Omeprazole, sold for horses under the name Gastroguard and available as a generic capsule, is useful in treating both gastroduodenal ulcer disease and to prevent or treat gastric erosions caused by ulcerogenic conditions or drugs. Ulcers are a very common problem in horses that are diagnosed with endoscopes. So commonly are they found that it is uncertain what the clinical significance of many findings are. That said there are a percentage of horses with chronic colic and poor doing that respond rapidly to treatment. This article is about the uses, contraindications, toxic effects, dosages, of omeprazole and contrasts it's use with cimetidine and ranitidine.

Also see:

• Gastric Ulcers in Horses
• Cimetidine & Ranitidine in Horses

Omeprazole is useful in treating both gastroduodenal ulcer disease and to prevent or treat gastric erosions caused by ulcerogenic conditions or drugs. Though useful treatments already existed frequent dosing and reoccurence following cessation led to the search for alternative treatments. Omeprazole had revolutionized the treatment of ulcers in humans but cost remained a problem until recently. Omeprazole has gone off patent protection and become available as a generic and therefore declining costs have put this within the reach of horse owners. Ranitidine is still a useful less expensive treatment but requires more frequent dosing and has a higher reoccurence rate following cessation.

Besides stress related gastric and duodenal ulcers omeprazole has been used as a treatment and preventitive for:

• uremic gastritis
• stress-related or drug-induced erosive gastritis
• esophagitis
• duodenal gastric reflux
• esophageal reflux

It has also been employed to treat hypersecretory conditions associated with gastrinomas and systemic mastocytosis.