7 Common Health Problems in Senior Horses

Older horses are prone to developing horse health problems, just like older people. Although many of these problems are unavoidable, they are still treatable. The important thing is to detect these issues early on, before they become too severe. If you own an older horse, it’s important to be aware of the health problems in horses. Here are some of them:

1. Dental Issues

As they age, horses tend to develop issues with their dental health. Years of uneven grinding can result in uneven wearing of the teeth, loose molars, and incredibly sharp points. Your horse may also experience abrasions in the tongue and cheeks, which could result in difficulty eating and eventually, weight loss. If you notice that your horse has been spitting out food that it’s chewed up partially or is dribbling grain, make sure you have a vet check for dental issues. And it’s crucial that you arrange for a vet to do a dental exam on your horse at least once every year. If your horse has any missing teeth, the exams should occur more often.

2. Arthritis

Although arthritis isn’t just an issue among older horses, the condition tends to worsen with age. You’ll find that most horses that are older than 20 will have some arthritis. The reason for this is because the proteoglycans in the cartilage such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate decrease as they age, causing wear and tear on cartilage and joints Additionally, horses lose muscle mass as they age, making their tendons and ligaments weaker. This will then negatively impact the joints because the tissues help in stabilizing the joints to prevent abnormal movements. Light exercises are crucial for preventing and alleviating arthritis symptoms. If possible, let your horse graze all day in the pasture. And if your horse is overweight, you should start managing its weight to prevent excess weight from straining its joints.

3. Equine Cushing’s Disease

Another common health problem among older horses is equine Cushing’s disease. This is a result of a portion of the pituitary gland being overactive, and is normally seen in horses that are around 20 years old. A horse that has Cushing’s disease may drink excessively and urinate excessively and may even have a pot belly. And if the horse has a long, wavy coat, it may not shed during summer. Horses with Cushing’s disease may also have a weakened immune system, and they are predisposed to other conditions such as laminitis. They may have recurrent infections that have no probable cause. Your vet will need to do several blood tests to diagnose the condition. Although there is no cure for it, there are medications that can help manage it.

4. Weight Issues

It’s extremely common for older horses to have trouble maintaining a healthy weight. As mentioned earlier, dental issues can prevent a horse from eating properly and thus maintaining a healthy weight. Even if there isn’t trouble with the teeth, other unrecognized pain such as abscess or pain in the jaw can be the cause. But aside from these, there could also be other reasons why your horse isn’t gaining weight. There may be decreased saliva production that makes it difficult for them to swallow their food. Older horses may also experience trouble producing enough stomach acid that helps with digestion. This poor digestion issue can result in weight loss because the essential nutrients aren’t getting absorbed effectively. Some older horses may even experience bullying from younger horses. This can stress them out and cause them to develop stomach ulcers. If you keep your older horses in a herd, they may also fail to compete effectively for food, so they may not be eating enough. You should consider feeding your horse supplements that can facilitate weight gain.

5. Eye Issues

Older horses may also experience eye problems due to age-related bodily changes. The good news is that these problems do not necessarily evolve into full blindness. Some older horses may develop a mild case of cataracts, which doesn’t cause complete cloudiness, but affects a small portion of lens opacity. It’s also common among older horses to experience changes in their retinas. There may be pigmentation changes affecting the back of the eye. While this may not necessarily be a huge problem, the horse may have difficulty seeing in low light. It’s important to have a vet check your horse for any signs of vision problems.

6. Laminitis

Laminitis is a condition that even younger horses can develop. However, it tends to be more common in older horses. As mentioned earlier, older horses afflicted with Cushing’s disease are at an increased risk of developing laminitis. Additionally, horses with chronic obesity and metabolic disease also have an increased risk of developing this condition. When horses have laminitis, the soft tissues in the hoof become inflamed. This can result in extreme pain and an inability to walk. The horse may also experience weight loss and a general drop in its quality of life. In some cases, the symptoms grow so severe that the horse ends up requiring euthanasia. Laminitis occurs in the form of increased digital pulses, heat in the hooves, sensitivity to hoof testers, and lameness affecting more than one limb. The condition is normally diagnosed through radiographs and clinical presentation.

7. Recurrent Airway Obstruction

Heaves, also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), is not a specific problem among older horses. However, poor management of the condition can have a serious impact on a senior horse. RAO is caused by an allergy to particles that have been inhaled such as mold spores and dust. The milder cases may show up in the form of an occasional dry cough.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common horse health problems that you should look out for in older horses. As mentioned earlier, some of the conditions are easily treatable if detected early. And even the conditions that cannot be treated can still be manageable through medications and exercises. Got any more questions about horse health problems? Feel free to get in touch with us.