 | |
 | |
Tips For Keeping Your Senior Horse HealthyIs your horse "getting on in years?" If he is 15 years or older, he is considered a senior horse. What can you do to keep him healthy and happy?
Schedule Horses by nature are creatures of routine. Irregular feeding times, changing feeds and other inconsistencies in management can disrupt a horse's schedule, inviting potential health problems and even injuries. If it is necessary to change a horse's routine or diet, do so gradually, allowing your horse's system sufficient time to adapt to change.
Medication Resist the urge to give your horse anti-inflammatory medication - unless advised by a veterinarian. Giving medication to relieve swelling and pain without taking measures to correct the underlying problem can result in serious, possibly permanent damage.
As a horse enters senior citizenship, he may become more prone to injury and illness due to a decrease in flexibility and a gradual decline in immune competence. Due to these circumstances, loss in status within the social circle may be seen. When age begins encroaching on well being, a horse's social niche can erode, making other herd members aware. This may set the stage for conflict and possible injury as younger horses increasingly issue challenges in an attempt to improve their social status. If you see your horse becoming involved in such conflicts, separate him from the rest of the herd before someone gets hurt.
Wound Care If you find a puncture wound on your horse, avoid pressure-spraying water, hydrogen peroxide, saline solution or applying any other material directly into the wound. Rather than cleaning it, this may force contaminants deeper into the wound, causing infection. Avoid using antibiotic powders, sprays or ointments without consulting a veterinarian. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in any form can favor the growth of tougher, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Eyes If you suspect a problem with your horse's eye, a good way to catch a look without
Dental care Dental problems can have far-reaching health implications: The inability to properly chew foods can result in malnutrition, weight loss and colic. Caring for a horse's teeth as they age is vital to the health and well-being of a horse. Equine dental care includes annual check-ups and floating to smooth uneven wear.
Regular deworming is important for horses of any age but becomes increasingly critical as a horse grows older. Even subclinical parasite loads--those that don't manifest in obvious signs such as colic--can silently tax an elderly horse's system, tying up the immunological and nutritional resources needed to support basic body functions. Consult your veterinarian to see what type of worming products to use and how often to use them.
If you are interested in more horse care tips, check out the American Association of Equine Practioners. You can also subscribe to their helpful and informative newsletter, which is a wonderful resource for anyone who owns horses.
Do you have any horse photos that you would like to share? Send them our way and they may appear in a future e-Newsletter!
|
Social status
touching it or otherwise activating the blink reflex, is to stand approximately three feet away, just to the bad eye's side. Make a sound that will arouse the horses interest, such as a whistling, clucking or rustling grain in a bucket. Unless the eye pain is extreme, the horse will widen the eye to see what you have.
Deworming