Help! My Dog Has Heartburn!

Yes, it's true! Dogs can get heartburn just like humans can, but the condition isn't nearly as frequent with our canine friends. Unfortunately, when they do suffer from a bout, they can't tell you what's wrong, and they can't just pop an antacid to take care of the problem. As your pet's owner and companion, you need to know what the signs of heartburn in dogs are as well as what you should do about it. Not all human treatments are effective on dogs, and some can even cause the problem to worsen, so you need to learn how to get rid of heartburn in dogs the right way.

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Some of the same things can cause heartburn in dogs as they do in humans. If your dog is experiencing stress, has developed food allergies, or isn't eating a balanced diet, the result can be heartburn. The condition can manifest itself in canines as vomiting or lack of appetite which will give you a clue about what's going on. Naturally, you want to do everything you can to alleviate these problems which should help your pooch feel better. Taking your pet to the vet is also a good idea, because the vet can check to make sure that something else isn't causing the symptoms.

Your vet will also be able to tell you if it will be all right to give your dog over-the-counter heartburn remedies and can tell you how much you will need to administer. For example, Reglan can be used to help empty your pet's stomach instead of allowing food to remain in the stomach where it can cause indigestion. Other common antacids that are safe for dogs under a vet's supervision include Zantac and Pepcid AC.

If you'd prefer to take a more natural approach to managing your doggie's heartburn, you might try soothing his throat using either slippery elm bark or marshmallow herbs. You can also make changes to his diet in case what he's eating or not eating is the cause of the problems. Although commercial dog foods are the answer to feeding many dogs, one who suffers from heartburn may benefit from a diet of home-cooked food or raw food that emulates the type of food he would eat in the wilds. You will eventually learn how to get rid of heartburn in your dog by trying different types of meals. As a rule, as your pet ages, the incidence of heartburn should decrease, because older dogs no longer produce a lot of stomach acid.

Author Resource: Written by Kristie Brown
Want more information on how to stop heartburn? Get more information, tips and resources here: How to get rid of heartburn fast.