Gastroenterology

Ethically, Some Horses Should be Allowed To Use Omeprazole During Competition

Regulations around the use of omeprazole during competition should be revised on welfare grounds, argued Madeleine L. H. Campbell, BVetMed, MA, PhD, and Benjamin W. Sykes, BSc, BVMS, MS, MBA, PhD.

The rules should allow horses that were already being treated with omeprazole to continue taking the drug at least until the day of the competition rather than withholding it for 2 days, they said.

Drs. Campbell and Syke conducted the study because “inconsistencies exist across regulators regarding the use of omeprazole in competition horses.”

Regulations about using omeprazole during competition differ, as do the interests of various stakeholders of equine sports, they said. However, the welfare of the animal should be prioritized, which is why the researchers said regulators should allow omeprazole among any horses that are already taking the medication.

The researchers used Campbell’s Ethical Framework for the Use of Horses in Sport to analyze the evidence and evaluate the harm versus benefit of withholding omeprazole in horses.

The incidence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is common among competition horses, and omeprazole is a cornerstone of treatment. Withholding omeprazole for 2 days before competition to clear the medication from the horse’s system puts that horse at risk for the recurrence of squamous EGUS. However, withholding treatment only on the competition day does not increase the risk, they said.

“Prioritizing equine welfare, making evidenced-based policy, and consistent decision-making across sports are crucial to maintaining the social licence for equestrian sport,” the researchers wrote. MeV

For more information:
Campbell MLH, Sykes BW. Should the use of omeprazole be allowed during equestrian competition? Equine Vet J. July 12, 2024
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.14129