VETINUITY
Should sucralfate be given with omeprazole?
It can be, but space them: sucralfate needs an acid environment to form its protective gel, and it binds other drugs in the gut. Give the PPI first and the sucralfate later.
● ANSWER
Sourced & dated
What is the sucralfate dose for dogs and cats?
Sucralfate is a fixed dose, not a per-kilogram one: 0.5-1 g per dog by mouth every 8-12 hours and 0.25 g per cat every 8-12 hours, given 2 hours apart from other oral drugs.
● WHAT'S DOCUMENTED
Vetinuity’s sucralfate dose table gives dogs 0.5 g (under about 20 kg) to 1 g (larger dogs) by mouth every 8 to 12 hours and cats 0.25 g every 8 to 12 hours, as a slurry. Sucralfate is dosed per animal rather than per kilogram, which is why this page has no weight calculator; the work is in the timing, not the arithmetic.
Sucralfate doses by indication
| Indication | Dog | Cat | Route and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esophagitis | 0.5-1 g per dog | 0.25 g per cat | PO slurry q8h |
| Gastric or duodenal ulcer, adjunct to a PPI | 0.5-1 g per dog | 0.25 g per cat | PO q8-12h |
| Uremic or NSAID-associated erosions | 0.5-1 g per dog | 0.25 g per cat | PO q8-12h, separated from other drugs |
How it works and why it is not an acid blocker
In acid, sucralfate polymerizes into a sticky gel that binds to exposed protein at an ulcer bed and blocks pepsin and bile acids. It does not lower acid output. The 2018 ACVIM consensus found little evidence that it heals gastric ulcers in dogs and cats on its own, while noting a reasonable rationale for esophagitis, where a slurry can coat inflamed mucosa directly. Pair it with a proton pump inhibitor rather than relying on it alone.
Spacing from other drugs
The gel binds many oral medications and lowers their absorption. Give doxycycline, fluoroquinolones such as enrofloxacin, digoxin, thyroid hormone and most other oral drugs at least 2 hours before sucralfate. Because the drug needs acid to activate, give it after the proton pump inhibitor has been dosed, not in the same syringe.
Key cautions
Each gram contains about 200 mg of aluminum. Absorption is small but measurable, so long courses in dogs or cats with kidney disease warrant care. Constipation is the most common side effect. The 1 g tablet dissolves in 5 to 10 mL of water in a few minutes; shake the slurry right before dosing. The 100 mg/mL suspension (human product) is an easier option for cats. This table is part of Vetinuity, the clinical assistant that Brian Toncray, DVM, an emergency veterinarian, designed around real ER shifts.
Related: omeprazole, famotidine, doxycycline and NSAID overdose.
● SOURCES
- 1. Marks SL, Kook PH, Papich MG, et al. ACVIM consensus statement: Support for rational administration of gastrointestinal protectants to dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1823-1840. PMID 30378711. Sucralfate; esophagitis. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 2. Tolbert K, Stubbs E. Rational use of gastroprotectants in cats: An evidence-based approach. J Feline Med Surg. 2024;26. PMID 39105658. Sucralfate in cats. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 3. DailyMed: Carafate (sucralfate) label search. Drug interactions; dosage forms. Checked 2026-10-26.
● RELATED ANSWERS
- Omeprazole Dose for Dogs and Cats
Omeprazole is dosed at 1 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours in dogs and cats, given 30-60 minutes before a meal, and tapered rather than stopped after courses longer than 3-4 weeks.
- Famotidine (Pepcid) Dose for Dogs and Cats
Famotidine is dosed at 0.5-1 mg/kg PO or slow IV every 12 hours in dogs and cats; twice-daily dosing matters because once-daily famotidine barely moves gastric pH.
- Doxycycline Dose for Dogs and Cats
Doxycycline is dosed at 5 mg/kg PO every 12 hours or 10 mg/kg once daily in dogs and cats, and every oral dose in a cat must be followed by water or food to prevent esophageal stricture.
- Ibuprofen and NSAID Overdose in Dogs: Toxic Doses
Ibuprofen causes GI signs in dogs from 100-125 mg/kg, renal failure from 175-300 mg/kg, CNS signs above 400 mg/kg and can be lethal above 600 mg/kg; naproxen is toxic at far lower doses.
- Enrofloxacin (Baytril) Dose for Dogs and Cats
Enrofloxacin is dosed at 5-20 mg/kg once daily in dogs, but never more than 5 mg/kg per day in cats, the dose above which retinal degeneration and blindness have been reported.
● FAQ
Can sucralfate tablets be dissolved?
Yes. The 1 g tablet disperses in a few millilitres of water into a slurry, which is how most patients take it.
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