As horses get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior horse wellness program can help your horse remain fit and healthy as he or she ages and help us catch any potential problems earlier, when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can actually help your horse live longer, too!
Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a horse’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your horse enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, horses may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are quite advanced.
Senior status varies depending on your horse’s breed and size. We can help you determine what life stage your horse is in.
Before your horse reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your horse in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your horse so we can keep track of any changes.
We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your horse’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your horse comfortable.
We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your horse’s individual needs. If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our senior wellness program in more detail. Call us today to schedule your horse’s exam!
