Just Because He's Geriatric -

Albert had always been a glutton, consuming anything and everything in his path. Now he forced himself to nibble grain and valiantly chewed (and chewed and chewed) wads of hay, only to have them fall from his mouth in slimy cuds. Albert never had any particular problem with the heat before. Now he staggered around like a drunken date on New Year’s Eve. Heatstroke. Albert never had spent much time off his feet … that vulnerability factor, you know. Now he lay frequently in the sun-warmed grass or arena sand. What was happening to my equine companion who for so many years had been the embodiment of strength and good health? Albert was getting old.

The definition of an aged horse has changed dramatically over the last several decades. A ten-year-old animal was once considered beyond his useful years. We now know that this is the time when many horses finally settle down to work and begin to excel at their sports. Indeed, many horses remain active and rideable well into their twenties, if not beyond. Ponies tend to last even longer. But as anyone who has assumed responsibility for an aging equine can confirm, old horses require certain special considerations in their care.

When Is a Horse Old?

Just as we humans, horses age at varying rates according to their inherited longevity and general attitude. Horses bear the additional burden of a life of service. How a horse is cared for, handled, and trained at age two can profoundly affect his usefulness and condition at age twenty.

E. J. Finocchio, DVM of the New England Horse Care Center in Rhode Island offers the following guidelines for determining when a horse has reached his golden years. Horses displaying a majority of these characteristics should be managed with special care by the equine geriatric.

Swaybacked
Less efficient utilization of feed
Haircoat which is longer than normal in various seasons of the year
Haircoat that fails to shed properly
Greying of hair, especially around the eyes and ears
Increasingly sloping hind pasterns
Loss of teeth
Elongated, narrowing incisor teeth
Overall loss of muscle tone
Drooping lip
Weight loss

In pasture, always provide older animals with adequate protection from the elements. As certain physiological functions decrease with age, so does the horse’s ability to maintain constant body temperature. The old horse suffers heat and cold to a much greater degree than his younger counterpart. Heat, in particular, poses a tremendous threat to the aged. While proper nutrition and blanketing can offset the effects of age on a horse’s ability to handle the severe cold, nothing but mandatory shelter and human observation and intervention can save the aged horse from the potentially fatal outcome of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Direct sun not only provides the potential for overheating but inspires armies of flies and biting insects to attack vulnerable seniors. Once again, care must be taken to protect these animals from any and all sources of undue stress. Fly masks will protect eyes from parasitic infections, other forms of insect control will make outdoor life generally more tolerable, and, if all else fails, turnout at night will avoid almost everything but mosquitoes.

Regular grooming will not only keep these horses cleaner and less appealing to flying pests, but will serve to improve circulation, tone the skin, and assist in the shedding of hair not as eager to fall out of an old coat as a younger one.

Nutrition is an area of critical concern for older equines. Aged horses commonly face the dilemma of teeth either lost or too worn down to adequately chew hay and grain. Unevenly worn teeth can develop razor-sharp points, making chewing not only inefficient but intolerable. Tooth and gum infections can also make eating painful. Unchewed feed swallowed whole can irritate the esophagus and cause the animal to refuse food altogether, resulting in rapid weight loss.

Colic is a constant threat, as increasingly sensitive digestive systems react to years of parasitic damage, inappropriate feeding practices, and inevitable accumulations of sand in the gut. Occasional treatments with a psyllium product will help eliminate potentially dangerous sand deposits from the digestive tract.

Adjusting the diet to accommodate aging dental and digestive processes will go far in ensuring nutritional adequacy for the senior horse. The mature animal requires no more than eight to ten percent protein in its ration. Higher protein levels may put undue strain on the liver and kidneys. Decreased absorption in the gut necessitates the feeding of very high-quality, easily digestible protein and energy sources. When making changes or additions to the older equine’s diet, it is important to do so gradually over a period of several weeks to avoid digestive upsets and allow the system time to adjust to the new ratio.

Most nutritional requirements can be met through access to high-quality pasture or grass hay alone, assuming the horse can adequately chew and swallow the meal. Often, however, forage is more a matter of keeping the mouth occupied than of nutritional gain in old horses, to which wads of partially chewed hay or grass strewn about the ground will attest. In spite of this problem, forage remains an important element in the equine diet to satisfy the grazing instinct if nothing else.

For horses whose teeth are simply not up to the job of consuming grass or hay, a mash of complete feed pellets and water (perhaps sweetened with molasses or bits of apple) will make a highly digestible and nutritionally balanced diet. Dry pellets, however, can expand in the eager eater’s throat, causing choking. Beware, also, the feeding of finely ground grains; impaction colics frequently result from such feeds balling up and obstructing the gut. Recent additions to the larger feed manufacturers’ lists of equine offerings include concentrates developed specifically for the equine geriatric.

