Gastric pH and serum gastrin concentration in age‐matched healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND: Gastric hyperacidity and hypergastrinemia are purported to cause gastric ulceration in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, no published studies have evaluated gastric pH with serum gastrin concentrations in dogs with CKD. HYPOTHESIS: To compare mean intragastric pH, mean percent pH distribution, and serum gastrin concentrations in dogs with CKD to age‐matched, healthy dogs. We hypothesized there would be no difference in mean gastric pH or serum gastrin between groups. ANIMALS: Thirteen dogs with CKD; 10 aged‐matched healthy dogs. METHODS: Prospective, case‐control study. Serum chemistry, complete blood count, urinalysis, and serum gastrin concentrations were evaluated in all dogs before radiographic‐assisted gastric placement of a pH capsule. Forty‐eight‐hour continuous gastric pH monitoring was performed in all dogs. Serum gastrin concentration, mean pH, and mean percentage time that gastric pH was strongly acidic (pH <1 and pH <2) were compared between groups using a repeated measures mixed‐model ANOVA. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between groups for any pH measurements, including mean ± SD gastric pH (CKD, 2.37 ± 0.87; healthy, 2.39 ± 0.99; P > .05). Serum gastrin concentrations were not significantly different between groups (median [range]: CKD, 10.5 ng/dL [<10‐17.1]; healthy, 10.9 ng/dL [<10‐15]; P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our client‐owned dogs with CKD did not have lower gastric pH or higher serum gastrin concentrations compared to healthy dogs. Our results suggest that prophylactic gastric acid suppression in dogs with CKD is not warranted unless other clinical indications for use are present.