Painkillers and Gastric Ulcers in Horses

If you've ever given the common oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone (Bute) to a horse, you've probably been warned that it can cause stomach (gastric) ulcers if you give too much or give it for too long. Thus, there's always interest in pain-relieving medications for horses that work while causing less gastric irritation or none at all.

Suxibuzone is a medication often given to horses because the horse's body converts it to phenylbutazone, theoretically giving it all the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of phenylbutazone while minimizing stomach irritation. However, a study presented at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 6-10 in Las Vegas, Nev., might have disproved that theory, at least for recommended dosages.

Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, director of the Equine Health Studies Program at Louisiana State University, reported that for the study, 18 horses were housed in stalls, fed sweet feed and hay twice daily, and given omeprazole for eight days before anti-inflammatory medication was given to reduce any pre-existing ulcer scores. Horses were then divided into three groups for a 15-day medication period