Symptoms of Acid Reflux In Dogs
Acid reflux is a condition, also known as heartburn. This condition is characterized by a reverse flow of the gastric acids. The gastric acid flows into the esophagus, into the throat, burning the entire tube along its way. This occurs when the muscular opening at the base of the esophagus becomes lose and the gastric juices can easily flow into the throat. This condition is fairly common in both humans and in dogs. The symptoms of acid reflux in dogs may occur at any age in their life.
Due to the reverse flow of gastric stomach acid, bile salts and the enzyme pepsin into the throat and the esophagus may become inflamed and damaged. This condition mostly affects young dogs because their esophagus is not completely developed and the muscles are still weak.
The symptoms of acid reflux in puppies often go unnoticed. This is because the acid reflux may cause the puppy to whimper, but not show signs of pain. Due to the burning sensations in the puppies’ body, they may not be able to eat anything. In fact, they may also avoid drinking water.
So, what are the symptoms of acid reflux in dogs?The dog usually spits up and experiences regurgitation of food. There may also be a lot of evidence of pain. The dog may howl and whine. One of the other symptoms of acid reflux in dogs would be loss of appetite and unwillingness to drink water. There may also be severe inflammation of the esophagus along with fever and a lot of salivation.
The exact causes of acid reflux in dogs are not known. Acid reflux in dogs may occur due to administration of anesthetics. The failure to fast the dog properly or positioning the dog improperly in any way before administering the anesthesia could result in the relaxation of the esophageal opening.
Hiatal hernia could also cause the esophageal opening to relax, which causes an increased risk of developing acid reflux. If the esophageal sphincter of the dog is still developing, acid reflux could cause chronic vomiting and other long term problems. If the flow of gastric juices into the esophagus continues, it could ultimately cause the esophagus to burn or get permanently damaged.
Dogs would need immediate treatment when they are diagnosed with acid reflux. If the treatment is delayed, this condition could worsen. Home care would also be required and the dog will need to consume bland food. It is also possible that the dog may have to be given glucose intravenously for a brief period.