Caring for the Older Horse
Caring for the Older Horse
The Guinness Book of Records reports that ‘Old Billy’ currently holds the record for the oldest horse, living to the ripe old age of 62 years. That’s a mighty fine innings as the average lifespan of a horse is 25 to 35 years.
An older horse can be worth their weight in gold. They’ve been there, done that and can be super schoolmasters for young or beginner riders. They deserve the very best of care!
Some common issues we see in older horses:
Musculo Skeletal system – Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent disease in the world with not only our horses but dogs and humans as well. Senior horses are predisposed to joint disease especially horses that are athletic, overweight and or had a lifetime career in performance. We recommend Epiitalis Forte for performance horses of all ages, to both prevent and treat osteoarthritis.
Dental Health – Horses teeth have a large amount of reserve crown and their teeth continuously erupt throughout their lives due to their grazing habits. The most common abnormalities found in older horses is wave mouth and loss of teeth. Not enough teeth to assist in grazing and chewing can result in weight loss despite being provided with a nutritionally adequate diet. Overgrowth of the teeth results in trauma to the gums and the insides of their mouth. This can lead to pain and unwillingness to eat. Generally older horses are recommended to have a dental examination every 6 months.
Parasites – The importance of monitoring the older horse for parasite burden is paramount. They have a reduced immunity and maybe at a higher risk of increased parasites. Our vets perform faecal egg counts and will recommend appropriate treatment and ensure that the right worming regime is in place for your older horse. This helps prevent several other issues that are related to parasite burden.
Hoof Care – It is generally recommended to have your farrier attend every 6 to 8 weeks even if they are not in work. Geriatric horses will have similar hoof issues as younger horses such as stone bruises and quarter cracks. If they have a diagnosis of Equine Cushing’s Disease, they will also be more predisposed to laminitis and will require more frequent hoof care by both the farrier and vet to maintain normal hoof conformation and comfort. Laminitis is a potentially fatal disease characterised by inflammation of the soft tissues in the hoof. Clinical signs of laminitis include heat in the hooves, lameness in more than one limb, increased digital pulses and sensitivity to hoof testers. In severe cases horses are in extreme pain, are unable to walk exhibit weight loss and poor quality of life that may lead to euthanasia. Causes of laminitis include endocrine (hormonal) disorders, Systemic disease, overloading of one limb and ingestion of lush pasture.
Digestive System – Weight loss is common in geriatric horses. Some of the causes of weight loss and inability to maintain an appropriate body condition include dental issues, reduced digestion or absorption of nutrients, internal diseases and hormonal dysfunction. Geriatric horses can also succumb to gastric ulceration especially if their feeding regime is poor. Access to good pasture is best for older horses. If access to quality pasture is limited, good quality hay and a balanced geriatric feed is necessary.
We highly recommend an annual health check for all horses but especially for older horses. Dr. Libby will check your horse’s overall health including Osteoarthritic change and dental health, help you implement a senior horse diet and give you a plan to ensure your golden oldie has a good quality of life in their ‘twilight years’.