Odds of moderate or severe gastric ulceration in racehorses receiving antiulcer medications.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the odds of moderate or severe gastric ulceration in racehorses treated with various antiulcer medications.


METHODS
Unmatched case-control study.


METHODS
798 horses in active race training (252 Thoroughbreds and 546 Standardbreds). Only horses that had been receiving a single antiulcer medication or no antiulcer medication for at least 2 weeks prior to examination were included.


METHODS
Gastroscopy was performed on each horse by a single individual who was not aware of the horses' antiulcer treatments, and severity of gastric ulceration was scored. Signalment and medication history were recorded. Logistic regression was used to determine whether identification of moderate or severe ulceration was associated with treatment, age, breed, or sex. Treatments were grouped as no treatment, buffer, sucralfate, histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, compounded omeprazole, proprietary omeprazole at a low dosage, and proprietary omeprazole at a high dosage.


RESULTS
Only proprietary omeprazole was associated with significantly lower odds of moderate or severe ulceration, compared with no treatment. Risks of moderate or severe gastric ulceration in horses receiving a buffer, sucralfate, a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, or compounded omeprazole were not significantly different from risks in horses receiving no antiulcer medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the proprietary formulation of omeprazole was associated with a significantly lower risk of moderate or severe gastric ulceration, compared with no treatment, in racehorses in active race training, whereas other antiulcer medications were not.
Orsini
James A
JA
New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
Haddock
Marie
M
Stine
Lynne
L
Sullivan
Eileen K
EK
Rabuffo
Tara S
TS
Smith
Gary
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013177:Sports; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole