My dog has acid reflux or maybe some liver trouble – it's my fault though, I gave her some ham. Anyway, can I give her Gaviscon and if so, how much? She's a Staffy/Malinois/Husky cross and weighs about 55 lbs (just under 4 stone). Thanks, but please only reply if you're sure.
Translated from French
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Hi there,
You're right to be careful about self-medicating.
However, some medications can be administered without any worries.
In this case, you've unfortunately given a bit too little detail about the signs you're seeing.
It could be one of many conditions. One that's quite common in dogs is Bilious Vomiting Syndrome, which leads to vomiting when the stomach is empty (usually around 3 hours after a meal). This vomit is often yellowish in colour and needs to be treated quickly to avoid complications (gastric ulcers, oesophagitis, etc.).
If it is indeed this syndrome, then:
- Split their meals throughout the day so their stomach is never truly empty, and give them a small meal before they go to sleep to tide them over until the morning.
- Give an antacid: Gaviscon at 25mg per kg (about 11mg per lb) 2-4 times a day (so yes, you can give Gaviscon to a dog!).
If the vomiting persists for more than 3 days despite this, or if you notice any red in the vomit, see a vet as soon as possible. They will then evaluate any potential damage, particularly to the stomach and oesophagus.
If your dog's symptoms don't match this syndrome, see a vet immediately.
In any case, don't take any unnecessary risks and don't wait too long.
See you soon on the forum,
Joachim
I wanted to do the same thing, but luckily I still asked a vet for advice. If you can't afford a call, you can always go to a local animal rescue or a charity like the RSPCA, or honestly, just ask to borrow someone's phone in the street—if you love your pet, you’ll find a way!!!! My dog had to have surgery for pyometra, which is a common infection in unspayed females between 6 and 8 years old. Well, the symptoms were severe: vomiting, refusing to eat, and black diarrhoea. So, after two days, I got her on the bus and took her to the vet. I was completely skint, but I didn't care!! The vet gave me a bit of a telling-off because he said I should’ve brought her in straight away. Anyway, luckily they saved her. The treatment was just some tablets... but the vet told me if she was sick again, I could give her a bit of a tummy settler, but not to overdo it. It just goes to show that sometimes you think it’s nothing, but one problem can be hiding another and you’re not necessarily qualified to spot it. So, it’s always better to ask a vet for advice. Even if it turns out to be nothing major, call the vet first before giving them anything; you should still get them checked out regardless. So many people end up killing their pets or making them really ill by trying to play vet themselves. If you really love them, a quick 2-minute phone call could save their life!!!
Besides, I wouldn't risk giving it myself just because some stranger on a forum said it was okay. Did you know that a single paracetamol tablet can kill a cat? And a whole pack could kill a dog weighing around 22 lbs? Did you know that loads of people kill or make their pets ill this way simply because they don't know any better?
