Powered by Google

Sorry, something went wrong and the translator is not available.

Sorry, something went wrong with the translation request.

loading Translating

 
Senior Horse Care
Revised: November 27, 2017
Published: October 22, 2007

Lots of senior horses need extra medical care. Dr. Earl Vaughn indicates they have decreased immunity compared to younger horses. Consequently, they cannot fight off disease as well so it is important to make sure they are vaccinated completely.

It is also a good idea, if possible, to keep your older horses in a separate area from young horses that are being hauled to shows.  Older horses can also be more susceptible to parasites and many of the dewormers sold over the counter in the feed stores are no longer effective in Texas.  For this reason, it is important to have your veterinarian check the level of parasitism in your horses and deworm with effective medication rather than just going to the feed store and choosing a product. 

Nutrition is another key area for older horses as they usually have some dental issues, and many need senior feed as it is more digestible than regular feed.  Since a lot of these horses cannot chew hay well most senior feeds are complete diets, meaning you do not have to feed any roughage with them, although I prefer they be given hay or pasture.  Feeding good hay or pasture is helpful unless your horse has equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing’s disease, and about 30 percent of horses over the age of 15 have some degree of Cushing’s disease.  So when your vet comes out to check your older horse, make sure and ask about Cushing’s disease and possible testing for it. 

We can’t discuss older horses without talking about equine dentistry.  Horses need dental exams starting at birth and every 6 months thereafter.  Horses that do not get proper dental care will have major issues as they get older and likely will have a shorter lifespan due to the lack of dental care.    

The content of this site is owned by Veterinary Information Network (VIN®), and its reproduction and distribution may only be done with VIN®'s express permission.

The information contained here is for general purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

Links to non-VIN websites do not imply a recommendation or endorsement by VIN® of the views or content contained within those sites.

Top
SAID=27