Vetnews | September 2024 24 « BACK TO CONTENTS Long-acting solution for gastric ulceration in equines evaluated For many years the gold standard of treatment for Equine Gastric Ulcer Disease, in South Africa, has been oral, enteric-coated omeprazole at a dose of 2 – 4 mg per kilogram once daily. It is well-documented and researched that oral omeprazole is most effective if given on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before feeding. Since 2017 numerous studies undertaken by multiple research groups have shown positive results against acid suppression and improvements in gastric ulcer scores among horses treated with a once-per-week, longacting, intramuscular omeprazole injection. V-Tech released a compounded, long-acting omeprazole formulation in 2022. My colleagues and I, from Cape Vet Equine Practice, undertook a small in-practice case study to determine the efficacy of this formulation. V-Tech was involved in this case study, covering the cost of a repeat scope for 8 horses treated with the injectable omeprazole. The results of the case study were presented in a poster format at the World Veterinary Association Congress in Cape Town in April 2024. Fifteen horses were presented to Cape Vet for gastroscopy over eighteen months, for a multitude of reasons: most notably, weight loss and changes in behaviour. Other complaints included girthing pain, poor performance and a dull coat. Each horse was subjected to two gastroscope procedures, performed under standing sedation, using a 3m flexible video endoscope. The presence, or absence, of gastric ulcers on both the squamous and glandular mucosa was recorded, and the images were graded by two veterinarians. The horses were diagnosed with either squamous (15/15), or squamous and glandular lesions (11/11), and were treated with the compounded, injectable omeprazole at a dose of 4mg/kg, intramuscularly once weekly for a minimum of 4 weeks. Concurrent treatment with sucralfate at 12mg/ kg, twice daily, orally as either a suspension or tablet formulation was used in 12 of the 15 cases. Each of the fifteen horses received a second scope, 5 – 10 weeks (average 7 weeks), after the start of treatment, to determine the efficacy of the treatment. ESGD = Equine Squamous Gastric Disease EGGD = Equine Glandular Gastric Disease Table 1: Below: Data of the subject horses Total number of horses in the study 15 Diagnosed with ESGD 15/15 (100%) Diagnosed with ESGD and EGGD 11/11 (100%) Age Average 10.9 years old Mares-gelding-stallions Mares 6 (40%), Geldings 9 (60%) Thoroughbreds (pure or cross) 8(53%) Warmbloods 3(20%) Other breeds (Boerperd, Arab) 4(27%) Showjumping 6(40%) Dressage 2(13%) Endurance 2(13%) General purpose/hack, Eventing and Hunting 5(33%) Days to re-examination (range) 35-75days (Average 50.8 days/ 7.25weeks) Previous Treatment (oral omeprazole) 7(47%) by Dr Lauren Brewis
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