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GastroGard
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What it treats:
GastroGard is made by Merial and is the first and only FDA-approved equine
medication proven to heal and prevent the recurrence of gastric ulcers, even while horses continue to train.
Symptoms of the disease:
There are many clinical signs and symptoms that are associated with EGUS (Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome); however, it is
important to note that many horses with stomach ulcers do not exhibit any obvious signs. Because the prevalence of stomach
ulcers in horses has only been recently understood, ulcer symptoms can go unrecognized by trainers, owners and veterinarians.
Common causes have been identified as:
- infrequent grazing or hay intake
- intense training
- physical stress
- changes in growing foals
- factors such as extended time spent stallbound and certain medications given in high dosages.
In adult horses, common signs of EGUS include:
- poor performance
- colic
- poor appetite
- attitude changes
- poor body condition
- tucked-up appearance
- a poor coat
In foals, clinical signs include:
- intermittent diarrhea
- intermittent colic
- rough hair coat
- poor growth
- pendulous abdomen
- teeth grinding
- laying on the back
- alivation
- frequently interrupted nursing
Of symptomatic horses, 92 percent were found to have gastric ulcers upon endoscopic examination. (www.gastrogard.com)
Endoscopic Views of a Healthy Stomach
and an Ulcerated Stomach
 
Views inside a healthy horse stomach (left),
and a horse in training with ulcers (right).
(Photos courtesy of MJ Murray.)
What We Sell:
GastroGard Single 6.15g syringes $36.99
GastroGard Value Pack of 28 syringes is $951.72 ($33.99 each)
Each syringe contains 2.28 g of omeprazole (37% w/w), the active ingredient.
Dosing Devices Included:
GastroGard comes in an adjustable-dose syringe that is packaged and administered
like a paste wormer. The dosing device goes up to 1250 lbs on each syringe.
Form and Palatability:
A flavored paste that is fed orally with a syringe.
Expiration and Storage:
No special shipping requirements apply to this product.
Store below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C). Transient exposure to temperatures up to 104 degrees F (40 degress C) is permitted.
Common dosages:
For treatment of gastric ulcers, GastroGard Paste should be administered
orally once-a-day for 4 weeks at the recommended dosage of 1.8 mg omeprazole/lb body weight (4 mg/kg). For the prevention
of recurrence of gastric ulcers, continue treatment for at least an additional 4 weeks by administering it at the recommended
daily maintenance dose of .9 mg/lb (2mg/kg).
GastroGard is recommended for use in horses and foals 4 weeks of age
and older. For the treatment of equine gastric ulcers, each syringe will dose up to 1250 lb body weight. It is the only
anti-ulcer medication for horses that elevates stomach pH throughout the 24 hours after dosing, allowing convenient once-daily
dosing (us.merial.com).
Length of treatment:
This is individual to each horse, but treatment is usually at least the 4 week long initial recommended dosage.
Diagnosis:
A clinical examination should be performed if ulcers are suspected. A 3-meter (9.8 feet) flexible endoscope is inserted
through the horse's esophagus and into his stomach in order to confirm the existence of stomach ulcers in horses, but endoscopes
of sufficient length to visualize the horse stomach are not always available to all equine practitioners. Luckily, several
clinical signs and symptoms are highly suggestive of EGUS, making empirical therapy a viable option (gastrogard.com)
Ulcers vary in their location, size, depth, and other characteristics. Often, a standardized four-point scoring system is
used to evaluate healing and to compare severity of lesions. The higher the score, the more severe the lesion (gastrogard.com)
How does it work?
Omeprazole suppresses acid by shutting down acid production in the stomach, giving the ulcer time to heal. The cells of
the stomach mucosa contain several acid-stimulating receptors, and when these receptors are activated they switch on the
H+,K+ ATPase acid pump (an enzyme system) to secrete acid into the stomach. Omeprazole inhibits the acid pump, so when receptors
are activated the acid pump does not initiate acid secretion. Omeprazole is the only medication approved for use in horses
that acts directly on the acid pump, preventing acid secretion no matter what receptor is activated. Omeprazole was the
first acid pump inhibitor to be approved for use in humans, and is now the first and only acid pump inhibitor approved for
the treatment of stomach ulcers in horses. (gastrogard.com)
Side Effects:
GastroGard is indicated for the treatment and prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses and foals 4 weeks and
older. Gastrogard was well tolerated in controlled efficacy and safety studies. In dose-confirmation and field trials, no
adverse effects attributable to omeprazole treatment were noted (gastrogard.com).
When used used concomitantly with other therapies, which include anthelmintics, antibiotics, nonsteroidal and steroidal
anti-inflammatory agents, diuretics, tranquilizers,and vaccines, no interactions have been observed (gastrogard.com).
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