The Impact of Two Recommended Withholding Periods for Omeprazole and the Use of a Nutraceutical Supplement on Recurrence of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Thoroughbred Racehorses.
Authors: Shan Ran, Steel Catherine M, Sykes Ben
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Omeprazole Withdrawal Protocols and EGUS Recurrence in Racing Thoroughbreds Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) represents a significant welfare concern in racehorses, yet the optimal strategy for managing treatment cessation remains unclear. Ran and colleagues conducted a blinded, randomised clinical trial comparing two industry-standard omeprazole withdrawal protocols in Thoroughbred racehorses: one involving two clear days without medication (RWP2) and an alternative 'not on race-day' approach (RWP0). Using gastroscopy to assess equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) before and after each withdrawal period, they found that the two-clear-days protocol resulted in significantly higher rates of ulcer recurrence compared to the race-day protocol (p = 0.012), with prevalence returning to baseline levels. A secondary intervention involving a nutraceutical supplement administered during the two-clear-days withdrawal period showed promise in reducing recurrence, with post-treatment prevalence lower than baseline (p = 0.046). These findings suggest that current industry guidelines may not adequately protect racehorses from ulcer relapse, and the choice of withdrawal protocol—or supplementary management during that window—substantially impacts recurrence rates and animal welfare.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •The '2-clear-days' omeprazole withholding period may increase gastric ulcer recurrence risk in racehorses compared to avoiding treatment on race days—consider withholding strategies carefully with veterinarians
- •Nutraceutical supplementation during the withholding period shows promise for reducing ulcer recurrence and may warrant inclusion in post-treatment management protocols
- •Omeprazole withholding period selection has direct welfare implications for racehorses; current recommended practices may need revision based on this evidence
Key Findings
- •More horses developed ESGD after a '2-clear-days' withholding period (RWP2) compared to 'not on race-day' withholding period (p = 0.012)
- •ESGD prevalence post-RWP2 did not differ significantly from baseline (p = 0.478), suggesting no recovery benefit from this withholding period
- •Nutraceutical supplement administered during RWP2 reduced ESGD prevalence compared to baseline (p = 0.046)
- •Withholding period strategy significantly impacts EGUS recurrence rates in Thoroughbred racehorses post-treatment