Mine have been 15-18 days in transit.
Question: Why are you all using the “pop rocks” instead of the canadian omeprazole paste from prerace? The paste IS $9 per tube, but you can get a multidose tube that brings the price down to $7.50. The pop rocks were $1.75 per sachet, which is a quarter dose for my horse. A quarter dose of the paste is just a little more and easier to dose.
I wanted to try them, since I know that here in the US, gastroguard has the patent on the paste that actually makes it to the right place. I wasn’t sure if the canadian company’s product did.
It’s also easy for someone non-horsey like my husband to give to him should I need to leave for any reason - dump them on the feed - doesn’t get much easier than that. Of course, my horse eats beet pulp and scarfs it all up pretty quickly, so I don’t have any of the difficulties that others have.
So far so good, teeth grinding gone, girthiness gone…horse is feeling good! I’m putting in for another order today!
Is the Canadian product buffered or enterically-coated? Got a website for the actual manufacturer? (as opposed to the retailer)
I also prefer something to add to the feed rather than shoving paste into them every day. Mine all eat the pop rocks without any complaints. 
And a check-in from me. Cash is now eating the pop rocks. I just kept putting them in his feed and eventually apparently he gave up. I don’t put molasses or anything on them now, just put them in the feed. Anything I put on them causes them to be rejected, but as long as they’re “bare” he’ll eat them. Weird, weird horse. I squirted them in his mouth for a few days, while putting them in his feed as well and watching him spit them out, but finally the amounts in his bucket started getting less and less, and finally he’s cleaning up his feed again.
As far as symptoms go, he’s feeling really good now. Less girthy, calmer, and really much easier to ride, and that’s been the only change. Last night they put up really scary jumps in the arena, and while he looked at them, no spooks. I watch his feed very carefully, of course; low NSC and grass hay, but I’ve been doing that for a while. He was very tender over his back and flanks, and that has lessened considerably. He’s also no longer eating the wood in his stall.
I reordered, and hope they are only 15 - 18 or so days in transit.
History: High stress mare diagnosed with ulcers after two (almost lost her) colics. 30 days of Ulcergard, problem solved. Took her off when turned out for 3 months with only light work at home no trailering, mare colicked!
Put back on ulcergard, then saw thread on Pop Rocks and bought them. 6 mos or so later and a really, really heavy comp season, NO
colic:yes::yes: :yes::yes::yes:. Now as per vet we do a 1/4 tube or 1 packet 3 times a week when she’s not working.
The pop rocks work. I have a new older horse that has historically been a very picky eater. I started him on the pop rocks and now he eats like a pig. Plus he was a pawer when anxious, and I have not noticed the pawing any more.
Pop Rocks have Arrived
I had posted in mid September that my pop rocks had been turned back at Canada Customs (who also sent me a warning regarding purchasing product off-shore!)
Pop Rocks company requested a copy of this warning and assured me that this happens on occasion and that a replacement order was on its way.
I received my 200 packets last week - so, in this case my order took 7 weeks.
Just a “heads up” - you might want to order a bit earlier than you think particularly if you live in Canada!
[QUOTE=Cowgirl;5972157]
Question: Why are you all using the “pop rocks” instead of the canadian omeprazole paste from prerace? The paste IS $9 per tube, but you can get a multidose tube that brings the price down to $7.50. The pop rocks were $1.75 per sachet, which is a quarter dose for my horse. A quarter dose of the paste is just a little more and easier to dose.[/QUOTE]
Actually, since the sachets are 700mg each, 3 sachets (2,100mg) are approx. equal to a tube of Gastrogard (2,280mg). 3 x $1.75 = $5.25.
rcloisonne - because the granules have been tested by one of our own to see if they were properly coated, and they were. They have to be coated in order to survive the stomach acids and not be digested prematurely. i don’t know if the omeprazole paste is correctly coated, or buffered? Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
Btw, my gelding has been on the pop rocks for about a year now (after being initially treated with GG for two months) and he’s still doing well. Usually a stresser at shows, he internalizes and doesn’t eat a thing - not even yummy alfalfa hay. Now, he picks at his net all day long and even practically fell asleep with me during our test this past weekend. I’d say that they’re definitely still working. He’s on a a sachet every other day, or every day there’s a show.
[QUOTE=rcloisonne;5973101]
Actually, since the sachets are 700mg each, 3 sachets (2,100mg) are approx. equal to a tube of Gastrogard (2,280mg). 3 x $1.75 = $5.25.[/QUOTE]
Or if you buy 200, they are $1.49 each, or $4.47 per day.
[QUOTE=rcloisonne;5973101]
Actually, since the sachets are 700mg each, 3 sachets (2,100mg) are approx. equal to a tube of Gastrogard (2,280mg). 3 x $1.75 = $5.25.[/QUOTE]
Well my horse (according to the pop rocks calculator) takes four sachets per day as the treatment dose. So I assumed one sachet for prevention, like 1/4 tube gastrogard.
The canadian omeprazole: http://www.horseprerace.com/stomach-medicines-c-32.html They do reprint some research business when you click on the med.
I’d love to hear from someone who is using the canadian stuff because I like ulcergard for prevention and this stuff is cheaper. I have a hard time giving my horse something (pop rocks) where I don’t know who is making it or where they are…
So I just sent an email to this pre race place to see if they will tell me where they are located and where their drugs are manufactured. Bet they won’t tell me…so then I stick with ulcergard.
