Equine Guelph 

Like humans, horses are living longer than ever. Typically, older horses will live into their twenties and often into their thirties.

It’s natural to worry about your horse’s health into the golden years. Studies report that 70 percent of horses aged 20 years or older have some type of health issue requiring modifications in management practices and veterinary care. Let’s examine the six key issues your older horse might face, and tips to help you keep your horse feeling comfortable during those senior years.

1. Dental Concerns

One of the most common health issues of senior horses is dental disease. Extra diligence needs to be paid to the health of teeth in the senior horse. Horses’ front teeth continually erupt at an angle that increases as they age. Cases of unbalanced chewing surfaces escalate as the horse ages. Horses wear down their teeth as they chew but that wear is often uneven. The development of sharp points in the mouth is more frequent in the elderly equine and this can result in ulcerations, reluctance to chew their food, poor digestion, and a higher incidence of choke.

One of the best ways to help your horse live longer is to provide regular dental care. Photo: iStock/Jan-Otto

Severely uneven wear can lead to a condition called “wave mouth,” an uneven biting surface of the molars, where upper and lower teeth don’t align evenly. Missing or loose teeth causing uneven wear to the grinding surface can lead to “step mouth,” which requires regular inspection and care as food can get packed in and cause dental disease, abscess, or infection. In very elderly horses, the teeth may lose their rough edges and become entirely smooth, referred to as “smooth mouth,” which results in an inability to grind food.

Maintaining good dental health into old age is one of the single best ways to encourage longevity. It is far more difficult to address and fix a chronic dental issue once the horse has reached an older age.

Related: Caring for the Senior Horse

Table compares the life stages of humans and horses. A senior horse at around 20 years old is comparable in age to a 60-year-old human. A horse at the extreme old-age of 30-plus years is comparable a human at 85.5 to 100 years of age.

Dental Health Tips

• If you notice your horse is no longer chewing in a regular circular pattern, this can be an indicator of sharp points and uneven wear and warrants a vet appointment for dental care.
• Horses with smooth mouth should be fed highly digestible feeds that are easy to eat, such as soaked hay cubes or beet pulp; your veterinarian or equine nutritionist will be able to recommend the best course of management.
• Foul odours coming from the mouth, difficulty chewing, dropping food, nasal discharge, loose incisors, broken teeth, red or inflamed gums, quidding (when a horse drops partially chewed food from its mouth instead of swallowing it), weight loss, not finishing feed, grain in manure, and resistance to the bridle are all reasons to call the vet for a dental check-up.

2. Joint Health (Arthritis)

Sixty percent of all equine lameness is due to arthritis. Arthritis can be caused by injury, but most often in the senior horse it is the result of simple wear and tear over the decades.

Common causes are:

1. Everyday wear and tear, including repetitive and excessive force on a joint may cause inflammation and break down the lubricating synovial fluid, damaging the supporting tissues of the joints. This triggers more inflammation and the cycle continues, leading to chronic arthritis.
2. Physical injury triggers inflammation.
3. Weight-bearing joints, particularly knee, hock, fetlock, pastern and coffin joints, are more prone to arthritis as they endure most of the concussive forces. Since a poorly balanced hoof can further overload joints, maintaining correct hoof balance is essential.
4. Poor conformation may cause imbalanced forces and additional stress, accelerating joint wear.
5. Other injuries such as bacterial infection (septic arthritis) and joint fractures will stimulate an inflammatory response that damages the joint surfaces.

Joint Tips

• Keep your horse moving. Slow and moderate exercise, even as simple as pasture turnout, helps to keep joints lubricated and stiffness at bay.
• Consider a joint-support supplement for your senior horse, and consult your veterinarian to help you choose one with the most beneficial active ingredients.
• Talk to your veterinarian about nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., firocoxib) to help control routine arthritis pain in your aging equid.

Related: Understanding Equine Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

3. Nutrition, Weight, and Gut Issues

As horses get older, they may lose some weight, which can result from a variety of causes. One needs to rule out factors which can result in weight loss such as parasite burden, tumours, and infections. Winters can begin to take a tougher toll on the senior horse. The energy required for a horse to thermoregulate in the cold is often underestimated. The older horse may need an increase in feed and a blanket to help stay warm. Old age is no excuse for an overly thin equine. Evaluate your senior horse’s weight and body condition using the universally recognized Henneke Equine Body Condition Scale; an older horse’s body condition score should be between four and seven. Consult with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist to determine the best methods to satisfy your senior’s dietary needs.

In winter the senior may need a blanket to keep warm, as well as an increase in forage. Check under the blanket regularly to monitor the horse’s weight and general condition. Photo: iStock/Dageldog

The risk of colic increases as horses age. Gut motility issues are more common in older horses, which can lead to an increased risk of impaction colic. Other issues in the senior gastrointestinal tract which elevate the risk of colic can include tumours or increased parasite load. Older horses tend to have a reduced drive to drink, and inadequate intake of water is also a risk factor. Difficulty in chewing feed can result in undigested food entering the gut, which can also lead to gas or impaction colic. Digestion is impaired if a horse is unable to grind food properly.

