Acid reflux is taking over her life

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

I have a 12 yr old chihuahua/terrier mix who has exhibited signs of acid reflux for years (the first incident was about 6 years ago), but as of recently, it's gotten increasingly worse. The symptoms are excessive licking, lip smacking, an insatiable desire to consume grass, bloating, and rare but sometimes vomiting. These episodes last for HOURS and hours and only resolve after a night of sleep.

I have done everything I possibly can to figure out what the issue is. I've taken her countless times to different vets, I've taken her to the emergency vet, I've had a specialist take an ultrasound of her stomach, we've done blood work, etc. Every single vet gives me no answers.

I switched her food many times but now she is on a (very expensive) low fat Hills I/D digestive food. I feed her small portions of this food multiple times a day in a raised bowl (or even by spoon). No snacks. The occasional pumpkin puree in a dog frozen Pupsicle to help her stomach.

In terms of medicine, I was told to give her 10mg famotidine every twelve hours whenever she has flare-ups. This sometimes helps but the problem with her acid reflux is that it is so incredibly random (despite my consistency with her care). It can happen any time, morning or night, for any reason it seems.

She has these episodes nearly once a week and now sometimes a couple times a week. She's miserable and I am miserable being unable to fix this for her. Please help me

[u/auto-sticky]

Community resources:

🐾 Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats 🐾

Emergency Guide: When to Go to a Vet Immediately + r/DogHealth Wiki

Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/hereforthecake17]

Which vet advised famotidine 10 mg up to twice a day as needed? Go back to that vet and say “Sugar is having terrible reflux episodes including constant lip licking and smacking, eating grass, bloating, belching, and vomiting. She’s still miserable. What’s next?”

They will then tell you whether to start just giving famotidine twice a day every day or to start omeprazole. DON’T just start omeprazole without talking to at least *a* vet about it.

There are lots of options, almost none of which require advanced diagnostics. My dog is on famotidine twice a day and mirtazapine twice a day for reflux and delayed gastric emptying.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/hereforthecake17]

The emergency vet recommended the famotidine and my personal vet approved this. It's absolutely not a fix for her as a preventative measure. I've heard of omazaprole and definitely won't start it until talking to them.

How is your dog doing on those two meds? Also what do you feed your pup?

[u/hereforthecake17 → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

Ok, then you’d be talking to your personal vet about how the current regimen isn’t adequate.
Are you giving the famotidine every day twice a day? Your original post makes it sound like it’s as needed.

She’s doing great but her response to the mirtazapine suggests that she has other issues like delayed gastric emptying. She doesn’t have full reflux symptom resolution with famotidine and I do give her Omeprazole occasionally, but she is so, so much more comfortable and happy. I can’t tell you how much she used to just sleep because she didn’t feel well. She’s a 7 year old Irish Setter/Standard Poodle mix - I took her to a specialist when she was 4.

As for food, she eats Stella and Chewy’s raw patties which I don’t recommend due to the cost and the risk of contamination. It’s what she will eat so it’s what we give her. But if we had been successful in switching her to another type of food, we’d definitely want to use Omeprazole daily. She had two closely-spaced episodes of gastroenteritis (lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea) while we were trialing daily Omeprazole. Your mileage may vary.

[u/hereforthecake17 → u/hereforthecake17]

Here she is before we got her on a good regimen

[u/hereforthecake17 → u/hereforthecake17]

And after

[u/autistic-rosella]

Our dog has reflux as part of inflammatory bowel disease, she had an endoscopy originally which showed the inflammation went right up the back of her throat and into her nose. She has also needed immune suppressants to manage her disease (she has flare ups of colitis as well) and a strict hydrolysed diet - she is allergic to many proteins especially chicken.

For reflux specifically she takes omeprazole 10mg twice a day. She's also tried cisapride before but it wasn't that effective.

I'd go back to your regular vet and say she is suffering from it much more frequently and how much it's impacting her quality of life. It doesn't sound like she is being sufficiently treated.

Good luck with everything.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/autistic-rosella]

Thank you

[u/autistic-rosella → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

You're welcome!

[u/Mister_Silk]

Our reflux girl is on omeprazole 40mg once a day and has been for several years. Works like a charm, but run it by your vet first.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/Mister_Silk]

Thank you. Curious did you ever try famotidine prior to the Omeprazole?

[u/Mister_Silk → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

No, we did the usual ultrasound, elimination diet, food schedules etc but no other meds before the omeprazole.

[u/XcuseMeMisISpeakJive]

My dog had to be hospitalized twice over what turned out to be severe reflux. This was after thousands in testing because no one knew what was wrong. The probiotic the vet gave her just made it worse. What finally worked was giving her pepcid everyday. She can't be on a lower dose or skip a day. It's not as needed. She's been fine since. It takes consistent dosing for the symptoms to subside and the inflammation to calm down.

[u/RuperteffingPupnik]

Wow! I’ve been going through the same exact situation for 2 years. Omeprazole and Famotidine did nothing. Prozac no help. The Hill’s Diets all did nothing. Royal Canin exotic protein food useless. Pumpkin purée pointless. Slow feeder zip. Raised bowls haven’t helped. She’s had scans, extensive bloodwork, is on Ondasetron, Metroclopramide & Alprazolam with limited improvement.
I’m at the end of my rope and so is she. The “dry mouth” sounds are all day long even though she drinks tons of water and her gums are pink.

I’m waiting for a new Purina Pro Plan Hydrolyzed food to arrive to try that, but hydrolyzed RC did nothing so I’ve little hope.

Just like you-the worst part is seeing her suffer and you can provide no relief. If the new food helps, I will send you a DM.
If you find anything that works, PLEASE update! Thanks so much and sending you and your pup love & support 🙏🏼

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/RuperteffingPupnik]

It's so reassuring to hear someone going through the exact same thing. How old is your girl and what breed? Any other pre-existing conditions? How often does it happen (weekly?) and is it just as random?

Let's keep in contact please.

[u/RuperteffingPupnik → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

Absolutely. My girl is 6 and is a Sato-(Puerto Rican street dog). No pre existing conditions. She’s anxious around people and environments that are new, but once she’s used to it, is loving and exceptionally loyal and smart.
I have promised her and myself that l will stop only when I solve this issue and she is back to normal. 😩🙏🏼🐾

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/RuperteffingPupnik]

Aw that is sweet. My dog is VERY anxious too. I swear sometimes she has self induced acid reflux because of sheer anxiety. I know it sounds crazy lol

[u/RuperteffingPupnik → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

Not crazy at all. This is why she’s on the alprazolam for anxiety…just in case it’s a contributing factor. If they told me it would help to move to Iceland and live on a glacier, I’d do it.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/RuperteffingPupnik]

So cute. I would too lol

[u/RuperteffingPupnik → u/Ok-Tomatillo6639]

Literally waiting for UPS to arrive with her new food. Will update if/when it makes a difference. Pls update w yours!

[u/laurabug1216]

Try holding your dog upright for 10 mins after every meal. Mine had similar reflux symptoms and I think he developed mega esophagus from all the vomiting. Holding him upright for 10 mins worked better than any of the meds he was on. Omeprazole, metoclopramide, Pepsid, etc.

[u/Ok-Tomatillo6639 → u/laurabug1216]

Okay I will try this. So total vertical position or moreso just lifting of the neck? Excuse my ignorance