Why do older horses lose so much weight?
If both of these problems develop in older horses, they can easily lead to weight loss due to poor digestion and poor absorption of nutrients. It’s not unusual for older horses to have smaller populations of fermenting bacteria and protozoa in their colons. This can lead to an inefficient use of the fiber in their diets.
What happens to a horse at the age of 20?
It’s a common fact that horses over the age of 20 often lose the ability to process and absorb enough energy to maintain a healthy weight. Your 20-year-old stallion can quickly turn into a thin, ribby, and less robust version of itself.
When do you feel like losing your horse?
You may experience it after your horse passes as an internal insistence that ‘this can’t be happening’, or you may feel it pre-emptively if he’s suffering from an illness or injury that forces you to make the final call.
Are there any health issues with older horses?
As our equine preventative health care improves, the lives of our horses grow longer. Virtually any health issue can be seen with a senior horse, but some health problems are far more common than others. Here are three issues to prepare for as you work to maintain your older horses.
What causes an older horse to lose weight?
The round, robust horse who has always been an easy keeper may grow thin and ribby after he leaves his teens. Some of the appearance of weight loss is an illusion caused by the changing shape and reduced muscularity of the older body.
It’s a common fact that horses over the age of 20 often lose the ability to process and absorb enough energy to maintain a healthy weight. Your 20-year-old stallion can quickly turn into a thin, ribby, and less robust version of itself.
Can a 22 year old Horse Pass as a senior citizen?
Your 22-year-old horse may pass as a senior citizen on paper, but until he shows physical signs of slowing down, he’ll get along fine with management as usual.
What causes a horse to miss a step?
Other orthopedic issues might include navicular pain, fetlock pain, ligament issues, tendinopathies, musculoskeletal issues higher up the leg, or even lower neck pain, which can impact the muscles that carry the front leg through the non-weight-bearing phase of the stride, causing toe-dragging or -catching.
Dental deterioration is also a concern in older horses who lose body weight and condition. Horses have hypsodont teeth, which means the teeth erupt approximately three to four millimeters per year to compensate for the tooth wear caused by the grinding motion of chewing.
What should I do if my horse is not gaining weight?
Regular dental care is essential to maintain the horse’s teeth in good shape to chew properly. Your veterinarian may determine that your horse is not maintaining appropriate weight and condition due to a dental condition that can be addressed by routine dentistry.
How to keep weight on a senior horse?
The first step in figuring out why your horse is having trouble maintaining appropriate body weight and condition is to examine your overall feeding program to see if he is receiving a diet that is adequate to meet his energy requirements and that he is actually consuming as much as you think he is.
In particular, a virulent lice infestation can cause a horse to lose condition. Foals and older horses may be particularly affected. Within a herd of horses, even a small herd such as we keep on our own properties, there are bullies and underdogs. Often the underdogs are bullied away from bale feeders or the best grazing.
Regular dental care is essential to maintain the horse’s teeth in good shape to chew properly. Your veterinarian may determine that your horse is not maintaining appropriate weight and condition due to a dental condition that can be addressed by routine dentistry.
The first step in figuring out why your horse is having trouble maintaining appropriate body weight and condition is to examine your overall feeding program to see if he is receiving a diet that is adequate to meet his energy requirements and that he is actually consuming as much as you think he is.