Musculoskeletal Disease in Aged Horses and Its Management

Paul René van Weeren; Willem Back

doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2016.04.003

Musculoskeletal Disease in Aged Horses and Its Management

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2016 Aug;32(2):229-47. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2016.04.003.

Authors

Paul René van Weeren¹, Willem Back²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584CM Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: R.VANWEEREN@UU.NL.
² Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584CM Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9280 Merelbeke, Belgium.

PMID: 27449390
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2016.04.003

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most prevalent health problem in aging horses. They are not life threatening, but are painful and an important welfare issue. Chronic joint disease (osteoarthritis) and chronic laminitis are the most prevalent. Treating osteoarthritis in the elderly horse is similar to treating performance horses, but aims at providing a stable situation with optimal comfort. Immediate medical treatment of flare-ups, long-term pain management, and adaptation of exercise and living conditions are the mainstays of treatment. Laminitis in the geriatric horse is related often to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, which may be treated with additional pergolide.

Keywords: Degenerative joint disease; Geriatric horse; Laminitis; Osteoarthritis; Pain management.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aging*
Animals
Foot Diseases / therapy
Foot Diseases / veterinary
Hoof and Claw
Horse Diseases / therapy*
Horses
Lameness, Animal
Musculoskeletal Diseases / therapy
Musculoskeletal Diseases / veterinary*
Veterinary Medicine