Omeprazole is widely considered to be the gold standard when it comes to treating gastric ulcers in horses. It is often supplemented with sucralfate & or probiotics to increase the effectiveness of this ulcer treatment.

Contrary to popular opinion, it's not necessary to get a vet's prescription for omeprazole and there are some affordable options available online.

How to find the best horse omeprazole available

Active ingredients:

It goes without saying, but make sure you check that the active ingredient is omeprazole. Some ulcer treatments masquerade as 'medication' but actually contain ingredients like activated charcoal instead of omeprazole.

Cost:

There is a vast range of pricing for equine omeprazole - and often this comes down to brand names.

Based on a 28 day treatment plan for a 500kg horse,  some treatments cost as much as $1200 - and that doesnt even cover the cost of vet consultation.

Others, like AbPrazole - cost approximately $180 and there's no vet consultation needed.

Accessibility:

Unlike many other brands of horse omeprazole - you're able to order AbPrazole online without a prescription.

This makes it much easier for those in remote areas - that have trouble getting access to veterinarians.

How does omeprazole work?

Omeprazole works by inhibiting the action of the proton pumps and this reduces the production of the horse's stomach acid.

Omeprazole only needs to be administered once a day.

Gastric ulcers can be notoriously slow to heal - and a treatment dose of 28 days is recommended. This gives the horse's gastric ulcers a chance to heal - before they may or may not continue on a maintenance dose for another 30 days.

The effectiveness of omeprazole can be increased with the addition of probiotics and sucralfate. You can read about this treatment combination for gastric ulcers here.