The Problem with “Lay Dentists”

You want the best for your horse, and your horse deserves it. Advances in equine preventative care and sports medicine enable our horses to live longer and healthier lives than ever before. In addition to semi-annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and good hoof care, your horse may receive veterinary chiropractic care, veterinary acupuncture, and massage therapy, all to ensure your horse is as healthy and happy as can be.

Good dental care is a critical piece of this “whole horse” approach, vital for your horse’s health and longevity. Unfortunately, more horse owners are encountering equine tooth floating services provided by what are often referred to as “lay dentists”.  Horses – especially our athletes – benefit from the collaborative efforts of professionals, such as veterinarians and farriers. So you may ask, why not between veterinarians and “lay dentists”?

While these individuals promote themselves as equine dentists, the term ‘dentist’ is inaccurate. These individuals may have had some prior experience “floating teeth.” However, they do not have a medical education in the mechanics, physiology, or pharmacology involved. They are not permitted to diagnose or treat disease, as this is the practice of medicine. Additionally, there is no governing body to certify the education or training that these individuals have (or have not) received. Therefore, if an adverse event occurs, the horse owner is left with little recourse. In the state of Colorado, the practice of dentistry may be delegated to veterinary personnel but only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Equine dentistry is so much more than just floating sharp edges from cheek teeth. A comprehensive understanding of anatomy as well as the ability to perform a complete and thorough oral examination is essential.

There are five requirements to perform a complete oral examination.

  1. Sedation: Even if it is light sedation, your horse/donkey/mule must be sedated (and still!) to facilitate a complete examination of the oral cavity. Ensuring your horse’s cooperation and comfort allows the veterinarian to provide dental care more efficiently, while minimizing the amount of time your horse spends with his mouth open.
  2. Dental speculum:  This device keeps the horse’s mouth open, allowing the veterinarian to examine all the teeth. Without a speculum, the cheek teeth at the back of mouth cannot be evaluated.
  3. Light: Examination, floating, and dental procedures require light- just as your own dentist needs light to see what he/she is doing!
  4. Mirror: A mirror is needed to assess all surfaces of the teeth and gums.
  5. Dental probe and/ or a dental explorer: Like us, horses can suffer from periodontal disease, cavities, fractured teeth, and other conditions where a probe and explorer to assess depth and severity are needed to formulate a treatment plan.

Equine dentistry has evolved so much. Even in the field, complex procedures involving extractions, radiographs, or even restorations are possible. A non-veterinary “float” is a disservice to your horse- at best, incomplete, and at worst, potentially harmful.

If having a non-dentist work on your own teeth is unimaginable, why should the case be any different for your horse?

Pre-Purchase Exams

You have been combing through Facebook feeds for months looking for the perfect horse.  Then, when all seems lost, you find the one that checks all of the boxes… he’s the right color, age, and temperament and of course, he is “guaranteed sound!”  What’s next?  Run out the door hook up the trailer… no wait, someone said that you should do something else.  Oh yeah, you come to your senses and call or email to see if your veterinarian can fit you in for a Pre-Purchase Exam. 

Do I really need a PPE?

In the uncertain world of horses, you have to hedge every bet that you can.  While a PPE isn’t a guarantee in any way, it is a way to help ensure that this perfect horse you are ready to fly out the door for is in fact somewhere close to perfect (for you).  Having a veterinarian go over this potential purchase with a careful eye is the best way for you to make an informed decision about whether your desires align with the horses’ abilities. 

What is a PPE?

It is NOT a pass/fail exam.  A PPE is a moment in time of the health of that horse.  As veterinarians, we are looking to help understand not only what is currently going on with the horse, but also trying to give you (the buyer), some understanding of what may come with that horse.  It is no way a look into a crystal ball, but it can give us hints as to problems that are in the future of that animal.  This information along with your expectations of the horse will help to make the most informed decision you can.

What to Expect?

There are many parts to a PPE, and each exam is a bit different, depending on the expectations of the horse and the buyer.  A companion horse’s exam may be entirely different than one that is expected to jump/run/slide for the next 10 years.  Three essential components to a PPE are:

1) Conformation and its application to function (can the horse physically do what he is supposed to do). The conformation of a horse is how it has been put together.  Certain “body types” or conformations lend themselves to better performance in certain disciplines.  What makes a good jumper doesn’t necessarily make a good cow horse!  

