Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Use of omeprazole and maropitant in dogs at a veterinary hospital
By McCormack, Rachel et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2020·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prospective observational study of the use of omeprazole and maropitant citrate in veterinary specialist care.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in a veterinary hospital were given omeprazole, a medication for stomach ulcers, and maropitant citrate, an anti-nausea drug, even when they showed no signs of stomach issues. The study found that many dogs received these medications without clear reasons, and the vets often didn't realize the costs associated with them. It seems that both drugs are considered safe, but they might be overprescribed, which could lead to unnecessary expenses and potential side effects. This highlights the importance of careful prescribing practices in veterinary care.
People also search for: dog stomach ulcer treatment · omeprazole for dogs side effects · maropitant citrate for dog nausea
Abstract
The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole is administered to dogs with gastroduodenal ulceration or oesophagitis, whereas the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist maropitant citrate is licensed as an antiemetic drug. In people, omeprazole is overprescribed in hospitals, increasing the risk of adverse effects and imposing unnecessary costs in healthcare. To investigate the use of omeprazole and maropitant in our veterinary specialist hospital, we conducted a prospective observational study in its Medicine and Surgery wards, recording patient data and obtaining contemporaneous information from clinicians about their reasons for administering either drug. In doing so, we find omeprazole and maropitant are administered to a large proportion of dogs, including to many of those with no presenting signs suggestive of gastrointestinal disease. We find prescribing clinicians consider both drugs safe but often underestimate their financial cost. We find the stated reasons and objective predictors of administration of both drugs vary according to clinical setting but that these modalities yield concordant results. Reviewing the manner of administration and stated indications for use of both drugs, we find omeprazole is often administered outside dosing recommendations, and both drugs are frequently administered for aims that are unlikely to be achieved when considering their known biological effects in dogs. In conclusion, our work reveals probable overprescribing of omeprazole and maropitant citrate in hospitalised dogs, highlighting a need for initiatives to decrease inappropriate prescribing.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32978503/