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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Gastric Ulcers » Gastric Ulcers in Foals » |
Discussion on Research Study: Omeprazole and Foals | |
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Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 8:14 am: Though long suspected we had little proof that omeprazole was as effective in foals as adult horses and what might be appropriate dosages. This study finds it is effective for at least 12 hours at raising gastric ph in foals.DrO Equine Vet J. 2008 Jan;40(1):41-4. The effect of omeprazole paste on intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals. Javiscas LH, Sanchez LC. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Administration of omeprazole paste per os to healthy neonatal foals has been shown to effectively increase intragastric pH, but has not been evaluated in sick neonatal foals. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of orally administered omeprazole paste on intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals requiring nasogastric intubation. METHODS: Intragastric pH was measured continuously for 24 h using an indwelling electrode and continuous data recording system in hospitalised neonatal foals age < or =2 days. Intragastric pH was measured for 12 h prior to (pretreatment period) and 12 h following (post treatment period) treatment with omeprazole paste (4 mg/kg bwt per os). All foals displayed periods of acidity (pH <4) prior to treatment. Statistical analysis compared pre- and post treatment mean and median intragastric pH, and percentage of time below pH 4. RESULTS: Eight foals were evaluated age 1-3 days, a gestational age of at least 320 days or reported to be full term. The mean (3.19 +/- 1.50 vs. 6.20 +/- 0.93) and median (4.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 6.86 +/- 0.89) pH were significantly higher and the percentage of time below pH 4 (32.25 vs. 1.1%) was significantly lower in the post treatment compared to the pretreatment period. CONCLUSION: Omeprazole paste effectively increases intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals after one dose at 4 mg/kg bwt orally. |