Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

In horses, as well as in people, it's a wound in the lining of the stomach caused by acid. In people, ulcers are associated with the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori -- which has not been identified in horses.

In humans we call it "heartburn" or gastric reflux and can efficiently describe the symptoms allowing our medical professionals to recommend medicines.. the most popular being Prilosec (Omeprazole)!

Our horses can't tell us they have a problem, but they can sure show us. (See symptoms below)

Horses secrete acid even when they are not eating, and for the most part, their stomachs are designed to withstand the secretions. The lining on the top portion of the has minimal protection. But the bottom portion, which resembles the lining of the human stomach, is glandular in structure and has elaborate means of withstanding acid secretions.

A horse's penchant for grazing is natural self-protection against ulcers. When a horse grazes all day, the roughage he consumes absorbs a considerable amount of digestive acid, keeping the level within the stomach low. In addition, a horse's saliva has an acid-neutralizing effect. As a result, the amount of acid that accumulates in a horse's stomach declines when he's eating and increases when he's not - sometimes to a potentially injurious level - which manifests itself in the form of gastric ulcers.

Problems arise when you bring a horse into stall confinement and then provide large quantities of concentrate - whether it be grain or pelleted feed. Grain or pelleted feed increases the level of a hormone known as gastrin, which is released by the stomach and acts as a stimulant for acid secretion. Then after eating his grain, the horse might stand for some time without eating hay, and all the while he is producing acid.

A second significant contributor to the development of lesions in a horse's stomach is the intensity of his training. For reasons not yet fully understood, a program that demands more of a horse may predispose him to ulcers.

Other risk factors include stress, transportation, intermittent frrding, racing, illness and management changes.

Although the signs that follow are indicative of many medical conditions - some more severe than ulcers, others less so - they can help you to recognize that your horse's health may not be up to par. Consider ulcers a possibility if your horse exhibits:

A change in attitude - Is your horse more nervous than usual or less willing to perform? Does he seem grouchy or "out of it" for no apparent reason?

Poor appetite - Is he eating as much as he normally does for the amount of work he's accomplishing? Is he leaving any of his feed uneaten?

Colic - Is your horse showing signs of low-grade colic, a persistent mild discomfort that may cause him to turn his head toward his flank, lie down excessively, paw or fail to finish a meal?

Decreased performance - Is your horse not as "fluid" as normal? Could his usually fine movement be described as below average?

Decline in body condition - Is your horse's coat not quite as sleek and shiny as it once was? Does he look "unthrifty" or just plain poor?

Weight loss - Has your horse dropped weight, up to but not more than 10 percent of his body weight?

Tired - Is your horse generally lackluster and seemingly without energy?

Other indications are Stretching often to urinate, chronic diarrhea, partial anorexia and excessive recumbancy.

The only way to tell with certainty if your horse has ulcers is to have him checked by a veterinarian with an endoscope. In this way the veterinarian can detect whether a horse does, indeed, have ulcers.

Treatment involves taking medication to reduce the acid or suppress the secretion of digestive acid, most of which is produced when food is consumed. Some years ago this was achieved with the use of antacids which have to be administered every two hours.

However, now the inhibition of gastric acid secretion has been the mainstay of EGUS treatment. Most human gastric reflux inhibitors are effective in horses - ranitidine at 7 mg/kg administered every 8 hours and misoprostol 5mcg/kg every 8hrs have been used successfully, however Slow release Omeprazole has been shown to be effective with dosage only once per 24 hrs.

Omeprazole in not an antacid, it decreases the gastric acid secretion by blocking the H+, K+ - adenosine triphosphatase (acid pump) enzymes.

Omeprazole is the only treatment for EGUS currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Omeprazole shuts down acid secretion by knocking out the acid pumps, as opposed to competing with the stimulant.

The administration of Omeprazole allows horses to stay in training, as they heal quicker.

We don't believe owners should spend a lot of money on fancy syringe applicators - which you throw away when empty. Our Omeprazole is in the form of caplets (large tablets), each containing 700mg of omeprazole. These are in foil strips, similar to some human pharmaceutical packaging.

Your veterinarian will recommend a regime for you, but as a rule of thumb:

Treatment of gastric ulcers: 4 mg omeprazole per kg body weight daily for 28 consecutive days.

Prevention of gastric ulcers: 1mg omeprazole per kg body weight, daily.

Estimate the number of 700mg caplets according to the treatment regime and your horses' weight. Add them to his favorite treat, once a day ... and see the improvement!

Our Equine Omeprazole Caplets are manufactured by leading Human Pharmaceutical manufacturers in India. They are made under the same exacting conditions and standards as human pharmaceuticals.

India has the largest pharmaceutical industry in the world and routinely manufactures active ingredients or finished products for major US pharmaceutical companies.

Ever wondered why food in the supermarkets must be clearly marked with the country of manufacture but not your pharmaceuticals.

Sure, they will have a local address but they just forget to add the words "Manufactured in ...."

Your order will be dispatched by regular airmail from one of a number of off-shore depots depending on availability and shipping efficiency. However, you must understand that this will take normally 6 to 21 days.

If you can't wait between 6 to 21 days and can't understand that the meds come from overseas, please don't order from us!

We guarantee satisfaction ... sometimes parcels are delayed in the post (so please be patient) and on rare occasions they may be lost! Rest assured, we will replace any lost items, guaranteeing that you will get your products.

If you have a problem, email us and we'll fix it! Promise!

If you are still not satisfied, we'll refund your credit card immediately with the full amount. If we refund your money, though, it is obvious that our customer service is not to your liking .. and we will never supply you again.

Ever!