, by delaying diagnosis and correct treatment.
What is omeprazole used for in dogs?
Omeprazole basically acts at the gastric level by reducing acid production. More technically, it is a drug from the group of proton pump blockers that will prevent the formation of hydrochloric acid. This effect is what manages to control the amount of acid that forms in the 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 will therefore be prescribed in disorders in which it is necessary to control acid production
Use of omeprazole in dogs
Omeprazole for dogs can be prescribed as part of treatment in different conditions and also as preventive in some cases. Thus, it is likely that our veterinarian will prescribe omeprazole for gastritis in dogs. Gastritis is an irritation of the stomach that causes symptoms such as intense vomiting and lethargy. With omeprazole we hope to protect the stomach while it recovers by preventing excess acid.
Omeprazole for diarrhea in dogs may also be prescribed when the diagnosis is acute infectious enteritis, a gastrointestinal infection characterized by vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and apathyIt is important to note that omeprazole would be just one of the drugs that should be prescribed in these cases.
But perhaps the most common use of omeprazole is as a preventive. It is widely prescribed in cases where the dog must take corticosteroids for very long periods of time and even for life. This is so because this type of medication has among its side effects the formation of gastrointestinal ulcers.
In addition, dogs with liver disease, kidney failure, severe stress problems or chronic gastritis will be prone to ulcers. Mast cell skin tumors can also cause ulcers, so omeprazole may be given. In addition, it is used in cases of esophageal reflux in which acid rises from the stomach.
Omeprazole side effects in dogs
As long as we respect the dose of omeprazole in dogs that the veterinarian has recommended, it is difficult for us to trigger any adverse effect, since we are dealing with a safe drugwith a very specific mission in the organization. Of course, if our dog has shown any hypersensitivity to this drug, we should not give it to him. The dose of omeprazole is established based on the ailment we want to treat, which is why it should only be prescribed by the veterinarian.
The side effects of omeprazole, if they appear, would be limited to the digestive system, causing decomposition, diarrhoea, nausea, gas or vomiting. Omeprazole overdose in dogs is very rare If the dog is already taking any medication, we must notify the veterinarian because there are some with which interactions occur.
Ranitidine or omeprazole for dogs
Ranitidine is a drug that acts in a similar way to omeprazole, interfering with the production of acid in the stomach. In general, omeprazole seems to have a more powerful effect. In any case, it will be the veterinarian who, evaluating our specific case, decides on one drug or another.
