Stomach Ulcers in Dogs: What They Are, Signs, Symptoms, & More

Just like humans, dogs can get stomach ulcers — and they’re more common than you might think. Canine stomach ulcers are sores that form in your dog’s stomach lining when the protective mucosal barrier is overpowered by harsh gastric acid.¹

There are many causes and symptoms of an ulcer in a dog, so let’s take a look at them and how they’re treated.

Symptoms of Ulcers in Dogs

Signs that your dog may have stomach ulcers include:¹

• Weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Bloody stool or vomit

Dogs with severe ulcers may also show:¹

• Signs of pain or weakness
• Shock
• Paleness
• Fever

If your dog has a perforated ulcer, they may show signs of sepsis, such as:¹

• Fast heart rate
• Mental confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Low blood pressure

However, not all dogs with ulcers show symptoms.¹ If you think your dog might have an ulcer, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet to find out.

What Causes Ulcers in Dogs?

The main causes for ulcers in dogs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), liver disease, and neoplasia (i.e., the growth of tumors, whether benign or cancerous).¹ Other possible causes include:¹

• Major trauma to the body
• Ingestion of a foreign object
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Spinal disease
• Kidney disease
• Addison’s disease
• Sepsis (a dangerous complication of an infection)
• Pancreatitis
• Mast cell tumor
• Extreme exercise

How to diagnose ulcers in dogs

Vets often use ultrasounds to look for signs of canine stomach ulcers, but an endoscopy can give a more accurate diagnosis. A gastrointestinal endoscopy is a procedure where your vet uses a tiny camera on a long tube to see your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. It can also allow them to take a biopsy of the ulcer for further testing.¹

Once ulcers are identified, your vet will likely run other tests to figure out what caused them. They’ll then come up with a treatment plan.

How to Treat Stomach Ulcers

Treatment of stomach ulcers in dogs usually involves proton pump inhibitor therapy — but it depends on the severity of the ulcer and its root cause.¹ Your dog may also need supportive care,  such as intravenous (IV) fluids, to help them recover. Treatment plans can include medicines like:¹

• Antiulcerants to help heal the ulcer
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce gastric acid secretion and prevent further ulceration
• Histamine-2 (H2) blockers to reduce gastric acid production (not as widely used as PPIs)
• Misoprostol to help increase the protective mucus barrier

If your dog has an ulcer that has created a “hole” in their stomach (a perforated ulcer) or normal treatment methods haven’t fixed the problem, they may need surgery to treat it.¹

Real-life costs of canine stomach ulcer treatments

Since the causes of ulcers in dogs can vary widely, so can treatment costs. To give you an idea of how much it might cost, take a look at these MetLife Pet policyholders who also got their dogs’ ulcer treatments covered.

Blue, a dog from Missouri, went to the vet for tests to see why she was so sick. After diagnosing her with stomach ulcers, giving her IV fluids, and starting her treatment, the vet bill was over $6,700. But with her MetLife Pet policy, they were reimbursed more than $5,800.²

Medication is a huge part of treatment, and it was no different for Chuck, a 16-year-old Yorkie from California. One of his ulcer medications cost around $40, but his pet parents were reimbursed nearly $30 of it thanks to their dog insurance.³

After being reimbursed nearly $580 on a $720 vet bill just for diagnosing his stomach ulcer, New Jersey dog Ray needed to start his treatment. Supportive care and medications for him cost almost $1,900, but his pet parents were reimbursed over $1,500 through their dog insurance policy.⁴

MetLife Pet Can Help With Dog Ulcer Vet Bills

Fortunately, the prognosis of dogs with stomach ulcers is fairly good when your vet can quickly treat the underlying cause and help prevent new ulcers from forming.¹ And the vet bills that come with diagnosing and treating ulcers in dogs can typically be covered by a MetLife Pet policy. So while your pup is healing, you can rest easier knowing your finances won’t take a huge hit either.

See how much you could save on other unexpected vet bills by getting a free, personalized quote in just a few minutes.