2) General Physical Examination (all of the inside and the outside, and do these things work right). This includes examination from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.  A quick (and certainly not complete list) might include:  Auscultation of the heart, lungs and gut sounds, eyes, lymph nodes, ears, teeth, jugular veins, any scars present, lumps/bumps and swellings, palpation of the back and neck and limbs (including range of motion). In other words, a pretty detailed checkup. 

3) Dynamic Exam (lameness, flexions and associated observations of the horse in motion).  A lameness exam is the evaluation of how a horse uses their limbs.  What is their “normal” way of going and how does that play into what they are to be used for (a “baseline”).  A flexion is a “stress” test, where a joint or set of joints is stressed for a given amount of time, and then the horse is asked to trot (usually), and they are evaluated if a painful response has been induced.  If the veterinarian does create pain from the flexion test, it may be an indication of an issue that we don’t see on baseline exam.  This positive response to flexion may be justification for an x-ray, ultrasound or both… or it may be enough to just end the exam and say that this isn’t the horse for you.  Always keep in mind that a PPE is a fact-finding mission — to help you make the best choice you can!

Beyond these basics, the sky is the limit as to what might be included in the exam (and your expectations).  Under saddle exam, radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, breeding soundness exam, sedated dental exam, upper airway exam, blood work, genetic testing, and drug testing to name a few!! 

I usually prepare my clients for a routine exam (the three essential components) to take somewhere around an hour, and if we are going to add other parts to the exam, that time can easily double or even triple!  Each veterinarian or clinic will likely have a different pricing structure, but again, a Pre-Purchase Exam is a data-finding mission, to help you make the most informed decision that you can. 

One other piece of advice that I offer to clients is that when performing a PPE is this… Perfect horses are hard to come by… so understand what your tolerances might be and be prepared for a “these are the pros and these are the cons kind of discussion!” 

Happy Horse Hunting!

Equine Strengthening Exercises and Pitfalls to Avoid

Wait!  Come back!!  Even though your horse is currently sound and healthy, many of the topics in this blog are still applicable to you and your riding partner!!

My purpose in writing this blog is to broaden the minds of my readers into better understanding what modalities are available as it pertains to building a stronger and sounder equine partner.  Just because your horse is currently sound, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be pursuing additional exercises outside of the saddle to help preserve soundness and prevent lameness.  From basic hill work to raised trot poles and the EquiCore system, many of the modalities below will help you to build the strongest horse possible.  The stronger your riding partner, the lower the risk of injury while on the trail or in the arena. 

Stretching

Please oh please don’t extend your horse’s leg out in front of them without providing ample support to the knee!  In doing so, the knee becomes hyperextended, and you could injure the small collection of carpal bones that comprise the horse’s knee.  Instead, hold the limb behind the knee and ask for forward stretch from the knee, not the hoof or the fetlock.  There are no muscles below the knee so why try to stretch what isn’t there?  This is one of the most common mistakes I see when clients are trying to stretch their horse’s limb, when in reality, this stretch is really geared toward stretching the muscles of the shoulder and upper limb.  

Beginning Carrot Stretch

Personally, I am a huge fan of carrot stretches.  These are so helpful for helping to alleviate muscle tension in the horse’s neck while also bringing flexibility through the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the neck.  There is also the added bonus of abdominal strengthening once your horse builds up flexibility and starts really getting deep into their stretches.  I stand with my back towards the horse’s shoulder and ask the horse to stretch around the front of my body back towards the levels of the stifle, hock and hoof, aiming to hold a stretch at each zone for a minimum of five seconds.  Some horses will try to cheat and move their haunches away to avoid stretching through the neck and thorax.  Standing with the horse against a wall can help eliminate this form of cheating.  Personally, I use carrot stretches five days a week, asking my mare to stretch both directions multiple times, multiple zones.  After a few weeks of consistent stretching, you’ll be amazed at the increased range of motion. 

