Acceptability of a paste formulation and efficacy of high dose omeprazole in healing gastric ulcers in horses maintained in race training.
Abstract: Gastric ulceration has been found to occur in 80-90% of Thoroughbreds in active race training. Previously, variable success has been reported using mucosal surface protectants and H2 receptor antagonist. Omeprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, has been shown to inhibit gastric acid secretion in both man and animals. Fourteen horses, in active race training and with endoscopic evidence of moderated to severe gastric ulceration were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (7 horses) were given placebo paste orally once daily for 28 days; Group 2 (7 horses) received 1.54 g active omeprazole in the placebo once daily for 28 days. Logs detailing administration and acceptability of the paste, and the horse's feeding and training regime were maintained by the trainer of each horse. Endoscopic examination of the stomach occurred at the beginning of the trial, and at 13-17 days and 27-31 days following commencement of the trial. Those horses that were free of ulceration on Days 27-31 were reexamined on Days 35-49. Acceptability of the paste, whether with or without active omeprazole, was deemed excellent in all horses except on one occasion, when one horse swallowed the paste following initial mild reluctance. Of the horses given the placebo (Group 1), 3 were withdrawn after the 13-17 day endoscopic examination: 1 horse to be given a H2 receptor antagonist, 1 horse was removed from training due to aryepiglottic entrapment and 1 horse had a greater than 10% fall in bodyweight from the start of the trial. Of the horses given active omeprazole (Group 2), one horses was relocated to another race track following the 13-17 day endoscopic examination. For the horses given placebo (Group 1), there was no change in the severity of ulceration. In contrast, the severity of ulceration in the horses given active omeprazole was significantly reduced at 13-17 days and 27-31 days. In 2 Group 2 horses, ulcers that had been completely eliminated subsequently returned when reexamined at 35-49 days. The results of this study suggest that omeprazole, employing a once daily dosing schedule, is effective at reducing the severity or eliminating gastric ulcers in Thoroughbreds in active race training.
Publication Date: 2000-03-04 PubMed ID: 10696299DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05174.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The research article examines the effectiveness of high-dose omeprazole in healing gastric ulcers in race training Thoroughbred horses. It also determines the acceptability of administering the medication in a paste form daily.
Study Design and Procedure
- The research involved a total of 14 Thoroughbred horses that were in active race training and showed moderate to severe gastric ulceration through endoscopic examination.
- These horses were then divided into two equal groups. Group 1 (control group) was provided with a placebo paste orally once per day for the duration of 28 days. Group 2 was administered 1.54 g of active omeprazole in the placebo daily for the same period.
- To track the administration and acceptability of the paste, along with feeding and training regimes, logs were maintained by each horse’s trainer.
- Endoscopic examinations were carried out at the onset of the trial, and then after 13-17 days and once again after 27-31 days into the trial. Horses that were ulcer-free at the end of the trial were reexamined on days 35-49.
Key Findings
- The acceptability of the paste, which contained active omeprazole or not, was rated excellent in almost all horses, with only one horse showing mild reluctance initially.
- In Group 1, three horses had to be withdrawn after the 13-17 day examination due to various reasons – administration of an H2 receptor antagonist, an occurrence of aryepiglottic entrapment and significant weight loss.
- In Group 2, one horse had to be relocated to a different race track after the 13-17 day examination.
- For Group 1 horses, the severity of ulceration was unchanged. However, in Group 2 horses given active omeprazole, there was a significant reduction in ulcer severity at both 13-17 days and 27-31 days.
- Two horses in Group 2 that had become ulcer-free showed a recurrence of ulcers when reexamined after 35-49 days.
Conclusions
- The findings suggest that omeprazole, when administered in paste form once daily, was effective at reducing or completely healing gastric ulcers in Thoroughbred horses undergoing race training.
Cite This Article
APA
Vatistas NJ, Snyder JR, Nieto J, Thompson D, Pollmeier M, Holste J.
(2000).
Acceptability of a paste formulation and efficacy of high dose omeprazole in healing gastric ulcers in horses maintained in race training.
Equine Vet J Suppl(29), 71-76.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05174.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Double-Blind Method
- Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
- Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
- Female
- Gastroscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Ointments
- Omeprazole / administration & dosage
- Omeprazole / therapeutic use
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Severity of Illness Index
- Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy
- Stomach Ulcer / pathology
- Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
- Wound Healing
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Birkmann K, Junge HK, Maischberger E, Wehrli Eser M, Schwarzwald CC. Efficacy of omeprazole powder paste or enteric-coated formulation in healing of gastric ulcers in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):925-33.
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