I mean really, people, all it takes it one bad batch…a bunch of dead horses and you have no recourse anywhere.
Sorry to be all gloomy, but I only say it because I care.
I have a hard time giving my horse something (pop rocks) where I don’t know who is making it or where they are
Do you know exactly who is making the Canadin product and where? Or is the fact that the pop rocks are “foreign” creeping you out. Canada, of course, being non-foreign? :rolleyes: :lol: Do you know exactly who is making your Ulcerguard, for that matter? You don’t think a bad bach could happen antwhere? :lol:
The pop rocks are made in India or Vanuatu. Both actual, real places populated by actual, real humans doing actual, real business.
Naturally any of us who use anything but Good Old American stuff do so because we DON’T care. :rolleyes: Check the label on your human prescriptions some time. 
I asked about the Canadian omeprazole, but I said I would email them to find out if they would tell me where they are located and where their drugs are made. So far, no response. So I wouldn’t feed that either.
I really think you all are playing it fast and loose to save a few bucks. I didn’t say that USA is better, but I do say that knowing who you can sue in case of a whoops or a death is a good thing.
knowing who you can sue in case of a whoops or a death is a good thing.
So THAT is how you define “because I care”. OK, got it. :rolleyes:
Once again, check the labels on your generic meds.
And unless you have a clear paper trail indicating that your UG was given at the precise direction of a vet who had made a diagnosis of ulcers, good luck withbyour lawsuit. :no:
See I knew that a little reality would be the unpopular view.
Ulcergard is over the counter. I don’t need a vet’s involvement. If they screw up in manufacture and something is in it that makes my horse sick, I have recourse against them. I know where they are and in fact I know exactly where to serve papers. Not to mention the fact that Ulcergard is approved by the USDA and has gone through all of their testing protocols.
With most of the other meds you get in the US, there is a US distributer who bears the burden if there is a manufacturing defect. And most likely, there are some US controls on it (i.e. testing and quality controls that need to be met).
But aside from all that, I don’t understand the logic that thinks it is ok to give something to your horse that arrives in a plain envelope and that you don’t know where it is from just BECAUSE you think some other drugs that people take are manufactured overseas (ignoring the fact that the US generics go through testing and controls and have a responsible party). I mean “huh?” Just to save a few bucks?
I really do hope that nothing ever goes wrong with this stuff. In fact, I pray.
Prayers are always welcome and who knows when any if us might need some! :lol:
I don’t care what the shipping envelope looks like. I have done my due diligence and am personally satisfied with the product I’m buying. If your standards are different based upon your beliefs and your knowledge of pharmaceuticals and the pharmaceutical industry, well, good for you. I’ll keep paying 1/5th what you pay and sleep well with my choice and my comfort level, based on what I have taken the trouble to discover. Fair?
Sometimes being “USDA approved” (or any other USA certification) means “just more expensive” also. Doesn’t make it better.
Surpass cream here: $60
1% Diclofenac sodium creme there: $10.
Just saying.
And deltawave is correct, most of your “generic human” medicines are made internationally.
pssst… Cowgirl. Ulcergard is not approved by the USDA. It is approved by the FDA. Big difference. You may want to research some of your other statements too.
Here is a link to educate yourself, if you really are interested in educating yourself: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/default.htm
And, I do not just think some other drugs are made overseas. I have spent 14 years in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Many of those years were spent in non-US countries building the facilities and developing the processes to make the generic and RX drugs that people in the US take every day.
It’s no skin off my back if you don’t want to feed your horse one thing or another, but don’t spout off on here with incorrect information and half-truths and wild assumptions. Too many folks on here know a whole lot more on this subject than you clearly do.
really ?
[QUOTE=Cowgirl;5976496]
I asked about the Canadian omeprazole, but I said I would email them to find out if they would tell me where they are located and where their drugs are made. So far, no response. So I wouldn’t feed that either.
I really think you all are playing it fast and loose to save a few bucks. I didn’t say that USA is better, but I do say that knowing who you can sue in case of a whoops or a death is a good thing.[/QUOTE]
OK…have you called Gastrogard and asked them the same questions? I would love to hear what you find. Especially where it’s made. You may find out that they have a US based ‘company’ but the components come from suppliers, and that can change depending on cost. Not that that is ‘bad’, it’s common practice. Even humane vaccines (flu) can be from other countries.
Oh my goodness…do you really think because you use a ‘name brand’ you have a place to sue ? Remember the bigger the name the more lawyers they have. You do understand it is very expensive to hire a lawyer and with out a ton of documentation proving the horse was valuable you will not end up with much cash.
All the threads I’ve read discuss treating ulcers and/or possible ulcers with a common drug that is basically an anti acid, hardly something that will be a whoops or kill the horse.
So if a friend has a horse with ulcer symptoms yet doesn’t have $40 a day for the next 30 days should she let the horse be miserable, sell it to someone else, put it down…or…try the generic pop rock. Doing the math…generic= $5-$6 a day and name brand $40 a day (vet’s price).
I see no difference in people getting human drugs from Canada and or Mexico at a fraction of the price and in many cases it’s the exact same prescription, just not the American mark up.