Nutrition Tips

• Investigate whether your horse would benefit from a senior feed that is palatable, easy to chew, high in fat and calorie-dense.
• If extra calories are still required, consider feeding a fat-based weight-gain supplement.
• Beware of overfeeding.
• Body condition scoring should be the weekly routine for every senior horse. The use of a weight tape is also a helpful tool in tracking weight.
• If a change in feed is required due to difficulty in chewing, be sure to make these changes slowly to give gut bacteria and enzymes time to adapt.
• A good quality forage at 1.5 to 2.5 percent of body weight (on a dry matter basis) should be enough to keep your senior in good condition. Provide free access to water, salt (loose preferred), and a forage balancer.

Related: How to Adjust Your Horse's Diet as They Age

4. Diseases and Metabolic Conditions

As horses age, they become more susceptible to illness and disease. Below are three diseases and metabolic conditions common to aging horses: PPID/Equine Cushing’s Disease, Laminitis, and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

PPID (Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction or Cushing’s Disease)

PPID, commonly referred to as Cushing’s disease, is a common problem in senior horses. Caused by an overactive pituitary gland, this endocrine disease is mainly seen in horses with an average age of 20 years, but has been diagnosed in horses and ponies as young as age 10. While all ages, genders, and breeds are susceptible to developing PPID, ponies and some breeds of horses (specifically Latin-blooded horses such as Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, Spanish Mustangs, Arabs, and Morgans) seem to develop PPID more frequently.

A senior with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction or Cushing’s disease. Photo: Alamy/Image Broker

Common signs and symptoms of PPID in an old horse include:

1. Long and curly coat (that does not shed in the summer), patches of long hair on the legs, changes in coat colour, unusual whisker growth;
2. Pot-belly appearance;
3. Loss of muscle;
4. Fat deposits on top of the neck, tail, head, and around eyes;
5. Excessive drinking, sweating, and urinating;
6. Persistent skin infections;
7. Hoof abscesses.

Up to 70 percent of horses seen for laminitis have been found to have PPID. It is often treated without identifying the underlying cause.

Related: How Much Does Your Horse Weigh?

Early diagnosis is important. If you notice any of the above signs in your older horse, contact your veterinarian. Currently there is no cure for PPID but there are ways to help control the signs and improve the health of the horse by working closely with your veterinarian.

Laminitis

While laminitis can occur in horses of any age, it becomes a bigger issue in older horses when they develop other diseases that put them at a higher risk for this debilitating hoof disease.

Laminitis is the inflammation of the soft tissues in the hoof. As a result of the inflammation and associated damage to the laminae, the coffin bone of a senior horse’s hoof separates and the pedal bone rotates, pressing on the sole of the hoof and causing extreme pain. Horses with laminitis often stand with their front feet well out in front of them, rocking back on their heels to seek relief from the pain. They can appear as if they are “walking on eggshells.” In severe cases, it is so painful that it affects their ability to walk, leading to weight loss and poor quality of life – sometimes ending in euthanasia.

The feet of a horse with severe laminitis. Photo: Alamy/Juniors Bildarchiv GmbH

Laminitis has many different causes and is not limited to the horse or pony consuming an overabundance of rich grass (often when given unrestricted access to rich spring pastures). It can also develop from eating poisonous plants, overconsumption of grain, chronic obesity, retaining the placenta after foaling, or a disease that spikes a prolonged high temperature or trauma from repeated concussive forces (road founder).

Related: Recognizing and Managing Laminitis | Horse Journals

Laminitis can occur at any age; however, overweight horses and those with metabolic syndromes (more frequent in older horses) do have a higher risk of laminitis. Senior horses with Cushing’s disease are at risk of developing secondary laminitis as well.  

Stall rest, cold therapy, corrective shoeing, pain management, and anti-inflammatory therapy are some of the many treatments that your veterinarian may use to try and treat laminitis. The severity of the laminitis and the length of time it persists will be factors in determining when or if the horse will be able to return to its previous level of activity.

The first step in preventing recurring laminitis is to find the cause. Managing laminitis requires a plan with both veterinarian and farrier working together with regular assessments.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome 

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is an endocrine/metabolic condition similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans. The condition affects the horse in three ways: 

1. obesity and/or fat deposits;
2. insulin resistance (produce too much insulin); and, 
3. a predisposition to laminitis.

EMS is a result of genetics in combination with other factors such as inactivity, obesity, high sugar diets, and simultaneous illnesses. “Easy keeper” is a term often associated with horses and ponies that have EMS and are prone to becoming overweight.

The breeds that appear to be most commonly affected include donkeys, ponies, Arabians, Morgans, Saddlebreds, Paso Finos, Spanish Mustangs, and Warmbloods. Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds infrequently suffer from EMS.

