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Clinical management of the geriatric horse and pony
Author(s) -
Jarvis Nicola
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.25.6.350
Subject(s) - pony , debility , medicine , horse , joint disease , osteoarthritis , physical therapy , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , paleontology , ophthalmology , genetics
GERIATRIC retired horses are frequently kept by their owners as a companion for their current riding horse or simply as a much loved 'lawnmower'. With age, horses experience specific clinical problems, including osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), weight loss, pituitary hyperplasia and related conditions. These common causes of debility in the older horse are often insidious in onset and usually progressive but, when managed appropriately, animals can maintain a reasonable quality of life. This article discusses the diagnosis and clinical management of these conditions in the older horse and pony.