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  Discussion on Research Summary: Exercise and Gastric Ulcers
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DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007 - 10:56 am:

Results showed that horses in light to heavy training for as short as 8 days were at risk of developing gastric ulcers and that administration of omeprazole paste decreased the incidence of gastric ulcers.
The clinical significance of this remains unknown. It is known that many and perhaps most horses have ulcers that do not seem to cause any clinical signs. History and experience with horses the last 100 years suggests the vast majority of horses in training do not need preventive omeprazole but one thing is for sure: managing to minimize their formation is important and includes good access to pasture daily and rest between training episodes. We recommend at least 2 to 3 contiguous days of rest a week. With our horses in training we alternate between 2 and 3 days every other week. For more see article on Gastric Ulcer in Adult Horses.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Jun 1;230(11):1680-2.
Effects of short-term light to heavy exercise on gastric ulcer development in horses and efficacy of omeprazole paste in preventing gastric ulceration.

White G, McClure SR, Sifferman R, Holste JE, Fleishman C, Murray MJ, Cramer LG.
Sallisaw Equine Clinic, Sallisaw, OK 74955, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 8 days of light to heavy exercise on gastric ulcer development in horses and determine the efficacy of omeprazole paste in preventing gastric ulceration\. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial\. ANIMALS: 102 horses with normal-appearing gastric mucosa on endoscopic examination that were in light to heavy training\. PROCEDURES: Horses at 4 trial locations were allocated into replicates and sham dosed orally (empty syringe) or treated with a paste formulation of omeprazole (1 mg/kg [0.45 mg/ lb], PO) once daily for 8 days\. Training regimens varied among locations and included early training for western performance events; walking, trotting, and cantering in a mechanical exerciser; and race training (2 locations)\. Prevalences of gastric ulceration at the completion of the 8-day treatment period were compared between groups\. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-day treatment period, the proportion of omeprazole-treated horses free from gastric ulceration (88%) was significantly higher than the proportion of sham-dosed horses free from gastric ulceration (27%)\. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results showed that horses in light to heavy training for as short as 8 days were at risk of developing gastric ulcers and that administration of omeprazole paste decreased the incidence of gastric ulcers.
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