Animal Health Solution - a Henry Schein Animal Health magazine for veterinary professionals
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8 Covetrus | 855.724.3461 | northamerica.covetrus.com Dental Care Senior horses are prone to a variety of dental conditions, including loose or missing teeth, uneven surfaces, periodontal disease, and equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH). Work with clients to ensure that their horse receives regular dental care, and pay special attention to the dental exam in any senior horse. Educate clients on clinical signs that may indicate the presence of dental disease, while also educating them on the potentially serious nature of this condition. Nutrition Talk to your clients about their senior horse's changing nutritional needs. Senior horses need a diet that is palatable, nutritious, and digestible, ideally containing 12-14% high quality protein. 2 Highly-quality senior feed supports gastrointestinal function while also supporting a horse's caloric intake. This can aid in the prevention of weight loss, which can be common in senior horses. Winter Weather Clients should understand that senior horses are often less tolerant of environmental changes than younger horses. Advise clients to have clean blankets readily available during the winter months, and use them at the first indication that their horse is cold. Increasing a horse's feed can also provide additional heat support. Clients should be aware of their senior horse's water intake during the colder months and take steps to actively promote water intake. While these modifications may be second nature to an experienced horse owner, less experienced clients may be unfamiliar with the changing care requirements of senior horses. Cushing's Disease Cushing's disease is one of the most common medical conditions affecting senior horses, with a prevalence of 21% of horses over 15 years old. 3 Given the prevalence of this condition, it's wise to discuss Cushing's disease with every senior horse owner at every visit. Screen senior horses for signs of Cushing's disease, while also educating owners to recognize clinical signs between visits. Many owners are unaware of this condition; improving client awareness can significantly impact the health of your older equine patients. Conclusion Senior horse owners need education on their horse's changing needs, so they are better able to partner with you in their horse's care. Partnership also requires regular communication. Covetrus Rapport ® can help you stay in contact with your clients, maintaining a dialogue that will allow you to monitor your patients and provide client education. Senior horses also require regular veterinary examinations. This can be challenging for some clients, who may be accustomed to less frequent exams. Covetrus Care Plans ® make regular veterinary care convenient, easing the financial burden of care to allow greater client compliance. Frequent veterinary examinations allow early disease detection, while also offering more opportunities for client education. 1. Baccarin, R. Y. A., Seidel, S. R. T., Michelacci, Y. M., Tokawa, P. K. A., & Oliveira, T. M. (2022). Osteoarthritis: a common disease that should be avoided in the athletic horse's life. Animal frontiers : the review magazine of animal agriculture, 12(3), 25–36. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9197312/ 2. Iowa State University. Feeding the Senior Horse. Retrieved from: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/equine/feeding-senior-horse 3. McGowan, T. W., Pinchbeck, G. P., & McGowan, C. M. (2013). Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses. Equine veterinary journal, 45(1), 74–79. About the author About the author: Cathy Barnette, DVM is a veterinarian and freelance writer, based in Southwest Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida in 2006, Dr. Barnette spent 14 years working in small animal general practice. Her current professional focus is veterinary writing, creating educational content for veterinary teams and their clients. Dr. Barnette is a paid Consultant for Covetrus ® . Top 5 Client Education Topics for Senior Horse Care