Advanced Carrot Stretch

Sure Foot Pads®

Once your horse becomes proficient at the carrot stretches, Sue Foot pads are a fantastic way to increase the intensity of the exercise.  The pads come in varying densities.  The harder the pad, the higher the stability, the softer the pad, the higher the dynamic instability.  This is the same concept as performing yoga or pushups on a Bosu ball.  By increasing the instability of the surface the horse is standing on, we increase the workload of the tiny, stabilizing muscles of the limb while also applying small amounts of stress to the ligaments supporting the joints of the lower limb.  Both processes work to increase the strength of the soft tissue structures supporting the limb which then decreases the risk of injury in a performance setting.  I will also use the soft, squishy Sure Foot pads in my patients suffering from chronic foot pain like laminitis.  By providing them a soft surface to stand on during farrier appointments and follow up exams, I improve the quality of their experience while also increasing their overall comfort.  I do not recommend these pads for use in horses recovering from acute soft tissue injuries as the dynamic instability of the exercise can potentially worsen the injury. 

www.surefootequine.com

Raised Trot Poles and Hill work

Assuming your horse is sound, raised trot poles and riding up hills will help to engage the muscles of the back and haunches.  Keep in mind that you’re not using trot poles to increase the length of the stride, but instead, you’re aiming to increase the height of the step taken over the pole.  As such, increasing the distance between your poles will be counter productive as it will result in a hollowing of the horse’s back and excessive extension of the lumbosacral joint.  Aim for a slower trot with a higher step over the pole. 

As for riding hills, many horses want to traverse hills with their head held high and their back in extension (hollowed out).  (We are after all asking them to carry us on their backs while climbing hundreds if not thousands of feet in altitude.  Why would they want to work harder than necessary?)  A horse will build better musculature climbing hills if asked to climb at a slightly slower pace with their head in a very slight frame (versus giraffe pose).  Same can be said for descending hills and mountains. 

http://www.equicoreconcepts.com

The Equi-Core System

If you have spent any time in my truck, you have heard me reference the Equi-Core system at least once a day.  Seriously, I should earn a commission with the number of sales my recommendations have resulted in! This system consists of one to two, wide, flat resistance bands that go around the horse’s haunches and under their belly.  You can use one band at a time to isolate an area of work, or both bands simultaneously.  The benefit of this system (above all other training systems out there) is that it never contacts the horse’s mouth.  The mere presence of a loose band around the haunches can instantly increase the level of engagement of the horse’s pelvic muscles. 

By engaging the pelvic muscles, we tilt the pelvis towards the forelimbs which brings the hind limbs further under the horse’s belly, elongates the muscles of the back and engages the abdominal muscles, all without having to be a Grand Prix dressage rider!  The bands can be used at certain portions of a training ride or throughout the entire ride.  They can be used on a trail ride or during a beginner’s riding lesson to build topline musculature in the horse, without the rider having to do a thing.  You’ll want to introduce the bands slowly, one at a time, so your horse doesn’t feel trapped by them, and you’ll want to slowly increase the amount of time your horse spends in them so he doesn’t get sore.  After several weeks working in the Equi-Core system, you should see an increase in topline and gluteal musculature. 

How to Keep Donkeys and Mules Healthy

Donkeys and mules are readily recognizable by their distinguished large ears. These equids frequently have the reputation of requiring less veterinary attention. Although they are certainly more stoic (and perhaps smarter!) than horses, they still need—and deserve—the same preventative veterinary care and routine farrier work.

Image by Marzena P. from Pixabay

The long-eared can fall into a few categories, so here are the basic definitions:

Donkey: Like the horse, the donkey is in the Equidae family. The donkey is derived from the African wild ass and was likely domesticated about 5000-6000 years ago in Africa. Male donkeys are called jacks, female donkeys are called jennys.

Mule: mare/jack cross. Mules are sterile.

Hinny: stallion/jenny cross. Hinnys are sterile.

Image by Ralphs_Fotos from Pixabay

Donkeys and mules are thrifty, able to work hard and survive in barren conditions. Donkeys in particular are adapted to digest fiber of poor nutritional quality and they have lower daily intake requirements to maintain body weight. This heartiness is especially problematic in our non-working donkeys, as they tend to be easy keepers prone to obesity and related conditions, such as laminitis.

The stoicism of the donkey also means that health issues are frequently not observed as quickly as in horses. Donkeys can become extremely ill when health conditions cause them to stop eating, leading to high levels of fat mobilization within the bloodstream, or hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia can be fatal unless treated aggressively. Signs of illness or pain in a donkey can be easily overlooked. Typically, the first sign of a problem is decreased water or food intake, but signs can also be as subtle as less interest in the surrounding environment and decreased social behavior with other donkeys. In addition, donkeys and mules can suffer from all the same ailments as horses, including colic, respiratory disease, hoof abscesses, and gastric ulcers.

Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay

Other considerations

While they have the reputation for being stubborn, frequently this behavior is due to a donkey taking time to assess a new situation. Donkeys are less likely to panic than horses, and more likely to protest- fight instead of flight! They also form strong bonds with other donkeys, so for travel or hospitalization, a donkey companion is a great way to minimize additional stress.

free day womens burro race” by ken ratcliff is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Recommended veterinary care for donkeys and mules includes the recommended yearly core vaccinations (rabies, tetanus, eastern and western encephalitis, and West Nile) as well as routine veterinary dental care and targeted deworming. Although most donkeys in our community are non-athletes, many Colorado donkeys participate in burro racing, the official sport of Colorado! This is a great way to bond with your donkey and help keep him fit. Whether your donkey or mule is a backyard companion or burro racing champion, don’t forget to ensure he has access to the same care as your horses!

Hang on now Doc, is my horse really that chunky?

Sometimes when we as horseman see our horses on a routine basis, it can be easy to overlook that thickened, cresty neck or the fat pads that have developed on either side of their tail head.  We recognize that it has been quite a while since we’ve been able to palpate any evidence of their ribs, but what other physical indicators do we use as veterinarians to assess the body condition of our patients?  With the significant increase in metabolic laminitis cases seen on a national level, now more than ever, it is important to ensure our horses remain a healthy weight. 

As a veterinarian, the first indication that I may be dealing with a horse in metabolic crisis is not their enlarged abdominal girth but instead is the thickened, hardened appearance to their crest.  The crest is the region directly under the horse’s mane along the topside of their neck.  A normal crest palpates soft, fluctuant, and homogenous to the surrounding tissue and muscle.  The crest on a horse in metabolic crisis becomes hardened, like the density of cauliflower.  The crest can also become wider and more visually pronounced in severe cases.  As the metabolic disease process progresses, horses can develop regional adiposity, also known as the accumulation of fat pads throughout their body.  These pads of adipose tissue most commonly develop behind the shoulder blades on either side of the withers and on either side of the tail head.  In severe cases, adipose pads can develop along either side of the thoracolumbar spine and in the girth region.    A horse of a healthy weight has no evidence of regional adiposity, with rib coverage that allows for palpation of each individual rib but not the visual distinction of each rib. 

Body condition scoring in horses is commonly done using the Henneke System.  This scoring system was developed in 1983 and has been accepted throughout the international equine industry as a standardized means to assess adiposity in horses.  The scores range from 1 to 9 with a score of 1 being associated with extreme emaciation and a score of 9 correlating to extreme obesity.  Below is an outline of the individual scores:

Poor: Grade 1 – Extreme emaciation; no presence of fatty tissue, all bony prominences including withers, shoulder blade, dorsal spinous processes, ribs, pelvis and sacrum are all clearly visible.

Very Thin: Grade 2 – Emaciated; slight tissue cover over bony prominences but withers, shoulder blade, dorsal spinous processes, ribs, pelvis and sacrum are all clearly visible.

Thin: Grade 3 – Slight accumulation of adipose tissue; bony prominences are no longer clearly discernible; some fill over withers, shoulders and throughout the neck, ribs still visible.

Moderately Thin: Grade 4 – Ridge of spine and withers are still visibly pronounced, ribs still visible, some accumulation of adipose tissue over the shoulders and through the neck and tail head region. 

Moderate: Grade 5 – Spine and ribs cannot be visibly differentiated although ribs can be palpated, tail head is soft and squishy; withers, shoulders and neck are smooth and rounded.

Moderately Fleshy: Grade 6 – slight crease down the spine, tail head is still soft and squishy, regions of adipose accumulation are present on either side of the withers and through the crest, most ribs can still be palpated but not all of them.

Fleshy: Grade 7 – a crease is present along the spine, the ribs have fat filling between them, tail head is still soft, regions of adipose accumulation are pronounced through the crest and on either side of the withers. 

Fat: Grade 8 – a definite crease is present along the spine (aka. “drainage ditch”), it is difficult to feel any ribs, soft adipose tissue surrounds the tail head, the neck/crest is quite enlarged and there is adipose accumulation on the inner aspects of the hind limbs as well as behind the shoulder blades.

Extremely Fat: Grade 9 – the “drainage ditch” collects water when it rains, there is bulging adipose accumulation on top of the ribs, behind the shoulders, through the crest and on either side of the tail head.  Accumulated abdominal fat is also present on the underside of the flank. 

