Kevin Keane, DVM, Sports Medicine Associates of Chester County, Kennett Square, Pa., has a list of clients that ranges from Hall of Fame race horse trainers to Olympic level riders in multiple disciplines.
As veterinarian to these top horsemen and women, he also sees horses involved in every other level of competition and training and knows, from experience, that all of them can be prone to developing equine stomach ulcers.
Given the number of horses Dr. Keane sees annually, it isn’t surprising he diagnoses and treats hundreds of them for equine stomach ulcers, which studies have found occur in 63 percent of non-racing competitive horses and can develop in as few as five days.
In his practice, they rely routinely on gastroscopy to make definitive diagnoses of equine stomach ulcers. While Dr. Keane initially used GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) to treat ulcers in the horses he saw, he had clients who began asking about compounded omeprazole products. “When the economy weakened, some of my clients were looking for other options to treat equine stomach ulcers.”
What Dr. Keane quickly discovered, based on repeat gastric endoscopy in these patients, is that unapproved compounded omeprazole and other products claiming to treat stomach ulcers were often ineffective. “Because we weren’t seeing a good response to many of these other products, we collected our own ‘in house’ data over time.”
Based on his experience, Dr. Keane switched back to GASTROGARD, the only FDA-approved and proven product to treat equine stomach ulcers. He is a firm believer in the product and now readily shares that information with his clients. “Whenever I walk into a barn and see another product claiming to do what GASTROGARD does, I share with them what our clinical findings have been.”
Research backs up Dr. Keane’s opinion, with results of one study showing that the compounded omeprazole formulations tested only contained between 6 and 76 percent of their labeled values. The lack of active ingredient in these products renders them virtually useless in the treatment of equine gastric ulcers.
Furthermore, only the MERIAL® brands use proprietary technology that is proven to protect the omeprazole from degradation while passing through the stomach and into the small intestine, which is critical for proper absorption and therefore efficacy. Both factors are very important to the success of an ulcer treatment regimen with omeprazole.
Besides offering GASTROGARD, which treats equine stomach ulcers, Merial also offers ULCERGARD®(omeprazole), which prevents stomach ulcers. Once daily administration of ULCERGARD is recommended in horses exposed to stressful conditions or activities that may induce stomach ulcers in horses.4
More information about equine stomach ulcers, their treatment and prevention is available at
Important Safety Information:
Caution: Safety of GASTROGARD in pregnant or lactating mares has not been determined.
ULCERGARD®(omeprazole) can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. The effectiveness of ULCERGARD in the prevention of gastric ulcers in foals and weanlings has not been evaluated. ULCERGARD may be used safely in breeding stallions. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.
About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,600 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2010 sales were more than $2.6 billion. Merial is a Sanofi company.
For more information, please see http://www.merial.com