Ulcergard Helps Protect Horses From Gastric Ulcers
A surprising number of horses suffer from gastric ulcers,
particularly a condition known as Equine Gastric Ulcer
Syndrome, abbreviated as EGUS. This is a similar condition
to acid reflux disease in humans and has a similar level
of severity. Ulcergard has been designed to help
treat EGUS to keep horses from experiencing the pain,
discomfort and health deterioration brought on that condition.
It works by inhibiting the production of stomach acids
that can lead to ulcers. This is an over the counter medication
that you do not need a prescription in order to purchase.
Horses should be at least 600 pounds before this medication
is given to them.
Horses can develop ulcers in a number of ways, the most
common being situations where they are not able to graze
or consume the normal amount of roughage that they need.
Research has shown that there are many factors which can
lead to ulcers in horses, including travel, training,
competitive events, trailering, confinement, limited grazing,
sickness or injury, and even simply from changes in routine.
Some studies show that an ulcer can develop in as little
as 5 days.
Over 90% racehorses have been shown to have ulcers and
more than 60% of performance horses that are not raced
so this gives an indication of how stress can affect horses
and lead to ulcers. Since Ulcergard is a paste that you
feed to your horse, but it has not been tested for pregnant
mares and foals. However, breeding stallions can be given
this medicine without any known side effects.
Ulcergard is important to help keep horses performing
at their top level and feeling better. If left untreated
for too long, EGUS can lead to other complications so
it is best to treat ulcers early on. Ulcergard
is simple to administer and you can do it yourself.
More Product Information:
Generic Name
Omeprazole (oh-mep’-rah-zole) Oral Paste
Brand Name(s)
UlcerGard (Merial)
What is this medication used for
UlcerGard Oral Paste is used for the prevention of gastric
ulcers in horses.
Availability
UlcerGard Oral Paste is a non-prescription (OTC) product
available as adjustable-dose oral syringes containing
2.28 Gm of omeprazole per syringe.
How this medicine should be used
UlcerGard is a proton pump inhibitor used for the prevention
of gastric ulcers. UlcerGard Paste should be administered
orally once a day at a recommended dosage of 0.45mg per
lb (1/4 syringe) to effectively prevent stomach ulcers
in horses exposed to stressful conditions such as training,
racing, showing, traveling, stall confinement, and competition,
for a duration of 28 days. For horses 600-1200 lbs give
1 dose (1/4 syringe) per day. For horses over 1200 lbs
give 2 doses (1/2 syringe) per day. For horses less than
600 lbs consult your veterinarian.
What are the side effects
There are no reported side effects. Consult your veterinarian
if clinical signs of gastric ulcers, such as decreased
appetite, recurrent colic, intermittent loose stools or
diarrhea, poor hair coat, poor body condition or poor
performance occur.
What special precautions are there
UlcerGard is intended for use in healthy horses that weigh
at least 600 lbs. UlcerGard may be used safely in breeding
stallions. The safety for use in pregnant mares has not
been established. The effectiveness in foals and weanlings
has not been evaluated. Do not use in horses intended
for human consumption.
In the event of an overdose
Contact your veterinarian.
How should I store this medication
Store this medication below 86ºF. Transient exposure
to temperatures up to 104ºF is permitted. Throw away
any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Keep
this medication out of the reach of children and pets.
This product is not for use in humans.
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