Certain Acid Reducers Can Cause Kidney Damage

[4My2Greys]

Since Nadir died of complications due to kidney failure I've been trying to read and understand as much as I can about the causes of it. I came across this this morning and wanted to share this since many times acid reducers are often recommended here for greys that have stomach problems. The link I've pasted shows a list of studies linking proton pump inhibitor (prilosec, omeprazole, etc.) as causing acute interstitial nephritis. So caution should be used with these products.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=proton+pump%20inhibitor%20induced%20interstitial%20nephritis

Edited October 15, 2014 by 4My2Greys

[Kestrel]

Interesting, thanks! I just scanned the article titles, but are any of them veterinary studies? It looked like they were all human medicine.

[JohnF]

Thank you for posting that. I've long suspected that extended use of Omeprazole contributed to kidney problems, but when you have a dog with kidney disease symptoms, quality of life concerns often indicate that acid production needs to be reduced in order for them to recover from inflammation. Likewise with Meloxicam type drugs for arthritic conditions, those can hasten kidney disease too.

[RaineysMom]

I give ours 10mg of Zantac-type stuff every day

[4My2Greys]

Interesting, thanks! I just scanned the article titles, but are any of them veterinary studies? It looked like they were all human medicine.

I haven't had time to read but a few, but I would imagine they would be referring to damage done to the human renal system since this is a drug developed for human use. However, since drugs are usually tested on animals prior to being approved for use in humans I would heed the warnings of the damage it can cause.

[4My2Greys]

Sometimes drugs like this are necessary, for instance as you mentioned JohnH, however, by the time it is recommended in the event of kidney failure the dog is in stage 3 or 4. Or in cases where a dog has another terminal illness such as cancer and this is helping with eating problems from other drugs they are taking. I posted this as a warning though to the recommendations that are made for acid reducers every time someones' dog doesn't eat or their stomach rumbles. Kidney damage is irreversible and as such the use of proton pump inhibitor type acid reducers should be used more as a last resort and only for a limited time.

[macoduck]

Aren't Zantac and Pepcid a different type of acid reducer than the proton pump inhibitors?

[greysmom]

Aren't Zantac and Pepcid a different type of acid reducer than the proton pump inhibitors?

 

Yes, but the Internal Specialist who treated our Dorie for PLE said that the only acid reducer that works for dogs is omeprazole.

[greyhead]

We were told essentially the same thing, Chris, or that Prilosec would be better than Zantac or Pepcid because it would prevent too much acid from forming in the first place. But now that we know Shane is in Stage 3 kidney failure, and he didn't do well on Prilosec anyway, we're giving Zantac and doing okay. I guess I'm saying that the vet gave us a plausible sounding reason for Prilosec being better, but it always comes down to the individual dog and what their issues are.

[4My2Greys]

I revised the title so that it does not imply that all acid reducers carry this danger. I would just hate for someone elses hound to develop kidney problems because they gave this type of acid reducer. It's one thing having to use it because your dog already has kidney disease, but quite another thing for your dog to develop kidney disease because you used it.