Acid Reflux in Dogs
Acid reflux happens when a dog's stomach contents push upward into the esophagus. This problem can happen to any dog and is commonly recognized by excessive lip licking, burping, or vomiting. Knowing what to watch for and how to identify potential causes of this issue can help you and your veterinarian pursue an appropriate treatment for your dog. Some causes of acid reflux are more serious than others and may require surgical intervention. If left untreated, this condition can cause great discomfort and progressive inflammation of a dog's esophagus. Luckily, prompt treatment can usually fix acid reflux for good.
What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when a dog's stomach contents move upward into the esophagus. This condition can affect any dog and is often identified by excessive lip licking, burping, or vomiting. Understanding the signs and causes can assist you and your veterinarian in finding suitable treatment. While some causes are more serious and might require surgery, timely treatment can usually resolve the issue. Without treatment, it can lead to significant discomfort and progressive inflammation of the esophagus.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Dogs
Dogs with acid reflux might not show signs of illness until they vomit or regurgitate food shortly after eating. However, various symptoms can signal discomfort. Observing these signs of esophageal irritation can help identify if your dog has acid reflux.
Symptoms
Regurgitation of food
Decreased appetite
Pain while swallowing
Lip licking
Restlessness at night
A typical sign of acid reflux in dogs is vomiting bile or regurgitating undigested food shortly after eating. Bile, a yellow substance, is normally in an empty stomach and travels to the intestines. However, in dogs with acid reflux, bile can ascend into the esophagus and out through the mouth. Regurgitation might occur for other reasons, but in acid reflux, it often results from increased pressure on the muscle between the stomach and esophagus. This causes food to be brought back up. Frequent regurgitation can prevent a dog from getting the necessary calories and nutrients, leading to weight loss.
Not every dog with gastric reflux will vomit or regurgitate. Some may exhibit more subtle symptoms due to bile irritating the esophagus. These can include lip licking, teeth grinding, restlessness, and anxiety, especially at night when trying to lie down and sleep.
What Causes Acid Reflux in Dogs?
Acid reflux can occur in any dog and might be due to chronic conditions, anatomic defects, or when under anesthesia for a procedure. Identifying the cause is crucial for determining the right treatment, as some issues may be easier to address than others.
Chronic Vomiting
Some dogs develop chronic vomiting due to medications or disease, leading to acid reflux and subsequent esophageal irritation.
Anesthesia
Under anesthesia, the gastroesophageal sphincter that usually stops stomach contents from entering the esophagus relaxes. If the dog's head is positioned below the stomach during this time, contents might leak into the esophagus.
Hiatal Hernia
A hiatal hernia, or diaphragmatic hernia, can increase the risk of acid reflux. It occurs when there is an opening in the diaphragm that allows parts of the stomach, intestines, or liver into the chest cavity. This abnormal positioning often leads to acid reflux. While large hernias are typically visible on an X-ray, smaller ones can be more challenging to detect.
How Do Vets Diagnose Acid Reflux in Dogs?
Diagnosing acid reflux can be challenging as it's not externally visible. A vet's physical exam may not reveal specific abnormalities. However, as an owner, you might detect signs like vomiting bile, regurgitating food, refusing to eat, displaying pain when swallowing, or losing weight. These observations can help a vet diagnose acid reflux. If reflux occurs under anesthesia, vets might witness it firsthand at the hospital.
Once acid reflux is suspected, endoscopy is typically used for diagnosis. This process involves anesthetizing the dog and inserting an endoscope into the esophagus to allow a camera to inspect its lining. Signs of regular acid reflux include inflammation and redness.
How to Treat Acid Reflux
Managing acid reflux involves medications and dietary restrictions. Initially, food intake might be restricted, followed by a low-fat, low-protein diet given in small, frequent meals. If a hiatal hernia causes the reflux, surgery may be needed. Generally, treatment is managed at home by the owner, except when surgery is required.
Prognosis for a Dog with Acid Reflux
Untreated acid reflux and chronic bile vomiting can lead to esophagitis, or esophageal inflammation, causing pain when swallowing, food refusal, and weight loss. With proper treatment, including dietary restrictions and medications or surgery, if necessary, reflux typically decreases, allowing the esophagus to heal.
How to Prevent Acid Reflux
To reduce your dog's acid reflux, maintain a low-fat, soft food diet. This helps digestive enzymes work less to process food. Offering smaller, more frequent meals reduces pressure on the gastrointestinal system.
