Effect of aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide antacid and bismuth subsalicylate on gastric pH in horses.

The study focuses on evaluating the effects of aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide antacid and bismuth subsalicylate on the gastric pH levels in horses. The results indicate that a specific dosage of these compounds causes a significant increase in gastric pH, potentially aiding in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in horses.

Research Methods

• The researchers involved five clinically healthy adult horses in a randomized, controlled trial.
• The horses each received the five treatments in question: 30 grams of aluminum hydroxide/15 grams of magnesium hydroxide, 12 grams of aluminum hydroxide/6 grams of magnesium hydroxide, 10.5 grams of bismuth subsalicylate, 26.25 grams of bismuth subsalicylate, and a 5% methylcellulose control.
• Food or water was not given to the horses during the experimentation period.
• Gastric pH was measured both before and for two hours after the administration of the treatments, using a glass electrode inserted through a previously implanted gastric cannula.

Results

• Of all the treatments, only a dose of 30 grams of aluminum hydroxide/15 grams of magnesium hydroxide resulted in a significant increase in the horses’ gastric pH levels compared to the baseline or control values.
• The mean pH for the mentioned treatment was 5.2 and 4.59 for post-treatment hours 1 and 2, respectively.

Conclusion

• The oral administration of 30 grams of aluminum hydroxide/15 grams of magnesium hydroxide to adult horses could lead to a mean hourly gastric pH level of over or equal to 4.0 for at least two hours following treatment.
• The research may offer insights into effective practices for treating peptic ulcer disease in horses, particularly through managing gastric pH levels.