A horse is a horse of course

That's my daughter, Andrea and her son, Brayden on our good buddy and faithful friend, Levi.  Actually his name was 'He's Foxy in Levi's'.  My two girls, Andrea and Sierra, showed Levi in 4-H for several years, then he became my buddy.  He and I rode miles around Fort Scott Lake, Rock Creek and Slick Rock.  A few years ago, I diagnosed him with Navicular disease.  A year later after a 2 week bout of colic, I was forced to put him down.  It was a cold night in January, that I lay on the ground with him, sick that I could not fix what ailed him.  My daughters and I lost a good friend that night.  Levi was 20 years young.

This being Senior Pet Care Month, I thought it only fitting to include information about our Senior horses.  For many of us, our horses are not just recreation and  working animals, they are our pets and a member of our family.  Over the years I have spent a great deal of time in the barn, talking to my equine buddy about my worries, troubles and joys.  Ever good listeners and never judgmental, I have received good therapeutic and emotional support from my horses.

In general, most people consider a horse a senior citizen around 18 years.  Some individuals age more quickly than others; genetics, degree of preventative care, good nutrition, etc., all influence how a horse ages.  As a horse ages, their bodies go through a number of physical changes as do other creatures, even us.  The gastrointestinal tract, heart, immune system and other body systems may not function as well as they did when your horse was young.

 Often one of the first signs of aging is a dip in the back, with the withers more prominent, due to a weakening of the supraspinous ligament that supports the back.  Some will loose muscle mass as well, even in the face of good nutrition.

Weaker muscles, tendon and ligamental strength, along with poor hair coat, slower shedding of winter coat could be a sign of equine Cushing's disease, which can predispose your horse to laminitis (founder).

One of the most common problems I see in aging horses is poor teeth.  Horse's teeth continually push up form the root to make up for wear from chewing.  They also elongate and angle forward with age.  Molars may develop hooks and ridges with sharp points that can interfere with their ability to grind and chew food.  Weight loss may result from your horse's inablity to properly chew his food.  It is important to have your horse's teeth checked by a veterinarian 1-2 times a year.

Another common problem with older horses is orthopedic problems such as arthritis, especially if they have had an very athletic career.  Wear and tear on joints and cartilage and ligaments can be problematic.  Good farrier care can help reduce stress on joints and alleviate some of the strain.

Most of us think of arthritis in the feet and legs of horses, but arthritis can occur in the neck as well and may cause secondary problems of the back and spinal chord.  Pinched nerves of the neck and back can be noted clinically as muscle atrophy along the back, and neurological signs such as difficulty walking or picking up their feet.

Another common problem I see are horses that are impossible to keep weight on.  Teeth could be an issue, but it can also may be poor gut effeciency.  Often we add a higher fat content to their diet, however for some this is not enough.  Some may no longer be able to handle high forage diets and develop chronic diarrhea.  Chronic parasitism from intestinal worms can also be an issue, which is why you should have a good de-worming protocol established for your senior horse. It is good practice to submit a fecal sample to your veterinary lab for a fecal count exam, so that your veterinarian can recommend the proper de-wormer for you horse.

Poorer nutritional absorption, a more sluggish gut motility, insufficient water intake, increased parasite load and g.i. tumors can all predispose the older horses to colic.  Motility issues may cause impactions, especially in the lower gut.

As your horse ages, his immune system is often not as efficient at protecting him from disease.  As with all viruses, the animals most affected are the very young and the very old that have poorer immune systems.  Even if your horse never leaves the farm, he is still susceptible to many common bacterial and viral infections, many of which we vaccinate for regularly, such as tetanus, Equine encephalitis and West Nile.  Talk to your veterinarian about which vaccines you should be providing your horse.

Your keen observations are vital to your horses welfare, but in addition to this a good physical exam and blood chemistry work-up will go a long way in insuring your horse lives a long and comfortable life.