To confirm your horse is in optimal health, it is important to be able to accurately grade your horse’s body condition.  An ideal range is between 4-6, depending on the breed and usage of your horse.  If your horse falls outside of this range, it is important to discuss the nutritional components of your horse’s diet with your veterinarian to decrease the risks associated with equine obesity and ensure your horse isn’t deficient in necessary nutrients. 

Fecal Egg Counts and Deworming

As spring begins to show its face in beautiful flowers and new grasses, the parasite life cycle is renewed.  Warmer weather encourages larval maturation from fecal contamination in pastures. As these larvae mature they make the progression up the blade of grass and await consumption by a new host.  As your horse grazes on the fresh spring grass, transmission occurs. This is a very simple representation of a parasite life cycle. 

Fecal egg counts (FEC) have been a hot topic for many years now, and they remain the best way to monitor and treat for parasite infestation in our equine partners.  Performing a FEC gives us an understanding of what your horse is shedding at that time, and is a likely representation of what they are dealing with internally.  Understanding this, we selectively prescribe dewormer for that particular horse and their individual issues.  Two or three weeks later, we recheck FEC to be sure that the dewormer did what we needed it to do! 

In Colorado, it is not uncommon for a horse to show no signs of parasites in an FEC. Our unique environment of generally dry and freezing conditions helps to reduce the transmission of parasites in general, and many horses lack substantial grazing opportunities. But they certainly still do occur. 

Since responsible deworming of your horse is a bit more involved than it used to be, each case and circumstance can be unique.  If you have questions about your particular horse, the environmental conditions, or their potential for exposure, you should have a discussion with your veterinarian. 

Core Vaccines

***This blog was originally written in January of 2020, and as of today, March 24th, 2020, times have changed significantly.  With Covid-19 causing the issues that it is, we feel it necessary to add the following statement.

Governor Polis on 3/20/2020, in Colorado Executive order 2020 009, made veterinarians part of the list of essential workforce to continue with “necessary procedures.”  For the safety and welfare of horses, the Mobile Veterinary Services vaccination schedule will continue as planned.  If delayed 3 or more months, depending on conditions, our horses will become susceptible to deadly diseases.  

As always, at MVS, we strive for clear client communication.  We will keep everyone informed to the best of our abilities as to the orders placed on us as veterinarians.  Please feel free to call with individual questions that you may have. ***

There is a long list of vaccines available to give our horses.  Owners and even veterinarians can get bogged down in the details, and that’s just based on the vaccines available. 

Then we start to talk about schedules for each group of horses.  Groups like Adult horses vaccinated in the past, Adult horses with no known or no history of vaccines, Foals (of vaccinated mares), Foals (of unvaccinated mares), oh yeah, and the broodmares!  Whew, I think that covers the horse population!!!

Really quickly a discussion of “just vaccines,” gets complicated.  Mobile Veterinary Services will always fall back on, “talk with your veterinarian to make a plan for YOUR herd and their individual needs.”  Here, we would like to discuss “core vaccines.”

What is a core vaccine? 

As defined by the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) a core vaccine “protects against diseases that are endemic to a region, are virulent/highly contagious, pose a risk of severe disease, those having potential public health significance, and/ or are required by law.  Core vaccines have clearly demonstrable efficacy and safety, with a high enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in ALL equids.”  It’s a mouthful, but what does it mean?  In the end, it means that they are safe, low risk, and designed and developed to protect horses and humans alike. 

These are the Core Vaccines recognized by the AAEP:

Tetanus:  Should be given annually.  If there is a question as to the status of a horse, they should receive a 2-dose series (4- 6 weeks apart).  Colts should receive a 3 shot series beginning around 6 months of age, second dose 1 month later, and another dose at 1 year old. 

EEE/WEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis/ Western Equine Encephalitis):  Just like the Tetanus, it should be given annually, and they should go through an initial 3 dose series.  Conveniently, tetanus is often in a combination vaccine with these two. 

West Nile Virus:  As with the two above, West Nile should be given annually.  This is often in combination with WEE/EEE and Tetanus and can be given to colts and fillies in one shot on the same 3 dose schedule. 

Rabies:  Rabies is 100% fatal, in ALL species.  All youngsters should receive 2 vaccines starting around 6 months old (second one about 1 month later).  Then, every horse, every year should receive a booster. 

Every horse should receive at least these vaccines, every year.

