Alternatives to omeprazole

Are there alternatives to omeprazole for the treatment of equine gastric ulcers?

The active ingredient omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor which blocks the formation of gastric acid in the horse's stomach. This allows the damaged gastric mucosa to recover and regenerate during treatment. Administering omeprazole also prevents the development of further gastric ulcers.

Lately, more and more horses suffer from irritations to the stomach lining or even gastric ulcers. The causes of gastric ulcers are manifold and a reaction excess gastric acid. Veterinarians speak of stress-induced overproduction of gastric acid, which can lead to gastric ulcers in horses if overproduction is permanent.


How do horses experience stress?

When horses can constantly graze or eat hay, as they do in the wild, they produce sufficient saliva which in turn acts as a buffer against excess stomach acid. But today’s methods of keeping and feeding horses is anything but ideal for their gastric health. Too little turnout and forage, irregular feeding times, training, incompatible stable mates, negative group dynamics at pasture etc. can cause stress in some horses.

If riders and horse owners recognise the symptoms in time they can take measures to avoid stress, change keeping conditions or the horse’s entire management in order to keep things from getting worse. However, it is always advisable to consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis to be sure.


Gastric ulcer diagnosed - omeprazole the only real solution!

If a horse has a gastric ulcer, a course of treatment involving the active ingredient omeprazole is usually the only option as it gives the horse's stomach the chance to regenerate. Treatment can last several weeks depending on the degree of progression, and the owner should allow the horse enough time to recover.


What happens after treatment with omeprazole?

Owners should take precautions to prevent the development of further gastric ulcers after treatment with omeprazole. In addition to the options above with regard to feeding and keeping, numerous supplements are available for preventive and parallel treatment to counteract hyperacidity in the stomach. Because stressors can never be completely avoided no matter how many changes are made.

Many riders find it useful, then, to use a product that specifically buffer the excess gastric acid. A reliable long-term alternative is Equine 74 Gastric which is recommended by veterinarians (link Eiler) as a preventative treatment and even as an alternative to omeprazole.

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Don’t suppress, buffer!

Equine 74 Gastric is a natural acid buffer based on red algae harvested off the coast of Iceland. It counteracts the excess acid in the horse's stomach caused by feeding and stress. Its organically certified formula boasts a highly bioavailable calcium content which increases acid buffer capacity 2.5 times higher than that of comparable limestone, thus binding the gastric acid – and only the excess gastric acid not required for the digestive process.

This restores the pH value in your horse's stomach and reduces the risk of ulcers in a natural way.


Equine 74 Gastric buffers excess gastric acid longer and more effectively:

2.5 times higher acid buffer capacity than supplements obtained from limestone

large amounts of highly bioavailable calcium and magnesium released in the horse's stomach

special sponge structure with a large surface area which is slowly broken down in the horse's stomach to buffer gastric acid over a longer period of time

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