Long term Omeprazole use

[Mistys_Girl]

My mare has been on Omeprazole since the end of May. We have tried to reduce the amount with no luck.
Does anyone have a horse that just needs daily dose to stay happy? 17y/o OTTB mare with a very questionable past.
Since being on a daily dose she has flourished. She eats her 3 meals a day and finally for the first time in the 2 years I have owned her looks good, feels good, and has a proper weight.
She does not show, she’s just a fun horse that does some ring work and lots of hacking, so not a rough life at all.

I have tried many over the counter supplements with no results like the omeprazole gives us.

Any long term effects to being on it long term?

[JB]

has any scoping been done? Omeprazole for the wrong kind of ulcers can keep the other kind happier by increasing pH, but doesn’t really facilitate healing, which is why you see regression when stopping it

Yes, longer-term use decreases some nutrient absorption, specifically calcium. That can be managed by adding a little bit (like a couple pounds of alfalfa), or not worrying if the diet is already high in Ca.

[Mistys_Girl]

No scoping has been done. She has done full course of Omeprazole, and we saw great progress. The course of Sulculfate that we did had no change in her. That’s why we went back to the omeprazole.
The past 2 years it’s been May that she has her flair ups when she starts to get grass.
Scope is a possibility for her, but she doesn’t trailer well, so trying to save for if all else fails.
She’s also grey with lots of melanomas, guessing that’s a factor as well.

[eclipse]

I had a horse that lived for 8 years on daily omeprazole! He suffered with delay gastric emptying due to severe ulcers plus ulcers around his pyloric sphincter. It was a constant battle to keep him healthy but he did flourish for years in between bad bouts and looked extremely healthy to people that had no idea about him! If you search my name you can probably find posts about the meds we had him on (I finally lost him last December he almost made it to 14!)

[JB]

TBH, I would do a full course of omeprazole PLUS sucralfate. Much better combo than either one on their own

Starting on grass shouldn’t, in theory, CAUSE ulcers. The higher sugar of Spring grass could cause some discomfort issues that aren’t related to ulcers

A vet should be able to scope at your farm

[Critter]

Following as I have one in the same situation. He had severe ulcers last year (scoped)…treated with UG and sucralfate and they healed fully…slowly weaned off UG but kept the sucralfate. Started him back in training this year and had bad behavior…scoped and severe ulcers and delayed emptying (so much for the sucralfate as a preventative for him). Back on UG and rescoped 6 weeks later and healed. Vets suggested he probably needs to stay on UG longer term. So we’ve kept him on it…especially as he still wasn’t right and ended up with Lyme and EPM. Treated for those and kept the UG going…he is finally back to his old self and doing great this past few weeks. Both the trainer and I agree that it’s better to keep him on the UG for some time given all he’s been through!

[Mistys_Girl]

I read some of your posts and your gelding sounds like my mare.
As soon as we stop the omeprazole she turns super spooky which is not her. When she’s on it we ride bareback with a halter and leads, and play around with her. I’m guessing this has been going on long before I bought her. She will balk and refuse to trot, then once we get going she’s fine, when on the omeprazole. When she’s off it I can’t get past the tantrum even with a dressage whip for help.
She’s an amazing mare, heart of gold. She’s just very dramatic about what works for her.

[GrayCatFarm]

I had a gelding on omeprazole (abler pop rocks) for years. He internalized his stress at being stalled. He was so much easier to ride and the spookiest disappearred. I kept the dose on the low side (17.2 hands and just 2 packets) after I dosed him at the loading level.