It is important that these vaccines are handled correctly and managed at the appropriate temperature and environment to ensure that the vaccine is an effective and SAFE one.  This is the biggest reason that we recommend that you receive your vaccines from a licensed veterinarian.   If you ever have questions about your herd’s (no matter how big or small) vaccination protocol, please feel free to reach out to MVS!

How to Select a Concentrate for Your Horse

With the variety of different feed and supplement choices available, it can be overwhelming to make decisions regarding your horse’s diet. It is important to remember that horses are grazing animals, designed to spend much of their day eating forage. Forage (grass and/or hay) should comprise most of your horse’s diet, at a rate of about 2% of his body weight per day. Of course, the nutrient profile of different forage sources can vary as well, so a hay analysis can provide more detailed information about nutrient content. 

When selecting a feed, be sure to look for the feed tag or guaranteed analysis. This tag describes the composition of the feed, including protein, fat, fiber, and mineral content. You will also find guidelines for recommended amounts to feed your horse, depending on his weight, workload, and stage of life.

What kind of concentrate does my horse need?

If your horse is not in heavy work and maintains an appropriate body condition score easily, he does not need high levels of concentrate added to a forage diet. A product called a ration balancer is perfect for these horses. Ration balancers are designed for the easy keeper to be relatively low in calories but contain the vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in a forage-only diet. For these horses, daily forage intake at 2% of body weight per day, a ration balancer fed by weight as directed, and access to a mineral block may be all that is needed.

For horses in heavy training, those with a higher metabolism, or those with compromised teeth, more calorie-dense concentrates may be beneficial. For example, a Thoroughbred racehorse will need extra calories from a concentrate to take in enough calories each day for race training, while an aged horse unable to chew adequately will need a forage substitute.

Examples of horses with varying dietary needs



Red, a 16-year-old quarter horse gelding. 

Job: light trail riding 1-2 days per week, easy keeper. Because Red has a less demanding job and maintains his weight well on hay alone, he doesn’t need extra calories from high-energy feeds. A ration balancer is a perfect option to ensure Red has the appropriate vitamin and mineral balance in his diet, without supplying extra calories. 





GiGi, an 11-year-old TB mare

Job: upper-level eventer.  GiGi is a high-level athlete, and as a Thoroughbred, she has a higher metabolism. She is in intense training 4-6 days per week, eats free choice hay, and needs the extra calories from a performance feed to maintain her condition. Many performance feeds offer high-fat content in addition to protein and fiber, as a more calorie-dense option.





Jack, a 25-year-old appendix gelding

Job: retired, hard keeper with many missing teeth. Lack of teeth means that Jack has a hard time chewing hay efficiently, which also puts him at an increased risk of choking. The best feed for Jack is a complete senior feed. The “complete” description means that this feed is formulated to meet all of his nutritional and caloric needs in the absence of hay. Of course, this means that a much higher amount of feed must be fed daily. Regular (non-complete) feeds are generally not safe or nutritionally balanced to feed in such high amounts. If you’re feeding a horse like Jack, remember to check the label of the senior feed to be sure it says ‘complete’.



 Remember, ALWAYS weigh your feed- the label instructions on the bag will have recommendations based on weight (The weight is NOT 1 coffee can…) It is much easier to adjust your horse’s diet when we know exactly how much he is consuming. The easiest way to do this is to put your feed scoop on a food scale, tare it, add feed to desired weight, then draw a line on your scoop so you can feed consistently at every time. Another important note is that feeds are not all the same weight, so if you switch feeds, 2lbs of feed A is probably not the same amount in your scoop as 2 lbs of feed B. As always, if you have questions or would like help selecting a concentrate, consult with your veterinarian.

Caring for Your Senior Horse

At what age is a horse considered geriatric or senior? Does owning a senior horse mean that he must eat a feed labeled as a “senior” feed? As always, the answer is, it depends. Our horses are living longer lives than ever, thanks to an evolving understanding of the needs of geriatric horses and our ability to provide high quality care. There is no set age cutoff as to when a horse is considered geriatric, but most experts agree this can be around age 20. However, age is just a number, and many horses are still active and competing into their twenties, while others are happily retired. The main issues we see in our older horse population include dental disease, altered dietary needs, metabolic disease/PPID (Cushings), and arthritis.

