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  Discussion on Omeprazole vs Gastroguard
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Member:
corinne

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

Our vet was at the barn this weekend and thinks Demetrius could benefit from Gastroguard because of the weightloss and the stress of the new move and showing etc. He can't scope but is pulling blood and doing a fecal tomorrow. If Gastroguard is recommended, I can't afford the $770 version. Can I give Omeprazole tablets. Will it be metabolized the same way at the paste? Most sites say the generic is not beneficial. I can't believe this to be true knowing what I know about pharmacology. Can you enlighten me? I see you have a few alternatives that can be given so I presume generics can be efficacious. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

v/r
Corine
Member:
stevens

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 3:07 pm:

Hi Corinne,

There is a fairly recent thread, I think it has "ulcers" in the title where we went over this.

Anyway, I would suggest going with the Ulcergard if cost is an issue. It's made by the same folks as Gastroguard, apparently has the same ingredients but is labelled differently regarding dosage. The best prices I've found are on EBay and Horsewarehouse.com.

BTW, if your vet suspects ulcers, what is he looking for pulling blood and doing a fecal? Or is he just covering the bases?

Good luck!

Chris
Member:
lloyd

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 3:54 pm:

Hi Connie,

The cheapest way to find out is to have an endoscope performed. If you can't get one done and decide to treat your horse as if it has ulcers, than you can use Omeprazole / Sucralfate generic. $15.00 per tube. I trialed gastrogard and the above generic brand and found them to work equally as effective. They both cleared up the ulcers and further performance within days.

Regards,

Lloyd
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 6:36 pm:

Hello Corrine,
there have been problems found with some forms of generic omeprazole. We cover the recommended generic forms in the article on ulcers.
DrO
Member:
ilona

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 10:52 pm:

Hi Chris,
Thank you SO VERY much for the https://www.americasequinewarehouse.com/ (horsewarehouse.com address). The savings are huge, and with 11 horses that translates into serious dollars.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 12:45 am:

Well, thanks everyone. The vet had last seen him with a long coat, so I am sure he looked extra thin to him, but he hasn't lost weight recently since we implemented the other supplements and I am hoping he is gaining, will tape tomorrow. I think the vet was trying to cover all the bases with the fecal float and blood work but since he said the gastro guard was so expensive he recommended we get settled in his new home then get a scope if he doesn’t improve so I am not sure I will have the other tests done just yet.. He is dewormed per HA schedule, has not coliced ever, his manure is normal in appearance and is not tarry so I don't think there is a bleed anywhere. And he is just generally happy. I know ulcers can be asymptomatic but in my heart of hearts I don't think this is the issue. He eats when I am there, when the food is lower than his chest level, his performance has not declined, his coat is wonderful and there really aren't any signs he is stressed. I have noticed the chore folks turnout before he was done with dinner so who nows.. So we are going to the show this weekend then moving him to his new barn where they have huge stalls with ground feeders and he will get his own pasture (which had tall grass and I asked they mow down a bit so he doesn't get too much is it fructose?) and will add buddies when he has gained so he has friends. Because there has only been one week since we added the additional supplements, I can't see how anyone can say that the interventions we are trying are not working. This conversation took place when I was not there between the vet and the barn manager. When we get settled on the 18th we can have him scoped at OSU if they recommend it (we have to go get his melanoma’s frozen) then go from there so I really appreciate the recommended generics on the articles and the horsewarehouse.com address but will buy the gastroguard if need by. The new barn will allow me to chose my choice of grain which is nice and I think I am going to stick with Triple crown senior, high fat low carb. Any recommendations anyone has for grain for hardkeepers that you all like?
Member:
corinne

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 1:01 am:

Chris,
Sorry I am tired...I just remembered he wanted to pull blood to test for Tying up because he fliches when you touch his back.....but as his horse mother any time anyone he doens't know touches his back he flinches.....our last barn someone took it upon themselves to bute him because he flinched and boy was I pissed. I couldn't illicit a pain response from him what so ever. Anyway if he is like who the heck are you he flinches? Like your touch feels like a fly. I can personally lie across his back his back and he won't move a muscle and his urine is normal, he works out on a normal basis and is cardiovascularly conditioned not just a weekend wonder. Besides his gaits are normal and there is not stiffness noticed anywhere...odd huh that he would even think Rhabomyolosis could be a concern. Our vet is a good guy but not strictly equine so I am holding off on the blood work until we get to OSU in two weeks if he doens't gain weight etc because it's not tying up according to everything I have researched here.
Member:
stevens

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 8:45 am:

Funny about the back flinching; my horse lets me poke and prod all over his back without flinching. Let the horse body worker/masseuse touch him and he's very reactive.

Personally, I think he's jonesing for a massage; he loves Ruth.

Ilona; you're welcome. I've spoken with the owner of Horsewarehouse the single time I had a problem with an order (I've shopped there for years) and it was fixed immediately. Great prices and great service.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 - 9:57 am:

Ok quick update. I went up and saw Demetrius and having not seen him for almost five days I think he is looking like he is gaining weight, of course with the move I can't find the weight tape. None the less the vet, who was giving me advice, wanted to ensure he wasn't missing anything so I offered to bring a manure sample (which was negative for parasites) and stopped off and got a vaccutainer from the vet, a few clot tubes and some EDTA tubes and went to the barn and drew some blood from the jugular...my first Jugular draw on a horse but after he told me where to landmark it was so much easier than a hard stick human. Anyway, they are send outs but I think he is doing standard lab work.
I think we are on track with the dietary changes. Not saying that if he scopes positive in a few weeks I am going to use any of these products but am just curious has anyone seen the Ulcer products on Smartpak? If they are not scientifically proven I won't use them and will go with gastroguard if he has ulcers....my gut still says he does not but was just curious about them.
Dr O, If supposedly 60% of show horses have ulcers how come all of them aren't on ulcer preventative or have problems? I have known alot of show horses, sounds like these are epidemic proportions amongst them and you would think everyone would be treating or would have problems who have show horses. Interesting.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 14, 2007 - 6:56 am:

The majority of equine gastric ulcers are subclinical Corinne, they do not have any symptoms associated with them, so are not diagnosed or treated. That said, I think the increasing awareness of this possibility has got more folks considering, and we recommend, managing horses in training to minimize ulcergenic conditions. For more on both of these aspects of the disease see the article on Gastric Ulcers in Adult Horses.
DrO
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