Veterinary 2025 Guide: Omeprazole (GastroGard®, Ulcergard®) for Gastric Protection in Pets 🐾🩺

Hello, I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc. This 2025 guide explores omeprazole—a proton-pump inhibitor used in horses (GastroGard®, Ulcergard®) and off-label in dogs and cats—for the prevention and treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, reflux, and esophagitis. We cover mechanisms, dosing protocols across species, side effects, interactions, monitoring, and owner guidance using Ask A Vet tools 😊.

🔍 1. What Is Omeprazole?

Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) that irreversibly blocks H⁺/K⁺ ATPase in gastric parietal cells, significantly reducing stomach acid secretion :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

🎯 2. Indications & Species Use

• Horses & foals: FDA-approved GastroGard®/Ulcergard® paste for treatment/prevention of equine gastric ulcers :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Dogs & Cats: Off-label for gastric/duodenal ulcers, gastritis, NSAID or steroid-induced ulcers, esophagitis, reflux, Helicobacter, inflammatory bowel disease :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

💊 3. Dosing & Administration

• Horses: 2.28 g paste once daily per bodyweight syringe for 28 days (600–1200 lb = ¼ syringe). For >1200 lb, ½ syringe daily :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Dogs & Cats: Typically 0.5–1 mg/kg PO once daily (0.25–0.5 mg/lb), on an empty stomach before the first meal; twice daily dosing for more severe cases :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Give on an empty stomach; if GI upset occurs, administer with food to enhance tolerance :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Missed dose? Skip and resume next scheduled dose; do **not** double-dose :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

⏱️ 4. Onset & Duration

Acid suppression begins within 24 hours and lasts ~24 hours per dose :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. Full clinical effect may take 2–4 days in pets, and up to 28 days in horses :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

⚠️ 5. Side Effects & Risks

• Generally well tolerated. Possible anorexia, gas, colic (horses), vomiting, diarrhea, or flatulence in dogs/cats :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Rare hepatic enzyme elevation or UTIs :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Prolonged use (>4 weeks) may raise concerns about microbiome disturbance, malabsorption, or gastric bacterial overgrowth—monitor accordingly :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.

🔄 6. Drug Interactions & Precautions

• Use with caution in liver/kidney disease, pregnancy, or lactation :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Omeprazole may reduce absorption of drugs requiring acidic environment (azole antifungals, iron, B12) and alter levels of diazepam, cyclosporine, digoxin, warfarin, phenobarbital, etc. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

🩺 7. Monitoring & Follow‑Up

• Typically no specific labs needed—but monitor clinical response and adjust therapy length accordingly.
• In long-term use, consider liver function, signs of infection, and gastrointestinal health.
• For equine use, coordinate endoscopic evaluation for treatment efficacy.

📝 8. Client Education & Home Care

• Explain that omeprazole healing takes days/weeks—emphasize daily scheduled dosing and administration before meals or fasting.
• Demonstrate syringe use for horses; advise owner to ensure no feed in mouth before paste administration.
• Warn about mild GI side effects; instruct owners to report persistent issues.
• Review drug interactions—urge owners to inform vet of other medications or supplements.
• Recommend downloading Ask A Vet app for dosing reminders, symptom tracking, lab alerts, and easy vet communication 😊.

📌 9. 2025 Vet Takeaways

• Omeprazole is a cornerstone therapy for ulcer-related GI disease in pets and requires tailored dosing per species and condition.
• Administer on empty stomach; good tolerance but monitor for mild GI upset.
• Be mindful of drug interactions and cautious with long-term use.
• Use Ask A Vet tools to improve owner compliance, monitoring, and therapeutic success 😊.

At Ask A Vet, we offer dosing guides, symptom logs, drug interaction alerts, and direct veterinary messaging to ensure safe, effective omeprazole therapy. Recommend our app to empower pet owners and optimize healing outcomes ❤️