Equine & Livestock Product & Promotions Guide

4 Covetrus | 855.724.3461 | northamerica.covetrus.com While some senior horses are retired, there are many that are maintained in regular work, and some even are in competition. The older horse's unique set of health issues make for a great resource for client education. The relationship of an owner with his or her horse is often a long one, stretching several decades. Once a client understands the physiological differences that beset that horse as the animal ages, it is likely that he or she will want to do whatever is best for that valued equine companion. This is where your role as an educator comes in. What kinds of evaluations, procedures, and follow-up health checks will you want to discuss with your clients who have senior horses? The following information can act as your guide. • A comprehensive physical exam once or twice a year can pinpoint common problems, such as equine asthma, skin cancers, musculoskeletal problems, ophthalmic issues, and dental problems commonly found in aging horses. • You can inform horse owners about the greater need to assist native immunity in aging horses by providing excellent vaccination, deworming, and preventive health protocols. • A common generator of veterinary income, particularly when it comes to aged horses, is dentistry. Sophisticated dental equipment and practices assist in fixing age-related problems in horses. Owners should understand that maintenance of useful grinding teeth helps prevent colon impaction, choke, and weight loss. This sometimes requires twice-annual examinations and treatments. • Another commonly evaluated health concern of the older horse is a propensity to develop Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, (PPID) or Cushing's disease. Clients generally appreciate a proactive approach when it comes to their horses' care. Horses as young as five can have PPID. • Equine metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are not unique to older horses, but those problems tend to be more prevalent as aging horses exercise less—or with less intensity—yet continue to be overfed. • Client education is a first strategy to help combat the tendency to overfeed and to reduce the risk of laminitis in metabolic horses. Testing for insulin resistance and glucose absorption provide concrete information for appropriate client consultation. • Veterinarians are commonly asked for advice about nutritional concerns for horses of all age groups, but senior horses tend to have more issues. Some horses have trouble holding body condition; others easily become too fat. • Parasite control is another topic that owners with aged horses need the veterinarian's expertise. As horses age, their immune systems are not as efficient in defending against internal parasites and other health conditions can also affect their immune systems. • The aging horse might have incurred a musculoskeletal injury early in life, and you are now in the position of maintaining that horse's comfort with physical therapy and systemic and intra-articular joint therapy. Sometimes newly developed arthritic changes are occurring, and clients want to ensure that their horses have a good quality of life in their golden years. Horse owners want to take the best possible care of their senior companions, and veterinarians have the ability to provide worthwhile services targeted toward these older horses. The knowledge and skills you have gleaned over the years are readily applied to maximize the quality of life for your senior equine patients. The very specialized knowledge necessary for keeping aging horses robust and healthy has a definite value. Covetrus offers many products and solutions to help provide care to your aging horse clients. 855.724.3461 | northamerica.covetrus.com © 2020 Covetrus. All Rights Reserved. No copying without permission. Not responsible for typographical errors. Lit. No. 20EQLS192 (05/2020) https://equimanagement.com/articles/aging-horses-as-a-profit-center Source: Aging horses as a profit center

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