I’m curious to see what others use and how much/how may does/how often at a horse show/traveling. I’m sure many follow the advice of their vet, but I’m noticing everyone seems to do it differently. Some I know give one whole tube of Ulcerguard once per day, others give one dose twice per day…Thank you!
Ulcerguard is Omeprazole. It’s a PPI. It doesn’t treat ulcers, but provides a better, less acidic environment for ulcers to calm down and heal, by shutting down acid production.
If you’re concerned about ulcers but don’t have a confirmed case, or you’d like a good daily preventative, start with Purina Outlast or Tribute Constant Comfort. Personally, my horses have liked the latter, better.
During periods of high stress, like a show, I’d give the recommended dose of Gastroguard, 1/4-1/2 tube daily, starting at least 4 days prior to the day you trailer out. You can give up to a full tube daily at the show or if you suspect there’s an issue.
There is evidence that lower dosages of Omeprazole are just as effective as larger ones. Personally, I want the drug to work when I give it, so I keep the dosage as small as possible, and keep the trial as short as possible.
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Sorry. when I read the title, my first thought was, “for me or my horse?”
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For those with histories of ulcers, Ulcerguard (1/4 to 1 tube/day depending on weight/history) starting 4 days out, continuing until two days after return home.
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Yes, but a whole tube is called a “treatment dose.”
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I’ve been on the drug myself. It doesn’t heal the ulcers, it provides a less acidic environment to allow the ulcers to heal. The public understand the word “treatment” and the drug is used as part of a treatment plan, but the drug itself isn’t what heals the ulcers. It just provides a better environment for them to heal on their own.
I have my horses who compete on Purina Outlast and feed it with each meal (2x’s a day). I usually start 3-4 days before I plan to haul out long distances (I haul out weekly for lessons just 4 miles down the road) for a show or clinic adding compounded omeprazole to my guys’ feed once a day, usually in the mornings and continue throughout the stressful ‘event’ until one day after arriving home. This has changed and improved the situation for one of my horses significantly. The other horse is not as prone to ‘internalizing’ stress but he’s on it to be safe.
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I understand. I was on it for years (Nexium. But mine ended up being duodenal ulcers due to Celiac, so not on it anymore). I just wanted the OP to understand that vets use the term “treatment” dose for a whole tube, not 1/4 tube which is the “maintenance” dose.
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I use a 1/4 dose the day before leaving and continue for the next 3 doses if it’s 2-day show. I only show local. My mare is prone to diarrhea when stressed and this works for her.
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Have to admit, I came here thinking the same thing. (Sorry, OP!)
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What’s the rationale for continuing for two days after returning home?
What’s the rationale for forcing a horse who suffers digestive upsets from stress to go into stressful situations and not only endure them but COMPETE?
Please be joking… please be joking… please be joking…
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Huh? I’m asking about continuing after returning home… of course it makes sense to provide support during the stressful period [of competition]. But presumably being back in your stall at home would not be stressful. So why continue omeprazole for two days at home?
There are risks to the drug which should be considered, so, as someone who gives omeprazole during competition weekends, but discontinues as soon as is possible (always tapering if not already on the lowest dose), I’m wondering if there is a benefit that I’m missing to continuing for several days after.
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When they are gone for 3 days+, the sensitive souls take a day or two to settle back into their home routine. I find this is especially true with my stallions, who seem concerned that something awful may have happened while they weren’t there watching over things 
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Gotcha, thank you!
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I do a treatment dose for my ulcer prone horse each day. The other one used to get nothing until she had a trailer accident that made trailering stressful for her. She gets a maintenance dose on days we are trailering.
at least a few quarts of a good Bourbon per day was my thought
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