Demographics of health and disease in the geriatric horse.
Abstract: Owners of older horses have generally owned them for a long time. They have developed a bond that is similar to that seen with companion animals. Their desire to have their animal(s) age gracefully with comfort and mobility has stirred research in the field of equine geriatric medicine. Equine geriatric medicine is to the first decade of the twenty-first century as neonatal medicine was to the 1980s. Hopefully, the demographics discussed in this article highlight area where research can be most helpful.
Publication Date: 2003-01-09 PubMed ID: 12516924DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(02)00021-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the shift in equine healthcare focus towards geriatric medicine, reflecting on the bond between owners and their aging horses and highlighting areas where more research is needed.
Understanding The Bond Between Horse Owners and Older Horses
- The research starts by identifying a strong connection between horse owners and their older horses, akin to the bond between companion animals and their owners.
- This bond is usually established over a long period of ownership, impacting the owners’ desire for their horses to age with comfort and mobility.
The Emergence of Equine Geriatric Medicine
- The field of equine geriatric medicine has grown rapidly, much like the field of neonatal medicine did in the 1980s.
- As the horse-owning population demands better care for their older horses, equine geriatric medicine has become an important specialty within veterinary medicine.
The Role of Research in Equine Geriatric Medicine
- Increased interest in equine geriatric medicine necessitates extensive research to understand and cater to the specific health needs of older horses.
- The researchers hope that by discussing the demographics of health and disease in older horses, they can highlight the areas that require further investigation.
Implications and Future Directions
- The researchers suggest continued expansion of the field of equine geriatric medicine, with more research focusing on understanding the unique health needs of older horses.
- This will ultimately benefit both the older horses and their owners, by ensuring the animals’ comfort and mobility as they age.
Cite This Article
APA
Paradis MR.
(2003).
Demographics of health and disease in the geriatric horse.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 18(3), 391-401.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(02)00021-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Science, Tufts University School of Veterinary, Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 05136, USA. maryrose.paradis@tufts.edu
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Health Status
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses / physiology
- Human-Animal Bond
- Humans
- Veterinary Medicine / methods
- Veterinary Medicine / standards
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Stoeckle SD, Timmermann D, Merle R, Gehlen H. Plasma Amino Acids in Horses Suffering from Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 27;12(23).
- Smith R, Pinchbeck G, McGowan C, Ireland J, Perkins E. Caring for the Older Horse: A Conceptual Model of Owner Decision Making. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 2;11(5).
- McKinney CA, Oliveira BCM, Bedenice D, Paradis MR, Mazan M, Sage S, Sanchez A, Widmer G. The fecal microbiota of healthy donor horses and geriatric recipients undergoing fecal microbial transplantation for the treatment of diarrhea. PLoS One 2020;15(3):e0230148.
- Ząbek T, Semik-Gurgul E, Szmatoła T, Gurgul A, Fornal A, Bugno-Poniewierska M. Methylation Marks of Blood Leukocytes of Native Hucul Mares Differentiated in Age. Int J Genomics 2019;2019:2839614.
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- Tew SR, McDermott BT, Fentem RB, Peffers MJ, Clegg PD. Transcriptome-wide analysis of messenger RNA decay in normal and osteoarthritic human articular chondrocytes. Arthritis Rheumatol 2014 Nov;66(11):3052-61.
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- Bartke A, Westbrook R, Sun L, Ratajczak M. Links between growth hormone and aging. Endokrynol Pol 2013;64(1):46-52.
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- Wonghanchao T, Sanigavatee K, Petchdee S, Chettaratanont K, Thongyen T, Wanichayanon B, Poochipakorn C, Chanda M. Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Are Affected by Age and Activity Level in Athletic Horses. Vet Sci 2025 Jun 28;12(7).
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