Remember when any belly gripe was just “indigestion”? Now we call the burning feeling “acid reflux,” but a lot of us still use the words interchangeably. The good news? Both problems often improve with the same first steps: better food choices, smaller meals, antacids, or adding gut-friendly probiotics. The bad news? They’re caused by different things happening inside the body.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) stays in the stomach.
Acid reflux (GERD) happens when stomach acid sneaks up into the food pipe (esophagus) because the little “door” between them isn’t closing right.
Your vet will ask: “Is the discomfort in the chest or lower, near the ribs?” That clue tells them if it’s reflux or plain old stomach trouble.
How to Spot It in Your Dog
Acid reflux signs are pretty obvious:
- Spitting up food or clear liquid (regurgitation)
- Constant lip-licking, gulping, or “smacking”
- Acting hungry but eating slowly or walking away from the bowl
Simple indigestion is subtler:
- Seems “off” or tired
- Not finishing meals
- Occasional vomiting, runny poop, or constipation
Any of these lasting more than a day? Call the vet. Dogs can’t tell us where it hurts.
What’s Really Going On?
We grab Tums or Pepcid for ourselves and forget to ask why the problem started. Same risk with pets—let’s look deeper.
Acid Reflux
The muscle “trap door” (lower esophageal sphincter) gets weak. Common reasons:
- Recent anesthesia (it relaxes muscles)
- A hiatal hernia—part of the stomach pokes through the diaphragm
Once the door leaks, acid (and sometimes bile) slides up and burns the esophagus. That burn is esophagitis.
Indigestion
The stomach lining gets angry (gastritis). Triggers include:
- Stress
- Pain meds (human ibuprofen, dog Rimadyl, etc.)
- Infections
- Food sensitivities
- Bile backing up from the intestines
If the trap door is already leaky, gastritis makes reflux even worse.
Extra Trouble-Makers for the Esophagus
- Swallowed pills that stick and irritate
- Allergies that send white blood cells (eosinophils) rushing in
What Happens If We Ignore It?
- Stomach lining → ulcers
- Esophagus → scarring or tight spots that make swallowing hard
- Long-term inflammation can raise cancer risk (rare, but real)
Fixing It the Right Way
Quick relief:
Vets often prescribe acid blockers (omeprazole) or meds to keep food moving (metoclopramide). These heal damage but don’t solve the cause. Real goal: Find and remove the trigger. For people it’s easy—skip the late-night pizza and see if the burn stops.
For dogs it’s trickier. They eat the same bag of food every day, full of mixed ingredients. Switching flavors rarely helps us spot the culprit. Smart next steps with your vet:
- Trial diet – single-protein, limited-ingredient food for 8–12 weeks.
- Blood tests or scopes if needed.
- Medication only as long as necessary.
Bottom line: Treat the symptoms, but hunt for the cause. Your dog will thank you with wagging tails and empty vomit-free floors!
