Omeprazole

Omeprazole In Dogs & Cats: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

• Proton-pump inhibitor.

Uses of Omeprazole

• Omeprazole is utilized in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, oesophagitis, and hypersecretory conditions resulting from gastrinoma (Zollinger–Ellison syndrome) or mast cell neoplasia.
• When administered before surgery, omeprazole can lower the occurrence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in dogs during anaesthesia.

Dose of Omeprazole in Dogs and Cats

Dogs:

• All uses: 0.5–1.5 mg/kg i.v., p.o. q12–24h for a maximum of 8 weeks.

Cats:

• All uses: 0.75–1 mg/kg p.o. q24h for a maximum of 8 weeks.

Side Effects of Omeprazole in Dogs and Cats

• Prolonged acid suppression has induced hypergastrinemia in laboratory animals, resulting in mucosal cell hyperplasia, rugal hypertrophy, and the emergence of carcinoids.
• Treatment for a maximum of 8 weeks is advised.
• However, these issues have not been documented in companion animals.
• Adverse effects can encompass nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, skin rashes, and tooth fractures.
• An intravenous form of rabeprazole can trigger pulmonary oedema in dogs at elevated doses.

Contraindications of Omeprazole in Dogs and Cats

• No information is available.

Some Notes:

• Omeprazole may enhance the effects of phenytoin.
• There is a risk of interaction with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, clopidogrel, digoxin and itraconazole.
• Gastrogard is approved for use in equids, but its formulation (370 mg/g paste) makes it impractical for accurate dosing in small animals.
• Medications like Lansoprazole, rabeprazole, and pantoprazole are similar to omeprazole but do not offer any known clinical advantages.
• Esomeprazole, on the other hand, is a newer preparation containing only the active isomer of omeprazole.
• Studies have indicated that omeprazole leads to mild increases in gastric pH in canines, and these effects are significantly more pronounced than those produced by famotidine, cimetidine, or ranitidine.
• Administering omeprazole twice daily raises intragastric pH sufficiently to suggest potential therapeutic benefits for acid-related conditions when evaluated using criteria employed for human patients. However, once-daily administration does not yield the same results.