Omeprazole is often prescribed to horses that are receiving phenylbutazone in an effort to reduce the chances of a horse developing equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), though it isn't clear how safe or effective this treatment is.
Drs. Megan Ricord, Frank Andrews, Francisco Yñiguez, Michael Keowen, Frank Garza Jr., Linda Paul, Ann Chapman and Heidi Banse created a study to evaluate the effect of omeprazole on adult horses with EGUS caused by phenylbutazone.
The research team used 22 horses that had equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD), each horse had a score of a 2 or higher when tested for the disease. The horses were divided into three groups: one group (eight horses) received 4.4 mg/kg of oral phenylbutazone every 12 hours; the second group (eight horses) received the same phenylbutazone dose plus 4 mg/kg of oral omeprazole every 24 hours. The control group (six horses) received neither phenylbutazone or omeprazole.
The horses were treated for 14 days and had their stomachs scoped at days seven and 14. Blood tests were done at the beginning and end of the study period. Five of the horses did not complete the study because of intestinal issues (two in the phenylbutazone-only group and three in the phenylbutazone/omeprazole group).
The scientists found that the EGGD score increased in the study group that received the phenylbutazone only when compared to the horses that also received omeprazole. They found no difference in the ESGD scores between the two groups. Strikingly, six of the eight horses in the phenylbutazone/omeprazole group developed intestinal complications—two of which were fatal. Only two of the horses in the phenylbutazone-only group had intestinal complications, and neither of them died.
The team concluded that using omeprazole reduced the severity of EGGD, but that caution should be exercized when using the two concurrently, especially when this takes place at the same time as a management change.
Read the study here.
Read more at EquiManagement.
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