Omeprazole for Your Dog. How and When to Use?

Omeprazole is an antacid drug commonly used in human medicine. The numerous diseases that the drug can often cure manifest in the beloved human’s best friends – dogs. Gastrointestinal issues are almost as common among dogs as they are among people. Puppies and adult dogs often eat indiscriminately, excessively, and impulsively. That leads to various digestive problems and overall harmful consequences. It is only natural that dog owners want to save their animal unnecessary pain and suffering.

However, it doesn’t mean that they should take any amount of omeprazole pills out of the medicine cabinet and give it to the dog. If a person lacking adequate background knowledge decides to treat the dog with a specific drug according to their whim, the consequences may be dire. With Omeprazole, as with any other medicine, there are strict rules, suggested by the veterinarians, to follow.

Pet owners should always remember that the fastest way to help the dog suffering from gastrointestinal issues is to contact the veterinarian immediately after noticing any dog’s peculiar behavior.

In this article, you can learn about the Omeprazole for dogs from how it works to when to use it.

What Is Omeprazole?

Omeprazole, known by Gastrogard and Prilosec, is a drug used to treat and prevent the ulcers and erosion occurring in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine in dogs and cats.

The medication lowers the amount of acid made naturally in the stomach. Omeprazole is also commonly used to treat acute gastritis or Helicobacter infections in dogs.

It is best to use the drug after a visit at the vet’s, and according to their prescriptions. Most often, Omeprazole will not be recommended to use if the animal is pregnant or nursing.

How Does It Work For Dogs?

Although it may not seem like the digestive system of a dog is extra delicate, it is, in fact, one of the most sensitive of the animal’s internal organs.

An excessive amount of acids produced in the dog’s stomach can lead to gastric ulcers in dogs. The increased amount of gastric acid can also cause reflux, which poses a threat to the throat areas. Moreover, the acid can also invade the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, causing problems in the intestines’ mucosa.

Research, based on both theory and practice, suggests that Omeprazole can lead to quantitative changes in healthy dogs’ gastrointestinal microbiota. It shows excellent efficiency in treating some digestive-related issues, as it lowers the excessive acid present in the stomach.

What Conditions to Cure by Omeprazole?

Omeprazole can be prescribed by the vet, both as a treatment and a preventive drug for certain diseases.

You will most likely see Omerprazole on the prescription if the dog is suffering gastritis, enteritis, or ulcers.

Gastritis

Gastritis is described as an inflammation of the stomach lining. It has at least a couple of degrees of acuteness.

The symptoms are varied, but they often include intense vomiting, lethargy, and considerable discomfort.

Omeprazole is used to redress the pH balance in the dog’s stomach by significantly decreasing excessive acid production.

Enteritis

If a dog is experiencing diarrhea, it is most likely due to enteritis.

Enteritis is the inflammation of the bowel. It leads to malabsorption of nutrients and prevents the fecal from formatting properly.

Acute infectious enteritis is another form of this condition characterized by vomiting, fever, and apathy.

Omeprazole is a commonly prescribed type of drug for these illnesses.

Ulcers

Dogs experiencing kidney problems, liver diseases, chronic indigestion, or gastritis are prone to develop ulcers.

Omeprazole is often prescribed to prevent them from growing.

Side Effects

Like any other medication, Omeprazole comes with a few potential side effects. They are most likely to happen to the dogs with former liver or kidneys diseases.

Some of the common side effects include:

• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Excessive vomiting
• Gas

Omeprazole is a short term drug, so the side effects should be gone no longer than 24 hours after taking the medication. In case they prolong or become too severe, you should contact the vet immediately.

Under no circumstances should you treat your four-legged friend with Omeprazole if you know he is allergic to it or other similar drugs. People whose dog suffers the diseases mentioned below should have their attention especially increased.

• Dogs that suffer chronic kidneys diseases
• Dogs that suffer chronic liver diseases
• Dogs that are currently pregnant
• Dogs that are now nursing the offsprings

Drug Interactions

If you are wondering whether Omeprazole can interact with other drugs, the answer is yes. Various drugs and medications may interact with Omeprazole. Those substances include benzodiazepines, clarithromycin, clopidogrel, cyanocobalamin, cyclosporine, digoxin, levothyroxine, rifampin, and warfarin.

It would be best if you told your dog’s vet about medications, such as vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies, that your pet is taking. That way, you are ensuring that your dog will get a suitable dosing schedule, and the drug will help instead of doing more harm.

Storing Omeprazole

You might have experience in storing Omeprazole, as it is also used to cure human diseases. Nevertheless, it is always best to remind yourself how to save the drug the proper way.

The tablets and capsules should be kept at temperatures below 86°F (30°C), in tightly sealed container places somewhere dark.

Conclusion

As it turns out, Omeprazole is a medication suitable both for humans and animals. However, treating the dog or the cat with that drug should not be thoughtless.

The drug is used to cure and prevent ulcers, gastritis, enteritis, and erosion occurring in the dog’s stomach. Omeprazole works by inhibiting the acid production, easing the pain and regulating the pH balance.

Under no circumstances should any pet owner give their dog Omeprazole on their own. No matter how much they want to help the animal, the pet owners should carefully follow the veterinarian’s prescription, directions, and cations.

Otherwise, the animal may be experiencing unpleasant side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, or decreased appetite.

Once you buy a package of Omeprazole, it is best to keep it tightly packed in a dark place with a mild temperature.