Can Dogs Take Prilosec? Is Omeprazole Safe For Pets?

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Prilosec is taken for a wide range of stomach problems including GERD, heartburn, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, indigestion and ulcers.

Many dogs also struggle with some of these same gut-related issues and they often stem from excess stomach acidity.

Can I Give My Dog Prilosec?Are you wondering if this acid reducer can help your pet dog?

You’ll be happy to hear that Prilosec is a fairly safe and effective drug. Of course, as with most meds, it can also be misused.

Your Dog May Benefit From Taking Prilosec

But play it safe and get a diagnosis first.

Neither Prilosec or Nexium are FDA-approved for dogs.

Omeprazole should only be administered if your vet approves. In other words, get your buddy checked out first.

Make no mistake:

Acid pump inhibitors such as Prilosec have potential to do more harm than good.

One example would be if your dog has undiagnosed kennel cough because that would require an entirely different type of treatment.

Whatever the case, be sure to involve your vet.

What Studies Show

We have clinical data regarding the effects of Omeprazole on dogs.

Research was conducted on 10 Beagles over a 7 year period.

For this particular assessment, the animals were given just under 0.4mg of Prilosec per pound of their respective body weights.

The result?

“No treatment-related adverse clinical signs or effects were observed in the dogs, and all animals survived to term.”

Probiotic-Like Prilosec

Prilosec works like probiotics in that it helps to normalize enzymes.

But Omeprazole is more aggressive and begins working much sooner.

It regulates stomach acid secretion which reduces stomach acidity. This is beneficial for dogs with ulcers since it aids in the healing process.

Other OTCs And Diet Tips

There are similar products besides those already mentioned such as Tums and Rolaids.

It’s pretty easy to know which works best for you, but judging results for a pet dog obviously isn’t so straightforward.

Avoid experimental treatment.

Do this:

Consider changing up their diet as a preliminary step. And always try to avoid medicating your dog whenever possible.

How To Provide Prilosec

Prilosec comes in powder form as well as capsules and tablets.

You can mix the contents in with food. But again, only provide Prilosec after you’ve confirmed it’s right for your dog’s condition.

Dosage is mostly based on body weight. A conservative dose is 0.25 to half of a milligram per pound over a 24-hour period.

Other factors would be medical condition, age, breed and so on.

Your vet will provide dosage specific to your dog’s situation.

Additional Information

The drug doesn’t have a long history and it is not directed for animal use. However, all indications are that Prilosec is well-tolerated by dogs.

Symptoms are mostly mild, but there are important caveats.

Never provide Prilosec to pregnant or nursing dogs or those with a history of seizures or liver disease.

Give it in the mornings during your dog’s first meal. Limit use to under 2 weeks.

Discontinue use if you observe any of the following:

  • A decrease in appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Urinary problems
  • Vomiting
  • Changes in behavior

Try A Natural Alternative

Our neighbor uses a non-GMO product called Slippery Elm Bark. This additive free USA-sourced powder seems to work well for their dog’s gastric issues.

The Bottom Line

Some dogs with gastric conditions are good candidates for Prilosec.

However, a professional should be relied upon for safe use — including the exact dosing regimen.

Certain health problems are easily mistaken for issues assumed treatable with this medication. Avoid experimenting with a leftover Prilosec supply.

It cannot be stressed enough:

Get your vet’s help before putting your dog on Prilosec. Otherwise, try natural alternatives or consider a diet change.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

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9 thoughts on “Can Dogs Take Prilosec? Is Omeprazole Safe For Pets?”

  1. J Butterfly says:

    My 1 1/2 year old Beagle mix was having multiple seizures daily, even with Phenobarbital. We wound up at a neurologist who diagnosed him with Hydrocephalus. Zonisamide and 1/4 tab (5mg) of Omeprazole was prescribed.

    I’m happy to report he has been seizure free for a full 5 weeks! Our biggest concern is liver damage. His metabolism is so high.

    We go back in 3 months for more blood work and another visit with our neurologist. He’s quite a hit with the specialty clinic ladies!

  2. Our 1 year Australian Shepherd has hydrocephalus (water on the brain). An MRI revealed it. Symptoms started at about 8 weeks ago when we gave her Sentinel. She almost died and is now blind.

    I started giving her Prilosec recently. It is believed to help reduce fluid production in the brain. Hopefully it will help, but her sight will never come back according to a vet ophthalmologist.

  3. My Cocker Spaniel had a malignant tumor removed at the end of 2015. She now has a liver with so many lesions that the oncologist could not count them. She has a sensitive stomach. I am giving her 1/2 Prilosec every morning. It is enabling her to eat more and hopefully we will have her for more than the several weeks predicted.

  4. My vet prescribed 40mg of Prilosec given daily to my 12 year old Weimaraner who is 70 pounds. She had had dry heaves at night and developed severe neurological symptoms including walking around dazes. She also had 2 seizures and lost her bladder control.

    After two weeks, with only marginal improvement, I plan to have her put down tomorrow. Her groomer told me that she gives dogs who have her problem a snack at night.

    1. I don’t think you’d give 40mg of Prilosec to a horse! The standard human dose is 20mg. You should report this ‘vet’ to your state board. So sorry for your loss. I’ve had to put down one of my babies before, and it broke my heart.

      1. Actually you can. I’ve been to a vet with my dog with similar symptoms. They not only administered an injectable with it but recommended to give the over the counter Prilosec as well.

      2. My physical therapy vet recommended giving my 72 pound Shepherd mix 20mg of Prilosec OTC in the morning. And again at night for gastric distress from Metacam. I was confused, as the typical human dosage is one 20mg pill per day. I was told that dogs clear Prilosec out of their system twice as fast as humans (necessitating the increase in dosage).

    2. I’m so sorry. My Weimaraner had these same symptoms at 12 and I had to put her down a year ago. It was a terribly difficult decision but cruel for her to just lay around after being so active.

  5. My dog was vomiting and had liquid stool while eating very little. He would vomit immediately after eating. This is a very new thing for him as he normally loves his food. He always eats fast and too much air was getting in while eating. We also travel a lot. With the stress he’s constantly panting and going to the bathroom with a lot of liquid throughout the day.

    Our vet recommended Prilosec before dinner to help calm his stomach. I tried it and read other things like spreading his food out on a baking sheet to slow him down and not take mouthfuls of kibble. Both ideas seemed to help. We’ll see how it continues to go.

    However, a side effect is even more excessive drinking. He drinks a lot to begin with and now there’s even more urinating due to the incredible water intake. I’m going to try a lessor dose. Poor guy finally seems calm!

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