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MY 12 YEAR OLD STAFFIE KEEPS BEING SICK EVERY TIME SHE EATS. SHE IS WELL IN HERSELF AND QUIET HAPPY AND CLEARLY HUNGRY. SHE CAN HOLD DOWN SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER BUT NOTHING ELSE. I HAVE BEEN GIVING HER GAVISCON 3 TIMES A DAY WHICH IS HELPING HER KEEP A LITTLE EGG OR CHICKEN DOWN, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WEEK NOW. SHE HAS HAD STOMACH ULCERS IN THE PAST, SHE IS A VERY NERVOUS DOG. COULD THEY BE BACK AND CAN I TREAT THEM WITHOUT GOING TO THE VET. I HAVE HAD TO CANCELL HER INSURANCE AS IT WAS COSTING ME NEARLY 50 A MONTH DUE TO HER AGE ETC. I DONT HAVE ANY MONEY SO CANT AFFORD EXPENSIVE VET BILLS.
Optional Information: Age: 12; Female; Breed: staffie Already Tried: gaviscon. 3 times a day. i remeber the vat advising me to give her this along side some medication he prscribed when she had ulcers. they opened her up and she had about 300 inclusters of 10.
Hello,
I'm sorry to hear your dog isn't feeling well. It may be difficult to treat at home if she continues to not be able to hold anything down or if she really is infested with these ulcers again, or if they start to bleed. However, you can try as long as she isn‘t painful, pale, overly lethargic, bloated appearing, excessively panting, ate something toxic or unresponsive (which all require more immediate vet attention).
Wait at least 12 hours before feeding anything or giving anything at all orally, a bit longer if still vomiting. Then try giving some pepcid at a dose of 0.25mg per pound of body weight, as long as your dog has been fairly healthy otherwise (no liver/kidney disease or on heart medications). Then 1/2 hr to 45 min later, you can try very very small amounts of a bland food, like baby food (chicken or turkey flavors are good) or boiled chicken. Just about a tsp or so. The pepcid will help any forming ulcers.
If able to hold down, try again in an hour this same amt. If doing ok, do this for a few hrs, then about 1/2 a meal amount for her next meal time. You can repeat the pepcid in 12 hours as well, if you feel it is needed (while the bland diet helps the most, the pepcid may help speed along the GI's settling).
If doing ok, keep on bland diet for a couple of days, the gradually switch back to normal food. If not able to hold down even the pepcid, she'll need a vet visit sooner than later, as injectable medications will be called for, and further diagnostics may be needed to see if this is more than just a few ulcers. Often antibiotics are needed for the bacteria that has built up in the GI tract and we'd need to see if this is severe again or symptoms of pancreatitis. Also, make sure she's drinking water or even some unflavored pedialyte the entire time so as not to dehydrate, but only small amounts offered at a time after fasting for at least 10 hours, and keep her away from heat and indoors while recuperating, except for short leash walks only to do her business. Discontinue any other meds and food for now.
Here's some more info about Pepcid. If any concerns, it is always best to check with your vet before giving (you can certainly start the bland diet protocol and add Pepcid later if needed after speaking to your vet):
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/famotidine-pepcid/page1.aspx
Best of luck, hope your dog is better in no time!
Christine
Experience: Licensed veterinary technician (B.S. Mercy College), 10 yrs in animal medicine and training