AQHA Members: Don’t Let Equine Stomach Ulcers Slow You, Down Take Advantage of Free ULCERGARD® (omeprazole) Trial Program

You’ve been putting your best foot forward all year and with the biggest shows of the 2013 season just around the corner, there’s not a single detail you want to leave to chance. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of Merial’s ULCERGARD Trial Program. You can stop by the Merial booth at selected horse shows and talk with representatives to learn more about equine stomach ulcers and the only proven and FDA-approved way to prevent them. First-time visitors can receive a free trial of ULCERGARD, and those who have previously visited can receive a free syringe.

The ULCERGARD Trial Program booth and Merial representatives will be at the following shows:

AQHA Region One Championship Show Aug. 13 – 18

AQHA Region Five Championship Show Aug. 23 – 26

AQHA Select World Championship Show Aug. 23 – 31

SmartPak AQHA Novice Championships West Oct. 2 – 6

Nutrena® AQHA Novice Championships East Oct. 1 – 6

AQHA Adequan® World Championship Show Nov. 9 – 23

Note: Merial will not have a booth at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Here are five important facts all horse owners should know about equine stomach ulcers:

ALL horses are susceptible to equine stomach ulcers because of the anatomy of their stomachs.

Horses are herbivores by nature, with small stomachs in relation to their size.1 In fact, their stomachs can only hold approximately four gallons.1 This anatomy was ideal for the way horses originally ate in the wild as it accommodated many small meals daily. These days, domesticated horses are often subjected to infrequent, low roughage feedings resulting in the stomach being empty most of the time. Combine that with the fact that horses secrete acid 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the stage has been set for the development of equine stomach ulcers.

Two out of three nonracing performance horses have equine stomach ulcers.2

The incidence of stomach ulcers is even higher in racehorses, exceeding 90 percent in some cases.3 Nationwide gastroscopy events hosted by Merial have confirmed the prevalence of ulcers in nonracing horses. During those events, more than half of cutting, barrel racing, western pleasure, hunter jumper and show jumping horses that were examined by gastroscopy were diagnosed with stomach ulcers.4

Horses may be stressed by everyday situations that seem normal to us, including:

• Trailering

• Light training

• Short-term travel

• Competition, including weekend shows or events.5

 

Signs of stomach ulcers in horses include:

• Poor performance5

• Decreased appetite2

• Recurrent colic5

• Poor body condition5

ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) are the only products proven and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to prevent5 and treat6 equine stomach ulcers, respectively.

Both ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD contain a patented formulation of omeprazole, which suppresses acid production in a horse’s stomach. These products have been through the rigorous FDA approval process, which means they are:

• Safe and effective in the target animal

• Manufactured according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)

• Manufactured in facilities inspected and approved by the FDA

• Continuously tested for stability

• Advertised and promoted with labeling that has been approved by the FDA

• Monitored for adverse events.7

 

“We began the ULCERGARD Trial Program five years ago to share this important information with horse owners and give them an opportunity to try ULCERGARD for free,” says Beckie Peskin, senior equine product manager, Merial. “Through the program, we’ve been able to talk directly to tens of thousands of horse owners, helping them understand how ulcers can impact their horses’ overall health and performance.”

For more information about ULCERGARD, visit www.ulcergard.com. For more information about GASTROGARD, visit www.gastrogard.com.

About Merial

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 6,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2012 sales were $2.8 billion.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Caution: Safety of GASTROGARD in pregnant or lactating mares has not been determined.

ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.

®ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2013 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIUGD1327 (06/13)

1Tufts University. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Learn more about gastric ulcers. Available at: http://vet.tufts.edu.sports/ulcers.html. Accessed June 13, 2013.

2Mitchell RD. Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. Association for Equine Sports Medicine, September 2001.

3Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FS, Gross SJ. Factors associated with gastric lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 1996;28:368-374.

4Data on file at Merial.

5ULCERGARD product label.

6GASTROGARD product label.

7Animal Health Institute and American Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Distributors Association. Veterinary Compounding. Available at: http://www.aaep.org/siteadmin/modules/page_editor/images/files/AHI%20Compounding.pdf. Accessed June 13, 2013.