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Dogs can develop gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea from viral or parasitic infections. They can also get upset stomachs from eating certain foods or foreign objects. Unless you catch them drinking from a puddle or ingesting something that’s not safe for dogs, it’s not always clear what’s causing their tummy troubles.
If your dog is experiencing acute vomiting or is refusing food, your veterinarian may recommend a drug called famotidine, more commonly known as Pepcid or Pepcid AC. Although this drug is available over the counter and may already be in your medicine cabinet, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog famotidine.
Read on to learn about the proper uses of famotidine for dogs, potential side effects, and alternative medications if your dog needs long-term treatment.
What is Famotidine Used for in Dogs?
Famotidine, or its more well-known brand name, Pepcid, was first approved for use in the United States in 1986. Pepcid is available over the counter and by prescription for treating peptic disease and heartburn in humans. In veterinary medicine, famotidine is used to decrease the secretion of gastric acid, particularly in cases of acute vomiting.
Along with vomiting, your dog may not be eating. Since there’s no food to neutralize the stomach acid, you may see what’s called bilious vomiting. “Typically, on an empty stomach, a dog will vomit up a yellow or green phlegmy material that looks like egg yolk,” says Dr. Amy Attas, VMD of New York-based practice City Pets. “This is bile coming up from an empty stomach.” Often, you’ll find that a single dose of Pepcid makes your dog feel better.
It’s worth noting that bilious vomiting is something that “every dog does once in a while,” she explains. “But if it happens on a regular basis, it can’t possibly be comfortable for your dog. Sometimes we’ll add Pepcid at night and see if we can neutralize some of that stomach acid.”
How Famotidine Works in a Dog’s System
“Famotidine is a class of drug called an H2-blocker or inhibitor,” Dr. Attas says. The “H” stands for histamine, a chemical released by the immune system. When H1 receptors are activated, this can cause allergic or anaphylactic reactions. H1 antihistamines work by blocking H1 receptors.
When a dog eats, the H2 receptors become activated, which causes the gastric parietal cells in the stomach to release acid. Stomach acid helps with digesting food, absorbing minerals, and controlling harmful bacteria. “The goal of famotidine is to decrease the secretion of stomach acid by blocking H2 receptors,” Dr. Attas explains.
Although safe for dogs, because famotidine isn’t specifically licensed for use in dogs, it should always be discussed and advised by a veterinarian, says Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM, Chief Veterinarian for the American Kennel Club. In addition, your vet may explore other options for treating your dog.
Benefits of Famotidine
Famotidine is commonly used in veterinary medicine because it has three main advantages. It’s inexpensive, easily obtained from human pharmacies, and works quickly for a dog that’s vomiting.
“Sometimes we’ll have patients who vomit and afterward they can’t seem to clear their throat, or they’re coughing,” Dr. Attas says. “They can sometimes get esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus from all that stomach acid. We give them an over-the-counter Pepcid, and they get immediate relief from it.”
How to Administer the Drug
Famotidine (Pepcid) can be given orally and comes over the counter in 10 and 20-milligram doses. The amount you give your dog is based on their weight, so it’s best to purchase the size that your veterinarian recommends and treat your dog accordingly.
Another way to administer famotidine is intravenously in the hospital or subcutaneously with an injection for faster relief. “If a patient is acutely vomiting, I’ll give them an injection of fluids underneath their skin to replace fluid and electrolytes and deliver anti-nausea medicine,” Dr. Attas says. Giving famotidine will block stomach acid in these patients.
If your dog has vomited a few times, make sure to contact your veterinarian and obtain their approval before giving your dog Pepcid, she emphasizes. What may look like a simple case of vomiting may be a sign of a more serious condition that requires veterinary attention.
Side Effects and Alternative Medications
“Famotidine doesn’t really cause side effects, but it can reduce other medications’ efficacy and interfere with some antibiotics,” Dr. Attas says. “Certain drugs work better in an acid environment.” An example would be drugs used to treat yeast infections like ketoconazole and fluconazole. If a dog is on famotidine, these drugs tend to be less effective.
The downside to famotidine is that, even though it works quickly, “it stops having efficacy after about two weeks,” she adds. “Sometimes we’ll use famotidine in combination with a new class of drugs that are better at blocking stomach acid called protein pump inhibitors or PPIs.” An example is Prilosec or the generic name, omeprazole.
PPIs are very effective at stopping stomach acid production, “but they take longer to work,” she says. “Sometimes we’ll start a patient on Pepcid and a PPI.” That way, Pepcid gives immediate relief until the PPI takes effect.
Sometimes veterinarians will use Famotidine with patients who have kidney issues, to treat small ulcers that develop in their intestinal tract, says Dr. Attas. Dosage administration is required in patients with chronic or severe renal disease. Dr. Attas adds that while Famotidine works in an acute or short-term situation, PPI is preferred for long-term, gastrointestinal issues.
Aside from medication, your veterinarian may have recommendations including a change in your dog’s diet or feeding schedule. Maybe your dog needs more food at night or early in the morning before they go out to relieve themselves. The vet may suggest using an elevated food bowl to help with digestion or a slow feeder if your dog is eating too quickly.
“Just getting to the bottom of why a pet is vomiting more regularly may be the best answer, and again a PPI would probably be part of that therapy going forward,” she says.
The post Famotidine for Dogs: Uses, Side Effects, and Alternatives appeared first on American Kennel Club.
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