Musculoskeletal Disease in Aged Horses and Its Management
Publication date
2016-08-03
Authors
van Weeren, René
Back, Wim
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
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taverne
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
Osteoarthritis, Laminitis, Geriatric horse, Pain management, Degenerative joint disease, Taverne
Citation
van Weeren, P R & Back, W 2016, 'Musculoskeletal Disease in Aged Horses and Its Management', Veterinary Clinics of North America-Equine Practice, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 229-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2016.04.003