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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Sci / A study investigating the treatment of equine squamous gastr...
Veterinary medicine and science2020; 6(2); 235-241; doi: 10.1002/vms3.220

A study investigating the treatment of equine squamous gastric disease with long-acting injectable or oral omeprazole.

Abstract: Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is a highly prevalent disease in horses, particularly in elite athletes. Some horses respond slowly, or fail to respond, to the licensed treatment, oral omeprazole (ORLO). To compare rates of ESGD healing and improvement between ORLO and a long-acting injectable omeprazole preparation (LAIO). Retrospective clinical study. The case records and gastroscopy images of horses presenting to Rainbow Equine Hospital over a 12-month period were reviewed, with images being reviewed blind by one of the authors (David Rendle). Treatment responses were compared between horses that received 2 or 4 injections of 4 mg/kg LAIO at weekly intervals, and horses that received ORLO at 4 mg/kg PO SID for 4 weeks. Data were compared using a Mann-Whitney test with post hoc Dunn's test, chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Fifty-six horses met the inclusion criteria: 29 received LAIO and 27 received ORLO. Treatment groups were comparable in terms of signalment and ESGD lesions. There was a difference in rate of healing when LAIO and ORLO treatment groups were compared at 28 days (LAIO-97%; ORLO-67%; p = .005; OR = 14(1.8-158)), but no difference between LAIO at 14 days and ORLO at 28 days (LAIO-86%; ORLO-67%; p = .12; OR = 3.1 (0.9-10)). Five localised and self-limiting injection site reactions were identified in 3 horses out of 98 injections (5.1%). The study was limited by its retrospective nature, absence of randomisation and limited numbers. Four weeks of treatment with LAIO resulted in better rates of ESGD healing than 4 weeks of ORLO. Larger more robust studies of LAIO are warranted.
© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-16 PubMed ID: 31945806PubMed Central: PMC7196684DOI: 10.1002/vms3.220Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on the comparison of two omeprazole treatments in horses with equine squamous gastric disease. The study found that a long-acting injectable omeprazole treatment showed better healing rates than the typical oral treatment after a 4-week period.

Understanding the Research Study

  • The research focused on equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD), which is prevalent in horses, especially in elite athletic horses. The study pointed out that some horses respond slowly or don’t respond at all to the licensed treatment, which is oral omeprazole (ORLO).
  • In order to establish more effective treatment options, the research compared the efficiency of ORLO and a long-acting injectable omeprazole preparation (LAIO).
  • The retrospective study reviewed case records and gastroscopy images of horses presented to the Rainbow Equine Hospital over a span of one year. The treatment responses were compared between horses that received either 2 or 4 injections of LAIO at weekly intervals and horses that were treated with ORLO orally for 4 weeks.

Findings of the Study

  • The data analysis featured in the research used a Mann-Whitney test with a post hoc Dunn’s test, a chi-squared test, or Fisher’s exact test.
  • The study found a significant difference in the rate of healing when comparing the LAIO and ORLO treatment groups at the 28-day mark, with a success rate of 97% for LAIO in comparison to a 67% success rate for ORLO.
  • However, the difference was not significant when comparing the LAIO group after 14 days of treatment and the ORLO group after 28 days of treatment.
  • The research also documented side effects of the injectable omeprazole treatment, noting five localized and self-limiting injection site reactions in three horses out of a total of 98 injections.

Limitations and Implications of the Study

  • The research acknowledged certain limitations, such as the study’s retrospective nature, the absence of randomization, and limited numbers of subjects.
  • Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that a 4-week treatment of LAIO resulted in better rates of ESGD healing than ORLO.
  • The authors concluded by stating that larger studies of LAIO are warranted to further corroborate and expand their findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Gough S, Hallowell G, Rendle D. (2020). A study investigating the treatment of equine squamous gastric disease with long-acting injectable or oral omeprazole. Vet Med Sci, 6(2), 235-241. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.220

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Pages: 235-241

Researcher Affiliations

Gough, Sarah
  • Rainbow Equine Hospital, Malton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
Hallowell, Gayle
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Rendle, David
  • Rainbow Equine Hospital, Malton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gastroscopy / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Injections, Intramuscular / veterinary
  • Male
  • Omeprazole / therapeutic use
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stomach Diseases / drug therapy
  • Stomach Diseases / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

D. Rendle has previously received payment for consultancy services provided to BOVA UK and Luoda pharma who produce the LAIO and from Boehringer Ingelheim and Norbrook Animal Health who produce oral omeprazole.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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  4. Frippiat T, Bonhomme M, Dyson S, Votion DM. Evaluation of Owner-Reported Clinical Signs and Fecal Occult Blood Tests as Predictors of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Competition Dressage Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Nov-Dec;39(6):e70248.
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  5. Willette J, Guinn A, Munsterman A. Primary Jejunal Impactions Resolved via Exploratory Celiotomy in Six Horses: 2017-2023. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 12;15(16).
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