Aged Does Not = Skinny

LOW BODY CONDITION IN THE AGED EQUINE

A SYMPTOM - NOT A DISEASE

Most owners of aged horses are concerned about the health, welfare, and quality of life of their aged animals. Yet surveys of management and preventive health-care reflect that there may be some limitations to what owners are actually achieving in practice. They show declining management as horses age, particularly for the retired horse, and insufficient appropriate preventive healthcare via veterinary surgeons.

There is a school of thought amongst some involved in the care and welfare of equines that ‘skinny is normal’ for an aged horse.  Malnutrition is never normal in any animal. It is a symptom of underlying problems.

Fergus at 28 yrs of age. Owned by Jenelle Gills (QLD)

How do we define ‘aged’?

Physiological age refers to the internal function of an animal, once it has reached peak performance and senescence begins. Senescent cells, as they are called, are no longer capable of dividing yet remain metabolically active. Furthermore, they exhibit changes in form and function which may lead to age-related changes. Scientists know senescence is an irreversible stage in the life of the cell.

It is generally accepted that a horse has aged beyond its physiological peak at 15 years of age (1). However, the functional age of a horse may depend significantly on its use. For example, a Thoroughbred racehorse may be past its physiological peak for racing performance well before 10 years of age, while a Grand Prix dressage horse may continue to improve its performance after 15 years of age. Recent research has defined the ‘aged’ or ‘geriatric’ horse as 15 years or over, and a horse as very old if it is 30 years of age or older (2).

How do we perceive and manage aged horses?

In a study carried out in South East Queensland, ‘A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia’ (2), owners of aged horses were surveyed with questionnaires completed for over 900 aged horses. The median age was 20.7 years, and 43% of horses 15 years and older were reported to be retired from exercise.

The day to day feeding and management reported by owners reflected dedication to their aged horses. The majority of aged horses were in good body condition with 30% of horses overweight, (body condition score > 3/5), and 2% underweight, (body condition score < 2/5). Supplementary feeding implied that owners were closely monitoring and caring for their aged horses. 71% of the aged horses included in the survey received supplementary feeding or additives to the diet, however, both supplementary feeding and additives decreased with retirement, indicating that as a horse ages and becomes retired, these may not continue to the same degree, even though they could be potentially more warranted.

Prince at 32 yrs of age. Owned by Rhonda Bramich (NSW)

Owners surveyed paid attention to de-worming and hoof care. Almost all owners had attended to their horse’s hooves or de-wormed them in the previous year. However, the frequency of hoof care visits per year decreased with retirement and the frequency of anthelmintic administration (worming) per year reduced with both age and retirement. While retirement could conceivably correspond with a reduced requirement for hoof care, retirement does not mean that you can say goodbye to your farrier, and the reduced immune function of aged horses would not support reduction in anthelmintic use.

Faith at 22 yrs of age. Owned by Jane Di Giuseppe (WA)

Despite their attention to the management of their aged horses in terms of diet, rugging, hoof care and parasite control, the owners of aged horses surveyed were less diligent when it came to veterinary visits. Only 40% of horses in the survey group had seen a veterinarian in the previous 12 months, and the figures were worse in rural areas compared to urban areas. Similarly, dental visits had only occurred in 67% of horses the previous year. Only about half had been vaccinated in the previous year, and the likelihood of either a dental visit or vaccination in the previous 12 months was reduced for the retired horses.

In an alternative study, ‘Clinical disease and mortality in geriatric horses: Australian perspective’ (4), which examined a selection of horses in the field, chronic conditions were commonly observed in veterinary examinations. Owners of 974 horses aged over 15 years of age were recruited via an equestrian association. From these, 347 horses (35%) were selected for veterinary clinical examination.

Age was a significant risk factor for the occurrence of many of the conditions found:

• Dental abnormalities were identified in 96% of horses; with a lower frequency in the incisor region (36%) than the upper cheek teeth region (94%).
• Dermatological (skin) abnormalities were present in 40%, which included:

14% Hirsutism (thick, curly coat that is late to shed).
11% Skin Tumours.
11% Culicoides Hypersensitivity (dermatitis of horses caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the saliva of biting insects).

• Ophthalmic (eye) lesions frequently identified were:

33% Cataracts in one or both eyes.
29% Senile Retinopathy (retinal thinning, cyst formation, atrophy, and fibrosis).

• Cardiac murmurs occurred in 43%.
• Some form of nasal discharge was present in 7%.
• 21% had abnormalities on pulmonary auscultation at rest (abnormal sounds within lungs and air passages).
• Lameness in at least one limb was detected in 50%:

33% were lame in the forelimbs.
25% were lame in the hind limbs.
2% were lame in all four limbs.

• Hoof abnormalities were detected in 69%.

 

Bess at 32 yrs of age. Owned by Tracie Grimwood (VIC)

A consistent finding from the study was that owners reported a much lower frequency of clinical signs or known diseases or disorders than were found on veterinary clinical examination. Only 35% of owners reported a known disease or disorder affecting their horses, indicating that many clinical signs were overlooked. In many cases, owners recognised clinical signs of disease when asked about them specifically, but the diseases or disorders associated with the signs their horses were demonstrating had not been diagnosed or treated. For example, Hirsutism, which is likely associated with undiagnosed Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Cushing’s Disease), was identified in 14% of horses by owners, yet Cushing’s Disease was reported as a known disease or disorder in only 1.6% of these horses respectively. Owners were either not seeking a diagnosis when horses were exhibiting clinical signs, or they were seeking a diagnosis from a source that could not provide one.