The processing of feeds as well as variations in geographic growing conditions may cause inadequacies in the supply of certain vitamins and minerals in equine feedstuffs. An analysis of all elements of the horse’s diet may indicate a need to supplement the fat-soluble vitamins A and D, and possibly the B-complex vitamins and calcium and phosphorus. Consult with an equine veterinarian or nutritionist before making any additions or corrections. Older horses should be given free access to a trace mineralized salt block at all times.

When Things Go Wrong

As equine physiological structures age, function is proportionately diminished in many areas. Old horses experience more than their fair share of aches and pains as aging muscular and skeletal structures lose elasticity, flexibility, and mass. Poor conformation, nutritional deficiencies, improper use, inconsistent hoof care, injury, and obesity compound the geriatric problems.

Arthritic conditions such as ringbone, sidebone, spavin, and navicular disease plague nearly all aged horses to some degree. Navicular, if caught early in its course, can sometimes be successfully managed with isoxsuprine, a peripheral vasodilator. In more advanced cases, a surgical neurectomy (nerving) can alleviate pain associated with the progressive degeneration of the navicular bone. When performed in response to navicular, nerving should be done only below the ankle to avoid complications sometimes associated with the surgery. Appropriate corrective hoof care must be diligently maintained on these animals.

Chronically foundered horses also require ongoing and cooperative farrier and veterinary support. Strict weight management, periodic radiographs, corrective trimming, shoeing, and hoof rebuilding are management techniques to be considered for founder victims.

Heaves (chronic alveolar emphysema) is a fairly common respiratory affliction that progressively and literally “takes the wind” out of many aged horses’ sails. Animals experiencing an acute attack of heaves should be rested and treated with appropriate medications. The living environments of afflicted horses should be kept as fresh, clean, and dust-free as possible. Heavey horses should be kept either on pastures mowed to reduce pollens or in well-ventilated stalls bedded with dustless bedding materials. Any hay fed should be very high quality and thoroughly dampened before feeding, or complete pellets may be provided to avoid the inhalation and ingestion of irritants which can aggravate this respiratory problem.

Older mares, especially those never having produced a foal in their earlier years, may experience difficulty conceiving or carrying a foal to term. Muscles around the vulva may stretch and relax in old broodmares causing windsucking and related problems with fertility. Caslick’s operation may help to restore these mares to breeding soundness.

Hormonal imbalances are common in the geriatric horse. These imbalances stem from deterioration or disease of the endocrine system and may result in the development of Cushing’s Syndrome (overproduction of adrenal hormones), Addison’s Disease (depletion of adrenal hormones), or pituitary adenoma. Horses presenting symptoms of weakness and refusal to exercise, excessive thirst and sweating, drastic personality changes, lethargy or violent reactivity, and/or growth of long hair that fails to shed should be examined by a veterinarian for endocrine function.

Immune function decreases with the passage of time. The aged equine is increasingly vulnerable to allergies, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Greys are particularly susceptible to the development of malignant melanomas in their latter years.

Neurological changes may explain incoordination, as may problems with the animal’s vision. Cataracts are common in old horses. The eyes, however, are only one of many organs which may begin to fail in the aged. As those who love the animal already know, however, it is rare that a horse’s heart gives out.

Obesity should be avoided in all animals, and particularly in the aged. Excess weight places excess strain on weakening muscular and skeletal structures, as well as creating greater susceptibility to founder and the development of fatty tumors (lipomas). Charles D. Vail, DVM of the Littleton Large Animal Clinic in Littleton, Colorado warns that some of the greatest threats to older horses come from overcare, including overfeeding. As thyroid function and metabolic processes slow down, it becomes increasingly important to properly balance energy intake with energy output.

While managing obesity is generally as easy as reducing caloric intake, cajoling underweight horses into consuming adequate nutrition may prove no easy task. Aged horses with diminished appetites require energy-dense feeds which pack as many calories per mouthful as possible. The addition of fats to the diet, either in the form of vegetable oils or granulated fat, affords an easily digestible, calorie-dense supplementation.

And what if the geriatric still just picks at his food despite your best efforts to supply an easily chewed, swallowed, digested, and tasty meal? Old horses don’t generally go off feed as a result of the aging process alone. Where there is illness, injury, or pain that has prompted the refusal to eat, that problem must be addressed. Supplemental treatment with testosterone has been used with some success in revitalizing sagging appetites in aged geldings. This hormone, however, may stimulate a little more than nutritional appetite. Stallion-like aggressiveness and behavior can accompany healthier eating habits. Mares and geldings alike may experience similar benefits from judicious treatment with anabolic steroids, though again, aggressive behavior may accompany the therapy. These options are expensive and not without risk. The benefits and side effects of either course of treatment must be carefully weighed in veterinary consultation.

