Omeprazole For Horses Side Effects & Dosage

Last updated on April 25th, 2020 at 06:55 pm

Are you looking for omeprazole for horses side effects and omeprazole for horses dosage levels? Then read on as we discuss omeprazole and how it may help treat your horse’s ulcer problems.

Dealing with and treating (EGUS), equine gastric ulcer syndrome, often leaves horse owners with steep vet bills and more questions than answers.

EGUS collectively refers to erosions or ulcers in either the glandular (lower) or squamous (upper) regions of the equine’s stomach. Very commonly found in many horses, especially among those in competition or intensive training, these lesions can be very painful. Management and dietary factors of the horse can make them worse. Gastric ulcers in horses often cause many performance and other issues. Because of this, they warrant aggressive management and treatment.

The primary treatment for EGUS is omeprazole.

Omeprazole For Horses Dosage

The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved omeprazole paste in two dosages for EGUS in horses. For treatment of ulcers, the first omeprazole for horses dosage is 4 mg/kg (1.8 mg/lb) per day for 28 days. For prevention, the second omeprazole for horses dosage is 1 mg/kg (0.9 mg/lb) per day as needed, in particular during periods of increased stress. Omeprazole works to decrease the animal’s stomach’s acidity.

It is also recommended to make certain management changes. These include ample turnout, a low-grain, forage-first diet, stress management techniques, and avoiding certain anti-inflammatory drugs.

GastroGard vs UlcerGard

Omeprazole is marketed as two different products: GastroGard and UlcerGard. Both products are FDA approved, made of the same uniquely formulated omeprazole, and are even made and sold by the same company, Merial. However, there is in fact a difference between the two.

GastroGard is the formula that is used to treat existing stomach ulcers in your horse after a vet’s diagnosis. A prescription is required to purchase GastroGard.

UlcerGard is the product used to help prevent your equine from developing stomach ulcers. UlcerGard does not require a prescription, and can be purchased from many sites, including Amazon. It is available in a single syringe or a 3-pack. If that is not enough and you are looking for bulk omeprazole for horses, there is also 6-pack available.

Liquid Omeprazole For Horses

Some readers have written to us asking if there is a liquid omeprazole for horses. While the manufacturer does not make a liquid omeprazole for horses, there are some sellers online who claim to have an oral suspension of omeprazole. If you really need a liquid formula, we have heard of some horse owners making their own simply by mixing the paste into a slurry with some sort of liquid, such as apple juice.

A Warning About Compounded Omeprazole For Horses

There are quite a few products on the market that are compounded omeprazole for horses. These products claim to be able to help aid in healing of your horse’s ulcers. However, studies have shown that most of those products have far less omeprazole in them than stated, and are proven to be ineffective at treating ulcers. They may contain enough medicine in them to mask the symptoms for a short while, but they fail to cure the underlying ulcer.

If you are considering using a compounded omeprazole for horses, be certain to check with your vet first. As none of these products are approved by the FDA for treatment of EGUS, we cannot recommend that you use any compounded omeprazole for horses.

Omeprazole For Horses Side Effects

You may be wondering if there are there any omeprazole for horses side effects. In efficacy trials, when this drug was administered to horses at the above mentioned dosage schedules, no side effects or adverse reactions were detected.

This is great news for those with animals that are in pain from ulcers. The fact that there are no reported omeprazole for horses side effects means that you can safely treat your horse with this drug if your vet prescribes it.

Conclusion

Omeprazole for horses is the only FDA approved treatment for EGUS and has been proven to be highly effective with no side effects. While price is always a concern when giving a medication long term, beware of cheaper compounded omeprazole for horses products. You might also want to consider giving your horse a probiotic supplement while using this medication.

We found Amazon to be one of the best places to reliably get UlcerGard for the best price.