In my daily work, I see many senior horses. They are appreciated members of the family. Most owners really want to keep them as long as possible and give them a good life. But there are some common problems many senior horses are struggling with, in particular weight loss and chronic diarrhea.

Dental Issues in the Senior Horse

It is important to ask the vet to check the horse for lameness and endocrine problems such as PPID, but what is even more important is to have experienced equine dentists to do regular checks. If the horse shows signs of weight loss, reduced appetite, bad smell from the mouth, colic, or diarrhea, dental problems should always be the first thing to be ruled out.

There are several problems that can be prevented and treated. These include problems such as diastema (a gap between teeth), caries (decay), or a fractured tooth that causes severe pain in the mouth that causes problems with feed intake.

Even if there are no severe problems, older horses suffer from increased wear of the teeth, significant reduced size of teeth and strength of the roots, or loose teeth. That can cause pain when chewing, reduced production of saliva, and less utilization of the fibrous feed.

Results of Tooth Problems

If the horse is not able to chew grass or forage (long fibers), that causes a chain reaction of health problems.

 Weight loss tends to result, since less energy is able to be utilized from the forage or grass. The microorganisms in the hind gut are responsible for the conversion of fibers to free fatty acids that can be absorbed and used as an energy source in the horse. Small particles have a larger surface, and when the horse is not able to chew properly, the fiber particles become longer and less energy can be produced and absorbed.

Increased risk of gastric ulcers is also caused by reduced chewing function. One of the most important risk factors for squamous ulcers (ESGD) is reduced intake of fiber and reduced chewing function. When the horse is chewing, saliva is being produced. The amount of saliva is dependant on how many times the horse chews. Pain in the mouth causes reduced fiber intake and reduced production of saliva.

 From One End to the Other

Dental problems also result in an increased risk of diarrhea. The type and number of the hindgut microorganisms depend on the type and amount of feed being eaten. When the senior horse is not able to eat grass or forage in the same amount as before, that causes changes and disturbances in the hindgut. The population of microbes might become smaller and less stable. That in turn can create inflammation in the cells lining the hindgut mucosa. The consequence of this can be diarrhea.

Increased risk of colic is also seen as a consequence of dental problems. Longer fibers can cause impaction, changes in the hindgut microorganisms can cause changes in fermentation, and increased gas production. Inflammation in the hindgut mucosa will create discomfort and pain. Gastric ulceration can result in intermittent signs of colic.

Preventing Senior Horse Dental Issues

What can we do to prevent these health problems in the older horse?

  1. Conduct regular dental examinations and preventive care.
  2. Pay attention to the body condition of the senior horse. If weight loss is being observed, you should consult with your veterinarian and your equine dentist.
  3. Remember there is an increased risk of gastric ulcers. If your horse shows signs of recurrent colic, have the horse examined and treated appropriately.
  4. Choose the right forage for the senior horse. Forages for these horses should not be too rough or hard, and the digestibility should be high. This means straw or hay/haylage that is being harvested very late is usually not the best option.
  5. Choose the right feed for your senior horse. If it starts to lose weight, the solution is not to feed more grain or feed with a high amount of sugar and starch. This will also increase the risk of gastric ulcers and potentially increase the risk of laminitis. Instead, use feed for senior horses, based on a higher amount of highly digestible fibers and vegetable fat/oil. Some products can also be soaked in water in order to make it easier for the horse to eat.
  6. Certain chaffs might not be good for older horses if they have problems with diastema. The hard, short fibers can become stuck between the teeth and cause pain and inflammation
  7. Increase the amount of fiber in the feed that can be chewed or soaked to compensate for the reduced chewing function. There are many products available that—based on different types of fibers—that can be soaked. This can change the situation for the older horse with weight loss and health issues.

Further Reading

  • Nanna Luthersson, DVM, is a senior equine practitioner in Hestedoktoren, Denmark. Her main interests are GI and endocrine problems, laminitis, and nutrition.
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