Exercise is another important consideration as horses grow older. Many horses remain serviceable as pleasure or even competition mounts well into their twenties. Some continue to be rideable into their thirties. A horse’s longevity as a mount can be crucially influenced by his training and use in the early developmental years, as well as the ensuing lifetime of service. Retirement may seem, and indeed may be, an appropriate reward for years of mounted duty, but the sedentary lifestyle may not serve the best interests of the animal’s aging structures. Muscles can atrophy with lowered activity, strides can shorten, joints can stiffen. Exercise tones the muscles, lubricates the joints, refreshes the mind, and generally stimulates the system.

Special care must be taken to accommodate the effects of time on the older athlete, however. Speed will eventually abandon the aging equine, followed by agility, strength, and finally, endurance. The older animal will more easily accomplish slower-paced, leisurely workouts incorporating long, gradual warm-ups and cool-downs. Care should be taken to avoid exercise over excessively hard, uneven, or deep surfaces, or in extreme temperatures. Longeing or being placed on a hot walker is not the best choice for these horses. Straight line work is far easier on timeworn joints than circles and corners. As fatty tissue and musculature fade from the spinal column, extra saddle pads and lighter riders will make ridden exercise more comfortable. Liniment rubdowns after work will help to relax tired muscles.

Once riding is no longer a reasonable request, ponying along quiet trails and/or turnout with friendly companions will keep the pensioner happy and healthy. Any change in your horse’s exercise schedule, either increasing or decreasing, should be accomplished very gradually. Once again, aged structures need time to adapt to changes in daily routine.

With or without regular exercise, most geriatric horses will experience a certain amount of physical discomfort over time. Generalized arthritic soreness can be eased, but not likely eliminated, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as aspirin, phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, meclofenamic acid, and ketoprofen. These medications are generally available in tablet, powdered, and/or paste forms. Pastes are convenient and easily administered but more expensive than the other options. Tablets are usually the most economical and may be administered by crushing and mixing into a paste with molasses or honey. The paste is then administered by spreading on the back of the horse’s tongue with a wooden spoon or in a 20 cc syringe with the end cut off.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone present another category of medications assisting in pain relief, but are not widely recommended due to their potentially detrimental side effects. They are used conservatively for certain skin conditions and as an intra-articular treatment for specific joint injuries.

Poly-sulfated glycosaminoglycans are also useful in cases of acute and specific joint injuries, but are not usually indicated in the alleviation of the more generalized arthritic discomforts associated with old age.

It is wise to dispense any medication to the geriatric horse as sparingly as possible and only on an as needed, “bad arthritis day” basis. And of course, no medication should be administered unless under the direct advisement of an equine veterinarian. If the older horse is still being used in competition, it is additionally important to check with the governing association for regulations regarding the use of specific medications in competing animals.

The very old horse may weaken to the point where rising from increasingly frequent naps becomes more and more difficult. A “sitting” posture usually indicates weakness or injury in the hind end. Such horses may be assisted with front shoes fitted with toe caulks or studs which afford the greater traction necessary to pull a recumbent body back to its feet. A little help from a handler or two against whom to brace and leverage may also be required on occasion.

A helping hand is small enough repayment for all these horses have given us over the years. Perhaps this is why we gladly tolerate the little inconveniences and idiosyncrasies of the geriatric’s daily routine: the crotchety and perhaps even senile behavior, the dwindling attention span, the reduction of reaction and recovery time, the intolerance of stress, the decreased activity level. Most aging processes can be managed successfully by a dedicated caretaker with a vigilant eye and an understanding of the special needs of the elderly equine.

There will likely come a time in allowing age to run its course, however, when all your best efforts are not enough to safeguard the health and comfort of your equine charge. He has all but stopped eating, he takes no interest in you or his equine companions, and every step is a stiff and painful reminder of strength he used to have. It is time to let him go. Sadly, it is the final commitment we make to the care of these animals. Shipment to a slaughterhouse cannot be considered a humane ending to a life of devoted service. A veterinarian can lay the horse to final rest quickly and painlessly.

In dealing with the equine geriatric, do not make the potentially fatal mistake of overlooking the reality that your horse is getting old. Aging is an insidious process; it doesn’t happen overnight. For those of us who have purchased our beloved mounts in their youth and accepted them as permanent members of the family, it is all too easy to ignore the effects of time on these animals. We prefer to think of our horses in terms of our most active years together, but it is important to recognize and accommodate the changes those years bring. Realize, however, that there is no truth in equating old age with uselessness. A tireless playmate in youth can become a venerable companion in maturity … one whose greatest value cannot be diminished with the ongoing tide of time.

My thanks to Charles D. Vail, DVM of the Littleton Large Animal Clinic in Littleton, Colorado, and E. J. Finocchio, DVM of the New England Horse Care Center in North Smithfield, Rhode Island for their technical assistance in the preparation of this article.