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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses.
Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(3); 684-702; doi: 10.1111/evj.14200

Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses.

Abstract: Information on health care and health status of U.S. senior horses (≥15 years of age) is currently sparse. Objective: (A) Provide an overview of owner-reported (1) medical conditions, (2) management/treatment practices for equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), (3) frequencies of routine health care practices and (4) supplement and pharmaceutical use in U.S. senior horses (≥15 years of age). (B) Evaluate potential risk factors for certain medical conditions and for low routine health care. Methods: Online survey. Methods: Descriptive and inferential analysis (binomial logistic regression and ANOVA) of 2717 questionnaires from owners of U.S. senior horses. Results: The most common owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed medical conditions were osteoarthritis (30%), dental disorders (15%), lameness (14%), PPID (12%) and ocular disorders (6%). Advancing age was found to be a risk factor for PPID (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.14 [1.10-1.18]), dental (OR [95% CI] = 1.18 [1.15-1.22]) and ocular (OR [95% CI] = 1.05 [1.01-1.10]) disorders. Only 36% of horses were free of owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed medical conditions at the time of the survey. During the year prior to the survey, most routine healthcare practices (i.e., veterinary health care, dental care and anthelmintic treatment) were typically undertaken one to two times per year, while farrier visits occurred mostly every 5-6 weeks. Retired senior horses had a higher risk of no health care visits (OR [95% CI] = 2.1 [1.38-3.06]), no dental care (OR [95% CI] = 2.0 [1.31-3.00]) and low farrier attendance (i.e., ≤4 times/year) (OR [95% CI] = 2.4 [1.57-3.63]) compared with senior horses used for pleasure riding. The most frequently administered drug was firocoxib (18%) and joint supplements were the most provided supplements (41%). Conclusions: Potential recall, response and sampling bias. Risk factor analyses do not establish causal relationships. Conclusions: Medical conditions are highly prevalent in U.S. senior horses. Retired senior horses have an increased risk of low routine health care. Unassigned: Informationen über die Gesundheitsversorgung und den Gesundheitszustand älterer Pferde in den USA (≥15 Jahre alt) sind derzeit spärlich. Unassigned: A: Einen Überblick über von Besitzern gemeldete 1) Erkrankungen, 2) Management‐/Behandlungspraktiken für das Equine Metabolische Syndrom (EMS) und die Dysfunktion der Pars Intermedia der Hypophyse (PPID), 3) Häufigkeiten routinemäßiger Gesundheitsversorgungspraktiken und 4) Verwendung von Nahrungsergaenzungsmittel und Pharmazeutika bei älteren US‐Pferden (≥15 Jahre alt) geben. B: Potenzielle Risikofaktoren für bestimmte Erkrankungen und für geringe routinemäßige Gesundheitsversorgung bewerten. Methods: Online‐Umfrage. Methods: Deskriptive und inferenzielle Analyse (binomiale logistische Regression und ANOVA) von 2717 Fragebögen von Besitzern älterer US‐Pferde. Results: Die häufigsten von Besitzern gemeldeten, veterinärmedizinisch diagnostizierten Krankheiten waren Osteoarthritis (30%), Zahnstörungen (15%), Lahmheit (14%), PPID (12%) und Augenerkrankungen (6%). Ein fortgeschrittenes Alter wurde als Risikofaktor für PPID (OR = 1,14), Zahnprobleme (OR = 1,18) und Augenstörungen (OR = 1,05) identifiziert. Nur 36% der Pferde waren zum Zeitpunkt der Umfrage frei von von Besitzern gemeldeten, veterinärmedizinisch diagnostizierten Krankheiten. Im Jahr vor der Umfrage wurden die meisten routinemäßigen Gesundheitsversorgungsmaßnahmen (d. h. tierärztliche Gesundheitsversorgung, Zahnbehandlung und anthelminthische Behandlung) in der Regel 1–2 MaL pro Jahr durchgeführt, während Hufschmiedbesuche meist alle 5–6 Wochen stattfanden. Ältere, pensionierte Pferde hatten ein höheres Risiko für fehlende Gesundheitsversorgungsbesuche (OR = 2,1), fehlende Zahnbehandlung (OR = 2,0) und geringe Hufschmiedbesuche (d. h. ≤ 4 MaL/Jahr) (OR = 2,4) im Vergleich zu älteren Pferden, die zum Vergnügen geritten wurden. Das am häufigsten verabreichte Medikament war Firocoxib (18%) und gelenkspezifische Nahrungsergänzungsmittel waren die am häufigsten verabreichten Ergänzungsmittel (41%). WICHTIGSTE EINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Potenzielles Erinnerungs‐, Antwort‐ und Stichprobenbias. Risikofaktoranalysen stellen keine kausalen Zusammenhänge her. Unassigned: Erkrankungen sind bei älteren US‐Pferden weit verbreitet. Pensionierte ältere Pferde haben ein erhöhtes Risiko für geringe routinemäßige Gesundheitsversorgung.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-02 PubMed ID: 39092919DOI: 10.1111/evj.14200Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the health conditions, management practices, and the use of supplements and pharmaceuticals for senior horses in the U.S. It also evaluates risk factors associated with certain health conditions and low routine health care among these horses.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The primary objective of the study was to provide an overview of the medical conditions faced by senior horses in the U.S. It also aimed at understanding the treatment practices for equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), frequently engaged routine health care practices, and the usage of supplements and pharmaceuticals in these horses.
  • The secondary objective was to evaluate the potential risk factors for certain medical conditions and for low routine health care.
  • The methodology employed was an online survey, which gathered information from 2717 questionnaires filled out by owners of U.S. senior horses.
  • The collected data was then subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis such as binomial logistic regression and ANOVA.

Key Findings

  • The most prevalent owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed medical conditions in these senior horses were osteoarthritis (30%), dental disorders (15%), lameness (14%), PPID (12%), and ocular disorders (6%). Only 36% of the horses were devoid of any owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed medical conditions.
  • It was found that advancing age was a risk factor for certain medical conditions like PPID, dental, and ocular disorders.
  • Most of the regular health care practices such as veterinary health care, dental care, and anthelmintic treatment were typically undertaken one to two times per year, while farrier visits mostly occurred every 5-6 weeks.
  • Retired senior horses had a higher risk of no health care visits, no dental care, and low farrier attendance compared with senior horses used for pleasure riding.
  • Firocoxib was the most commonly administered drug (18%), and joint supplements were the most provided supplements (41%).

Limitations and Conclusion

  • The study acknowledges potential recall, response, and sampling bias in its methodology.
  • Although it identified certain risks associated with various health conditions, it does not establish any causal relationships.
  • The study concludes that medical conditions are highly prevalent in U.S. senior horses. Additionally, it notes an increased tendency for retired senior horses to have low routine health care.

Cite This Article

APA
Herbst AC, Coleman MC, Macon EL, Harris PA, Adams AA. (2024). Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses. Equine Vet J, 57(3), 684-702. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14200

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 3
Pages: 684-702

Researcher Affiliations

Herbst, Alisa C
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Coleman, Michelle C
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Macon, Erica L
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Harris, Patricia A
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, UK.
Adams, Amanda A
  • MARS EquestrianTM Research Fellow, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Aging
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Risk Factors
  • Ownership
  • Humans

Grant Funding

  • Buckeye™ Nutrition
  • Hughes Foundation
  • MARS Equestrian™

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