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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
An acid neutralizer such as Pepcid (famotidine), Prilosec (omeprazole) or ranitidine (no longer available in the US) decreases the acidity of the stomach contents. Prescription acid neutralizers can be tried. Tums and Tagamet (cimetidine) are virtually useless in effectively decreasing the acidity. Zantac also has some pro-motility effects, so it may be considered. Some pets do best with a combination of acid-neutralizers given two to three times daily.Esophagitis is very painful, so analgesics such as gabapentin or tramadol may be considered, especially during initial treatment.Severe esophagitis can result in nausea, for which prescription anti-emetics such as Cerenia (maropitant) or Zofran (ondansetron) may be helpful. Cerenia can be administered either as a pill or by injection.Other Potentially Helpful MedicationsSeveral other medications may help individual pets. Sildenafil or tadanafil can loosen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), allowing the esophagus to empty into the stomach more easily, reducing the possibility of regurgitation.Pro-motility drugs such as Reglan (metoclopramide), cisapride, or low-dose erythromycin can help the stomach to stay empty, which minimizes the amount of food in the stomach that can be refluxed into the esophagus. To purchase cisapride, your veterinarian will write a prescription to be sent to a compounding pharmacy as it is not currently available through pharmacies. Rarely, a pet will have cardiac issues, which requires discontinuing cisapride.A few dogs in the megaesophagus support group have side effects from metoclopramide. They act restless or nervous, and owners report that the dogs seem to "see ghosts." Symptoms disappear within a few hours. Either
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