 

Photo Courtesy PugnoM on Flickr

Dental Changes

The ideal time to begin focusing on your horse’s regular preventative veterinary care is when he is young. Horses receiving regular preventative care, especially veterinary dentistry, preserve their teeth longer and can age more gracefully. Waiting until signs of dental disease or difficulty chewing are observed often indicates advanced disease and more limited treatment options. Most horses benefit from yearly dentistry, which includes a thorough sedated oral exam with a dental speculum, light source, and mirror. A thorough oral exam is vital to accurately assess, document, and treat any issues.

Horses suffering from abnormal dental wear, cracked or missing teeth, or severe periodontal disease may require more frequent care. Even though horse teeth are described as “long rooted,” they do eventually wear out, so proper care ensures the longest possible life of the tooth. Common dental issues in older horses include fracture of cheek teeth, complete expiration or wearing out of cheek teeth, loose/painful teeth, and periodontal disease. The incisors can also be affected by similar conditions.

Staying on top of your senior horse’s dental care helps ensure that he gets what is needed from his diet. Sometimes severe dental disease and impaired chewing ability necessitates eliminating hay from the diet entirely. Complete feeds are formulated specifically for horses that can no longer chew hay effectively. These diets have greatly improved the quality and length of life for senior horses with compromised teeth.

Nutritional Changes

Nutrition recommendations for the geriatric horse are formulated around maintaining an ideal body condition. In the geriatric horse, this can be complicated by difficulty chewing, poor teeth, metabolic disease, and decreased ability to digest fiber and protein. For older horses in good weight and with adequate dentition, little dietary change may be required. For older horses who have difficulty maintaining weight and/or compromised teeth, complete feeds as mentioned above can help. These feeds are high in easily digestible fat, fiber, and protein, and are designed as easy-to-chew. They are formulated to replace hay entirely for those horses that can no longer adequately chew hay.
Adding water to soften the feed can reduce the risk of choke and ensure additional water intake. Feeding recommendations are often listed as pounds of feed per day depending on whether the horse is also eating hay, so it is important to weigh out your horse’s portion so that any necessary adjustments can be made more accurately.

Metabolic Changes

A curly haircoat and muscle loss over the back aren’t just signs of aging- They can indicate a common underlying condition: equine pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction, more commonly known as PPID or Cushings disease. This is a treatable (but not cureable) condition that is very common in geriatric horses, resulting in hormonal imbalances and symptoms such as delayed shedding, curly hair coat, muscle loss over topline, increased drinking and urinating, personality changes, and increased susceptibility to infections and laminitis. Diagnosis is made by a blood test as well as by history and clinical signs. Management involves daily administration of pergolide (Prascend) tablets, which help restore normal hormone levels and alleviate the clinical signs of the disease.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a separate metabolic condition, but it sometimes occurs in conjunction with PPID. EMS horses typically show signs of being an “easy keeper”- cresty neck, regional fat deposits behind the shoulders and at the tail head. Horses with EMS are more susceptible to laminitis and usually have a higher baseline insulin level than normal. EMS horses are managed with strict attention to diet (minimizing sugar and starch) and exercise to help them maintain a lean body weight.

Joint and Muscle Changes

Just like us, aging horses suffer from daily aches and pains. An examination with your vet can help identify major and minor issues and

Photo Courtesy nikki_tate on Flickr

determine what treatment plan works best for you and your horse. Many options are available to keep our old horses comfortable.
Nutraceuticals (supplements) are very popular, although many of these products lack proof of efficacy and ingredients. More researched options include medications such as adequan (administered intramuscularly) and Legend (administered intravenously). These medications help provide the components necessary to keep joints healthy.

Joint injections target individual joints to reduce pain and inflammation and improve mobility. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Equioxx are also helpful, along with acupuncture and chiropractic care. Stable management is equally important- maximum turn out time allows horses to move at will, and monitoring herd dynamics ensures that older horses are not prevented from accessing food and water. In addition to these considerations, regular veterinary and farrier care will help your senior horse enjoy his golden years with you.

As always, if you have any questions about caring for your senior horse, please contact your veterinarian who can offer a personalized plan to help keep your geriatric horse happy, healthy, and comfortable well into their senior years.

Henderson Castration Technique

As some of you know, Dr. Hartman uses a slightly different technique to castrate male horses called the Henderson castration technique.  It involves the use of a power drill and a specialized clamp to literally twist off the testicle.  Traditional methods involve the use of an emasculator which crushes the tissue to ensure adequate termination of blood flow.   If the emasculator has been around for such a long time and works, why turn to power tools??

Continue reading