Stomaching the problem

Does anyone have any experiences of using L-glutamine in dogs with stomach ulcers? We are keen to investigate any supplements which may be safely used to aid our dog who suffers with this uncomfortable condition. He receives veterinary medication, and we will obviously discuss any recommendations with our vet, but several internet articles suggest this could help too.
Wendy Peacock, by email

RIchard Allport, alternative vet, says...
Before looking at supplements, the most important question is why has your dog got stomach ulcers in the first place? The commonest reasons are the use of steroids or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl, Metacam etc, or the use of drugs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen. If your dog is on any of these, get him off them as soon as possible. Another possible cause is the presence of mast cell tumours in the skin – they release histamine which can be implicated in the formation of stomach ulcers – so if your dog has any lumps or bumps in the skin, get them checked out. Another possible cause is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which is a known cause of stomach ulcers in humans. However, although this bacterium has been found in the stomachs of dogs, it doesn’t seem to have been conclusively proved that it is an actual cause of ulcers.
This brings us on to L-glutamine. This is thought to work by protecting the lining of the stomach from the damage caused by ammonia produced by the Helicobacter bacteria. Whether it would work if Helicobacter isn’t causing the ulcers is a matter of debate. However, it won’t do any harm to try (give 500mg daily). Other natural medicines that are probably more likely to help are Slippery Elm, Liquorice Root and Aloe Vera.