The Effect of Oral Omeprazole on Third Compartment pH in Clinically Normal Alpacas

Principal investigator:

Jennifer Lynn Johnson
University of Minnesota

Third compartment ulcers are a serious medical condition in stressed and sick camelids. Therefore, it is critical to the health of the camelid for ulcers to be treated quickly and effectively. The easiest way to treat ulcers is through the use of orally administered anti-ulcer medications. Previous work has shown that many of the anti-ulcer medications used in veterinary medicine, such as ranitidine and cimetidine, are ineffective in altering gastric pH in camelids. Research in dromedary camels showed that omeprazole, currently marketed for horses as Gastro Gard has detectable blood levels when administered orally. To date, there is no published research evaluating the effect of omeprazole on gastric pH. It is the goal of this research to determine the effects of orally administered omeprazole on gastric pH in healthy alpacas.