It is important to watch for signs of EMS in your “easy keeper”: obesity, difficulty losing weight, ease of weight gain, development of fatty deposits (particularly in the crest of the neck), development of laminitis, and increased inflammatory responses.

In the horse world, PPID and EMS are often confused, as they share many of the same clinical signs. Horses with PPID may also have some of the features of EMS, but horses with EMS only rarely have PPID.

Related: Feeding Horses with Special Nutritional Needs

Managing both PPID and EMS involves working with your veterinarian to schedule regular blood work, dental exams, hoof care, and careful dietary management. Diagnostics are necessary to determine which disorder you are dealing with and the best treatment options. EMS tends to be seen in horses over five years of age, and PPID cases are more common in horses over 15 years of age. It is possible for horses with EMS to develop PPID.

Tips on Dealing with Disease

• Be aware. Recognize the early signs of disease as previously detailed.
• Work with a veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and future management.

5. Eye Problems

Like humans, age-related issues can affect horses’ eyes. Although full blindness is rare, senior horses can develop senile cataracts and changes in the retina. For example, pigmentation changes at the back of the eye may affect the horse’s vision, especially in low light.

Equine recurrent uveitis, commonly called moon blindness, is the leading cause of blindness in horses. Photo: iStock/Rdonar

Aging horses are commonly affected with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). Also known as moon blindness, this disease is a leading cause of blindness in horses worldwide. It is generally considered to be an autoimmune condition characterized by recurrent inflammatory episodes in one or both eyes. Over time, this can lead to scarring, cataracts, pain, and even blindness.

The good news is that horses tend to compensate well with changes in vision.

Ocular Health Tips

• Watch for ocular changes: tearing, eye cloudiness, squinting, swelling of the lids, alterations in the colour of the cornea, spot or bluish tint on cornea, difficulty going from bright to dark areas, trouble negotiating obstacles, appearing tentative.
• Recognizing symptoms of eye issues early can result in more rapid diagnosis and treatment, helping to reduce the risk of permanent damage.

6. Loss of Fitness and Muscle Atrophy

Inactivity is the main cause of loss of fitness and muscle mass in senior horses. Just like humans, horses that keep exercising as they age stay stronger and sturdier than less-active equids. Unfortunately, once a senior horse loses its body conditioning, it can sometimes be difficult to restore because of physical limitations associated with old age. Oftentimes, what is seen as a “kind retirement” — turning a horse into a pasture ornament with no riding — can actually contribute to a loss of fitness due to decreased exercise.

Help your older horse stay active with the amount of exercise he can handle, such as light riding, groundwork, hand-walking, or being led alongside another horse. Photo: Clix Photography

A general loss of topline muscling (along spine) is not uncommon in senior horses. Lordosis (swayback) is the weakening of a horse’s supporting ligaments along the spine, the classic stereotype of an old horse. In addition to age, contributing factors leading to swayback are genetics, conformation, pregnancy, excessive strain on the back, metabolic diseases (i.e., PPID), arthritis in the vertebrae, and decreased exercise and fitness.

Related: Sparky the Wonder (Senior) Horse

Fitness Tips

• Provide your horse with an opportunity for regular exercise for as long into their golden years as possible. If riding is no longer possible, hand-walking is an option.
• Ideally, keep your senior horse moving through 24-7 turnout with other companions versus standing still in a stall.

Senior horses benefit from moderate exercise, which can be as basic as pasture turnout. Photo: Alamy CP8JK9 - Mark J Barrett

As you help your horse stay healthy and happy into their golden years, remember to balance vigilance while appreciating the natural processes of aging in senior horses.

Related: When Your (Older) Horse Needs A Trainer

Signs of Aging

Recognizing the changes in an aging horse’s body can help you provide the best care during the golden years and ensure their comfort. There are several outward signs of aging that can serve as guidelines for identifying a horse as a senior.

Photo: Clix Photography

You might notice a gentle dip forming along the back and a gradual loss of muscle tone. Tendons and ligaments, especially around the fetlock joints, may lose some of their spring. The lips may droop a little, and the eyes can take on a slightly hollow appearance. Grey hairs often begin to sprinkle the muzzle and eye area, and the once-shiny coat may look a bit duller. Movement, too, can become slower and stiffer, with a hint of arthritis creeping in.

By learning to spot these outward signs of aging, you can give your senior horse the thoughtful care and attention they need to thrive in their later years.

Related: 10 Things To Know About Caring for Older Horses

Related: How to Prepare an Advance Directive for Your Horse

Related: Recognizing Pain in Our Horse and When It's Time to Say Goodbye

For more information visit Equine Guelph - University of Guelph and The Horse Portal.

Published with the kind permission of Equine Guelph. 

Main Photo: A happy, healthy 20-year-old Thoroughbred stallion. Photo: Alamy/Mark J Barrett