Can dogs have h pylori?

If you’re a dog owner, chances are you’ve done your fair share of worrying about whether or not your furry friend is getting enough exercise, eating the right foods, and generally thriving. But one question many pet owners don’t think to ask is whether or not their dogs can have H pylori.

What Is H pylori?

Let’s back up for just a second. If you’re not familiar with H pylori, here’s a little primer: this bacterium (full name: Helicobacter pylori) is known for causing stomach ulcers in humans. It typically spreads through contaminated food or water (gross) and can cause all sorts of unpleasant symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating.

But what about our four-legged friends? Can they get stomach ulcers from H pylori too?

The Short Answer

The answer is…maybe. While there isn’t tons of research out there on the topic, some studies have suggested that dogs can indeed carry H pylori in their digestive tracts without showing any symptoms.

Still, it’s important to note that just because a dog has H pylori present doesn’t necessarily mean it will become ill.

Symptoms In Humans

Before we delve into how dogs might be affected by H pylori, let’s take a quick look at what sort of symptoms humans experience when infected with this nasty little bugger:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark/black stools

Yikes! No thanks!

Symptoms In Dogs

So if dogs do contract H pylori, what sort of symptoms might they display? Unfortunately, as we mentioned earlier, there isn’t much research available on the topic. That said, here are some possible signs that could indicate an infection:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Decreased appetite
  • Weight loss

Notice anything similar here? Yep, those symptoms are pretty much identical to the ones humans experience when they have H pylori. Fun stuff!

Can Dogs Pass H pylori On To Humans?

Another concern dog owners might have is whether or not their pups can give them H pylori (mom was right: never let your dog lick you on the mouth!). Luckily, this seems to be a relatively rare occurrence.

While there have been documented cases of dogs carrying and transmitting various types of bacteria to their human families, it doesn’t seem like H pylori is one of them. So feel free to smooch your pup without fear of stomach ulcers (but maybe give him a good teeth-brushing first just in case).

Transferring Bacteria

That being said, dogs can definitely transfer all sorts of fun germs and bacteria onto their humans in other ways. Here are just a few examples:

  • Fecal matter on paws/snorfblats (yes that’s an official term)
  • Saliva from licking wounds/irritated skin
  • Food particles/drool around mouths/muzzles

Basically what we’re saying here is…wash your hands after playing with your dog! And definitely don’t share utensils or drinks with him unless you want to get up close and personal with some foreign microbes.

Prevention & Treatment Of H pylori In Dogs

So if we know that dogs can get H pylori, what steps can pet owners take to prevent infections from occurring in the first place? And if a dog does contract this bacterium, how can it be treated?

Prevention

Unfortunately, there aren’t any foolproof methods for preventing exposure to H pylori since it’s often found in contaminated soil/water/food. That being said, there are a few things pet owners can do to minimize the risk of infection:

  • Use a clean water source (filtered tap water is best)
  • Wash food dishes thoroughly after each use
  • Avoid giving your dog raw or undercooked meat
  • Keep your yard free of animal feces

Of course, these measures won’t guarantee that your dog will never be exposed to H pylori, but they’re good practices to adopt nonetheless.

Treatment

If you suspect that your dog has contracted H pylori, it’s important to get him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet may suggest one or more of the following courses of treatment:

  • Antibiotics: Just like in humans with H pylori infections, antibiotics can often clear up this condition in dogs.
  • Antacids: Medications designed specifically for treating ulcers might also help ease some of Fido’s symptoms.
  • Dietary Changes: In some cases, switching up what and how a dog eats might improve its GI health and reduce symptoms caused by H pylori.

Takeaway

So there you have it – while there isn’t an abundance of research on whether or not dogs can contract/give their humans H Pylori bacterium, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that yes it’s possible! But luckily infection is rare so sleep well tonight knowing smooching with Rex is safe!

Just use common sense when interacting with our furry friends (wash those hands!) and if you suspect something’s off with your pup’s digestion system…always give your local veterinarian a call. They’ve been specially trained to quickly diagnose and treat all sorts of ailments which makes them professionals. Fingers crossed no laptop bombs go off during online consultation…

Random Posts