A survey of health care and disease in geriatric horses aged 30 years or older

Vet J. 2012 Apr;192(1):57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.03.021. Epub 2011 May 6.

Abstract

This study reports on aspects of preventive health care and on the prevalence of disease in geriatric (≥30 years old) horses and ponies in North-West England and North Wales. Of 128 questionnaires mailed to horse owners, 87 useable responses were received and 69 horses were subject to veterinary examination. Of the animals examined, 16% were underweight with body condition scores (BCS)<2/5, and 10% were overweight (BCS>3/5). This contrasted with the owner responses that reported 23% of the animals surveyed to be underweight and only 3% to be overweight. When assessed at trot, 77% of the horses were lame on at least one limb, with 97% having a reduced range of motion in at least one joint. Only 16% of these animals were reported by owners to have been lame within the previous 12 months. Owner-reported changes to hair coat were significantly associated with hirsutism or abnormal moulting detected at clinical examination (39%). At least one ophthalmic lesion was identified in all of the horses and ponies examined and 17% of owners reported that their animal had experienced visual problems within the previous year. Although dental abnormalities were detected in all animals where an oral examination was performed, only 42% of owners reported that their horse suffered from a known dental disorder. In general, despite a high prevalence of disease detected in these geriatric animals and with the majority having multiple abnormalities at clinical examination, there was under-reporting/under-recognition of these health problems by owners.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aging*
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • England / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Veterinary Medicine*
  • Wales / epidemiology