Horses lead stressful lives, especially horses competing in competitions such as three-day eventing, dressage or barrel racing. When horses become stressed, they produce more hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Over time, this acid can eat away at the stomach’s natural lining and can cause a gastric ulcer. Omeprazole, a human protein pump inhibitor used to treat gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD) or ulcers.
Currently, omeprazole is the only protein pump inhibitor approved for use in American horses by the Food and Drug Administration. Brand names of omeprazole for horses include Gastroguard and Ulcer Guard. While people take pills, horses usually take their omeprazole in a paste form or can be given intravenously. Human pills should never be given to horses. Also, humans should not take medication intended for horses.
Diagnosing Gastric Ulcers
Symptoms of gastric ulcers include sudden irritability, frequent bouts of colic, poor coat, poor endurance, decreased appetite and decreased poop, according to Tuft Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Unfortunately, these symptoms are the same for many other types of ailments. There is no sense giving the wrong medicine for the wrong ailment.
The best way to diagnose gastric ulcers in horses is by a qualified veterinarian giving the horse a gastroscopy. This is where a vet places a tiny camera down a tube about 2.2 meters long down the horse’s esophagus in order to examine the stomach lining.
Classified Drug
Unfortunately, ompeprazole is a classified drug. Although effective for preventing gastric ulcers, any classified drug may be banned from horses performing in sports. Always check the particular event’s rules and regulations before entering a horse being treated with this drug. Omeprazole can be used during training if not during a competitive event.
Another drug used to treat equine ulcers is sucralfate, which is not a classified drug. However, sucralfate only helps horses that have ulcers in a particular part of their stomachs called the glandular mucosa, according to Tuft Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Overdose and Allergic Reactions
Omeprazole is only to be used for three months or less. Longer use than that may harm the horse or cause the horse to suffer from toxicity. Omeprazole should never be given to foals under one month of age or horses that have been diagnosed with liver or kidney problems.
Symptoms of omeprazole overdose include colic or diarrhea and anemia. If a horse is on omeprazole and shows these signs, contact a vet immediately.
Some horses can be allergic to protein pump inhibitors. Symptoms of potentially fatal allergic reactions include hives, itchy skin, swelling of the face, suddenly cold legs, pale gums and seizures. In severe instances, horses can go into a shock or a coma. Contact a veterinarian immediately.
Resources:
“Current Therapy in Equine Medicine.” N. Edward Robinson & Kim A. Sprayberry. Saunders Elsevier, 2009. http://books.google.com/books?id=q-26Cz4t-P0C&pg;=PA370&lpg;=PA370&dq;=gastric+ulcer+horse+prevention+omeprazole&source;=vrt&ots;=ljJ6XruHNS&sig;=EQmraJgpvsHEB0zFMocU6Pj9FJk&hl;=en&ei;=bFwqTeaDPISq8AbB483pAQ&sa;=X&oi;=book_result&ct;=result&resnum;=11&ved;=0CGUQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q;=gastric%20ulcer%20horse%20prevention%20omeprazole&f;=false
Dressage Today. “Gastric Ulcers.” http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/illnesses_injuries/eqhorseulc217/
Doctors Foster & Smith Pharmacy: Omeprazole – Equine Patient Information Sheet http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Rx_Info_Sheets/rx_eq_omeprazole.pdf
Tuft Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. “Gastric Ulceration in Sport Horses.” http://www.tufts.edu/vet/sports/ulceration.html
