1. Veterinary Gastrafate is better, firstly, because no other sucralfate product has a mucosal-presence greater than Gastrafate, 7-23 fold concentration per square cm of mucosa. 

2. Secondly, as a direct result of enhanced mucosal presence, lower doses (one-tenth to one-sixth) are required; lower sucralfate doses = lower aluminum burden.  

Enhanced Mucosal Presence:  

Animal Testing of Bandage Effect of Gastrafate vs Carafate Suspension

Muco-adherence of sucralfate to the GI tract has been studied in the past (1,2,3). The muco-adherence of veterinary Gastrafate was studied in rabbits.  In rabbits with acetic-acid induced mucosal erosions (in upper GI and lower GI tract), the 3-hour post-dose surface concentration of Gastrafate™   exceeded that of Carafate by 23 fold on acid-injured mucosa and by 7 fold on normal un-injured mucosa.   Rabbits with acetic acid-induced erosion of the pharyngeal, esophageal and gastric mucosa, were given a single 14 mg per kg dose of either (Carafate) sucralfate suspension (n=3) or Gastrafate™   (n =3) then euthanized 3 hours later.  One cm  square samples of ulcerated and non-ulcerated mucosa were evaluated for the surface concentration of sucralfate by atomic absorption of adherent aluminum. Sucralfate from  Gastrafate™  concentrated on the mucosa much better than generic (Carafate) suspensions at a rate of 23 times more on acid injured  mucosa and 7 times more on normal un-injured  mucosa. 

Gastrafate™    provides a substantial “ bandage effect”, being adherent to both normal and acid-injured mucosa in concentrations multiple folds of that of Carafate.   Gastrafate™   sticks to the pharynx, the esophagus, the stomach and colon well enough to provide a good measure of clinical benefit to animals  suffering from painful mucosal erosions or from mucosal inflammation in the case of the colon in those with colonic diarrhea (colitis).
References: (1). Giesing DH, Bighley LD, Iles RL: Effect of food and antacid on binding of sucralfate to normal and ulcerated gastric and duodenal mucosa in rats.  J Clin Gastroenterol 3(Suppl 2): 111-116, 1981. (2)  Dobrozsi DJ, Smith RL, Sakr AA: Comparative mucoretention of sucralfate suspensions in an everted rat esophagus model. Intl J Pharma 189: 81-89, 1999. (3)  Vaira D, Corbelli C. Brunetti G, et al Gastric retention of sucralfate gel and suspension in upper gastrointestinal diseases.  Aliment Pharmacol Ther 7(5): 531-5, Oct 1993.

Decrease  Exposure of Horses, Dogs and Cats to Sucralfate

Because Gastrafate achieves higher sucralfate surface concentration in comparison to generic sucralfate suspensions of identical formulary strength, less total dose of sucralfate is required in treating symptomatic mucosal disruption in horses, dogs and cats.   

Additionally, high potency of Gastrafate^® assures the lowest possible exposure to the aluminum associated with sucralfate  use, which is a healthier, safer option for these companion animals.  With Gastrafate^® functional mucosal syndromes in a 455kg horse can be effectively treated with 6 grams of sucralfate per day versus  50 grams per day. That is, the standard dose of generic sucralfate for  a 455kg horse is 3-4 doses of sucralfate dosed at 30mg per kg for a total daily dose of 41-55 grams. On average, the Gastrafate^®  dose of sucralfate for the same horse is 2 doses of sucralfate at 6.6mg per kg for a total daily dose of 6 grams. Gastrafate^®  is a safer in terms of limiting aluminum exposure when treating horses with  functional GI syndromes of colic, hyperalgesia, ileus, distention and diarrhea due to mucosal disruption.

As with horses, so also with  smaller companion animals like dogs and cats. Using high potency Gastrafate^® assures the lowest possible exposure to aluminum and is thereby healthier and safer for the pet. In a 7kg pet  sucralfate is dosed at 14.5  to  29mg per kg per dose  for 4 doses per day for a total daily dose of 406 to 812 mg of sucralfate. With Gastrafate^®  the same pet requires ony 2 doses of sucralfate dosed at 8.8 mg per kg per dose for a total daily dose of 123 mg. Gastrafate^®  is clearly a safer option for dogs and cats in terms of limiting aluminum exposure when treating functional GI syndromes of food avoidance, GI pain (hyperalgesia), vomiting, diarrhea, ileus or distention arising from mucosal disruption.