Horse Owners Can Save on Equine Health Care Essentials With New Merial Website Featuring One-Stop Rebates

With rising feed and fuel prices and a weak economy, saving on equine health care can provide some relief to horse owners’ pocketbooks. At the brand new MerialEquineRebates.com, horse owners will find rebate coupons for significant savings on ULCERGARD® (omeprazole), GASTROGARD® (omeprazole), MERIAL® brand vaccines, ZIMECTERIN® (ivermectin) brand products and EQUIOXX® (firocoxib).

“We know horse owners have significant investments, both emotionally and financially, in their horses,” says Beckie Peskin, Senior Product Manager, equine, Merial. “Through this site, we’ve streamlined the rebate process by having all of the money-saving offers in one place. A new rebate redemption house is also going to make the entire process quicker.”

The website features considerable rebate offers and information about the following:

ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD

Training, travel and competition can put any horse at risk for equine stomach ulcers.1,2 In fact, a study has shown that two out of three horses have stomach ulcers.1

ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD are the only proven and FDA-approved products to prevent and treat equine stomach ulcers, respectively. “There are other products on the market claiming to prevent and/or treat equine stomach ulcers,” says Peskin. “Horse owners should be extremely wary of such claims as they simply aren’t true. Ultimately, the most expensive ulcer product is the one that doesn’t work, so it makes sense to use a proven product.”

EQUIOXX

Managing the joint pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis is important to all horse owners, but especially to those whose horses compete. EQUIOXX (the paste formulation) is the only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory approved for use up to 14 consecutive days by the American Quarter Horse Association3 and the United States Equestrian Federation, when given at the recommended dose with a 12-hour withdrawal time prior to competing.4 Traditional NSAIDs are only approved for a maximum of five days in these types of events.3,4

ZIMECTERIN® Gold (ivermectin/praziquantel)

Treating horses for parasites, including tapeworms, is critical to maintaining overall horse health. Studies have shown that parasites have developed resistance to certain commonly used anthelmintic classes,5 so it’s important to use the right product at the right time. ZIMECTERIN Gold controls more species and stages of parasites than any other dewormer, including tapeworms.*6,7 For more information about strategic deworming practices, visit rethinkdeworming.com.

MERIAL Brand Vaccines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends that horse owners vaccinate to help protect their horses against tetanus, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus and rabies.8 Merial’s RECOMBITEK® rWNV-EWT helps protect against the first four, and Merial’s IMRAB® vaccine helps protect horses against rabies.

“We’re excited to offer horse owners the opportunity to save on these products, which are essential for good equine health care,” says Peskin. “We think they will find the site easy to use and the rebate process far quicker than it has been in the past.”

To learn more and start enjoying savings, go to MerialEquineRebates.com.

*Anoplocephala perfoliata

ULCERGARD:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

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

GASTROGARD:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

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

EQUIOXX:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

As with any prescription medication, prior to use, a veterinarian should perform a physical examination and review the horse’s medical history. A veterinarian should advise horse owners to observe for signs of potential drug toxicity. As a class, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be associated with gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal toxicity. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or nephrotoxic medication should be avoided. EQUIOXX has not been tested in horses less than 1 year of age or in breeding horses, or pregnant or lactating mares. For additional information, please refer to the prescribing information or visit www.equioxx.com.

ZIMECTERIN:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Not for use in humans. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. In horses, there have been rare reports of swelling and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue following administration of ZIMECTERIN Gold. These reactions have been transitory in nature. Do not use in other animal species as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result.

®MERIAL, ULCERGARD, GASTROGARD, ZIMECTERIN, EQUIOXX, IMRAB and RECOMBITEK are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2013 Merial Limited. Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUILGN1327 (07/13)

1Mitchell RD. Prevalence of gastric ulcers in hunter/jumper and dressage horses evaluated for poor performance. Association for Equine Sports Medicine. September 2001.

2McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005;227(5):775-777.

3American Quarter Horse Association. Show rules and regulations. Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations. Available at: aqha.com/Resources/Handbook/Violations/VIO400-404-Therapeutic-Medication-Addendum.aspx. Accessed April 3, 2013.

4United States Equestrian Federation. Drugs and Medications Guidelines. 2013:6-7. Available at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/DrugsMedsGuidelines2013.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2013.

5Kaplan RM, et al. Prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant cyathostomes on horse farms. JAVMA. 2004;225(6):903-910.

6Based on data provided on the ZIMECTERIN Gold product label.

7Based on data provided in FDA Freedom of Information summaries.

8American Association of Equine Practitioners. Core Vaccination Guidelines. Available at: www.aaep.org/core_vaccinations.htm. Accessed July 9, 2013.