RED DEER – Like humans, some horses age gracefully while others develop a host of problems as they grow older.
New research shows horses older than 20 years of age require different care in terms of feed, water and exercise, said equine specialist Katharina Lohmann from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.
The biggest issues are proper feeding, dental checkups, routine health care and diagnosis and treatment of diseases to keep them healthy, she told the Alberta horse breeders and owners conference in Red Deer Jan. 12.
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The latest figures from the United States estimate fewer than 10 percent of the horse herd are old, but Lohmann suspects that number has risen as more people prefer to retire their horses to pasture.
“More people are more willing to let their horses live out their lives and not get rid of them when they have outlived their usefulness,” she said.
An older horse may have a sway back, greying hair, drooping lips and worn teeth and hoofs.
Older horses may have trouble maintaining weight because their teeth are worn or they suffer from a disease affecting the ability to absorb nutrients. They may have trouble swallowing or they lost status in the herd so it is harder to get to feed.
Energy requirements change little with age so a horse’s daily feed requirement is about 1.5 percent of total body weight for maintenance. However, older horses cannot digest phosphorus, fibre and protein as efficiently as younger horses.
Some older ones can’t maintain themselves on free choice hay so they may need chopped hay, a prepared feed designed for seniors or other supplementation to increase their energy intake. Prepared feeds are easier for the older horse to chew and digest.
They can also receive one to two cups of oil mixed with grain or pelleted feed to increase their energy intake. This is introduced slowly so they get used to the taste and feel.
Cold weather affects them and they need to eat more to stay warm.
The geriatric horse may have a decreased thirst sensation so they lose their desire to drink enough. Some older horses may not want to walk farther for water. They may also drink less because of tooth pain or sore gums.
They need regular dental care but complete correction of teeth is not always possible because they have less reserve crowns on the teeth. If too much tooth is removed, they cannot properly chew.
“Our objective with doing any dental correction is to always maintain the function if not necessarily to make them look nice,” she said.
As they age, older horses lose bone density and muscle mass so they have less ability to exercise even though moderate activity is good to help them improve mobility.
Chronic lameness, next to weight loss, is the most common problem seen among older horses. Even if the horse is not ridden, pay attention to its feet with proper maintenance to make it as comfortable as possible.
Being chronically lame can be painful so it is important to discuss the benefits of medication with the veterinarian.
“One has to weigh the benefits very carefully. A lot of horses do very well with pain therapy,” she said.
Alternative therapies like acupuncture or massage may help with chronic pain but there is no firm research on their effectiveness.
Conditions like equine Cushings disease, eye disease, melanomas, colic and respiratory problems are often seen among older horses.
They may develop renal diseases including stones.
Benign tumours on the thyroid may appear. These cause swelling in the throat or press against the esophagus.
Old horses have a lower immune function so it is important they have regular checkups. They should still be dewormed and vaccinated for influenza, rabies, tetanus and encephalitis.