Similarly, preventive health-care, especially veterinary visits, dental care, vaccination, and hoof care did not correspond to the prevalence of disorders found within the study group that could be managed by appropriate care. This is in contrast with other indicators of owner intent within the study group mentioned above regarding management of their aged horses. This may imply a lack of appropriate education or information from appropriate sources.

The fact that owners may not be able to recognize some of the signs of diseases and disorders indicates the importance of appropriate education and professional care, especially from veterinary surgeons in a role of preventive health-care and management of chronic diseases and disorders of aged horses.

Older horses don't have to become underweight horses.

‘Feel the ribs but not see the ribs’ is a general recommendation for the proper body weight of an older horse. If a senior equine begins to lose weight, there is a reason for the change. These reasons can commonly include;poor absorption of nutrients, parasites, metabolic changes, gastrointestinal inefficiency, immune dysfunction, or the stresses associated with pain. The most common causes of weight loss in aged horses are; failure to keep up with de-worming schedules, debilitating diseases, poor dentition, and decreased absorptive efficiency in the gut. Senior horses that have difficulty maintaining weight often have dental problems. Regular floating and other maintenance by a qualified individual might keep some of those problems at bay, but for senior horses, one of the primary issues is tooth loss. Don't assume the horse has a functional mouth if you simply pull back his lips and find a full set of incisors. These front teeth are usually the last ones lost by aged horses.

If an aged horse drops weight on a diet that once kept it in moderate body condition, there is likely to be an underlying medical condition. To uncover such a problem, a thorough veterinary examination should be scheduled. Most veterinarians that are presented with cases such as this will evaluate liver and kidney function.

Cloudy at 20 yrs pf age. Owned by Michelle Camilleri (VIC)

Aging in itself is not a disease. However, aging predisposes the body to disease as parts become worn and the immune system is not as strong as it once was. The diseases/conditions listed below can occur in younger horses, but their incidence increases with age:

• Equine ushing’s Disease
• Arthritis
• Changes in Digestion/Nutrition
• Teeth Problems
• Colic
• Cancers
• Heart Disease
• Cataracts
• Urinary Bladder/Kidney Infections

A horse may have more than one of these diseases concurrently, in which case it is important for a veterinarian to consider the potential disease interactions when deciding on a management or therapeutic plan.

Older horses need more of our attention focused on their daily activities and appearance. Small changes in their responsiveness to food, interaction, and exercise can be indicators of oncoming problems. Their daily attitude, the general appearance of their hair/coat, and changes in posture can also signal a potential health problem. Any weight loss or changes in fat distribution should be considered significant.

In aged horses presented to a university referral hospital, disease occurrence was investigated using retrospective analysis of the primary problem by body system (3). The study also focused on the presenting complaint rather than coincidental findings.

The most common reasons for admission of 467 horses aged 20 years or older (by body system involved) were:

• Gastrointestinal tract (54%)
• Musculoskeletal (24%)
• Respiratory (16%)

Colic was the overall leading reason for admission. The endocrine, ocular, cardiovascular, skin, reproductive, neurological, urinary, and haemolymphatic systems were less commonly involved.

Among the 467 horses in the study, the six most common specific diagnoses included:

• 10% Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Cushing’s Disease)
• 7% Strangulating Lipoma of the small intestine
• 6% Laminitis
• 6% Heaves
• 5.5% Large Colon Impaction
• 5.5% Gastric Ulceration

In conclusion

Horses form a unique and special part of their owners’ lives and aged horses should be no exception. Most owners of aged horses are concerned about the health, welfare, and quality of life of their aged animals, yet surveys of management and preventive health-care reflect that there may be some limitations to what owners are actually achieving in practice, with declining management as their horse ages, and insufficient appropriate preventive healthcare via veterinary surgeons.

Tilly Park Destiny at 29 yrs of age. Mum to 11 foals!

In the studies and surveys cited, a very high proportion of aged horses in the field suffered from chronic disease, especially chronic lameness, dental disorders, hoof abnormalities, respiratory and dermatological disease, yet the majority of affected horses were not undergoing veterinary treatment for these conditions, many of which are preventable or manageable. Owners of aged horses should be encouraged to seek the advice of veterinary surgeons for annual health checks and preventive care plans for their aged horses. Further, veterinary surgeons should be informed about conditions specific to aged horses.

Horses age in different ways and at different speeds, depending on their genetics and environment. It is no different in humans. Age, however, is not a justifiable explanation for weight loss or the low body condition of a horse. Weight loss is a SYMPTOM, it is not a disease.

The value of aged horses should not be underestimated by veterinarians and others working with them, and the continuing care of aged horses should be regarded with the same importance as the care of younger horses with more obvious monetary value.

Story: © Quest Equine Welfare Inc.

Quick Link

• Find out more about Quest Equine Welfare at their website questequinewelfare.org

 

References:

(1)     Bertone, J. Preface. In Equine Geriatric Medicine and Surgery; Bertone, J.J., Ed.; WB Saunders: Saint Louis, MO, USA, 2006; p. xi.

(2)     McGowan, T.W.; Pinchbeck, G.; Phillips, C.; Perkins, N.; Hodgson, D.R.; McGowan, C.M. A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 1: Management and preventive health care. Aust. Vet. J. 2010, 88, 420-427.

(3)     Brosnahan, M.M.; Paradis, M.R. Demographic and clinical characteristics of geriatric horses: 467 cases (1989–1999). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2003, 223, 93-98.

(4)    McGowan, T.W.; Pinchbeck, G.L.; Hodgson, D.R.; McGowan, C.M. Clinical disease and mortality in geriatric horses: Australian perspective. In Proceedings of Dorothy Havemeyer Foundation Meeting Equine Geriatric Workshop, Cambridge, MA, USA, 24–27 October 2010; Dorothy Havemeyer Foundation: Boston, MA, USA, 2010; p. 23.