This weeks column. My aging horse Q: My horse is getting skinny and I wonder what I can do to help him out? A: One of the hardest things to accept about pets or any loved one, or even yourself, is the inevitability of aging. Even worse there is the guarantee of death. It happens. Many changes happen to the living body as it ages. It seems that one is youthful and then, suddenly, you look out in your pasture and realize that your friend is old. It really happens so gradually that you dont notice it unless there is an illness or other event that causes a rapid decline from which they dont recover; Some of the things that happen to an older animal are decreased feed efficiency, decreased kidney and liver function, and dental problems. An older animal cannot make use of the food it always has, so you have to feed some specialized, high calorie feed. High protein is NOT the same and its hard on the kidneys. Some of the food goes undigested, so they may have to eat more. Teeth need to be checked as uneven and missing teeth can cause problems eating. Other health issues my crop up, also, so its good to have a veterinarian that you can call out to keep up with your oldster. Even if you are able to keep your horse up in condition for many years, it will eventually show age. Muscle will waste and your horse will shrink. ALl beings that age naturally, will become frail at some point. This is not a reason to euthanize your horse, but it can go that way, eventually. AN old horse may need to be blanketed if they have no body fat. Illness is more debilitating in old animals. Dont hesitate to ask your veterinarian if you have concerns. Enjoy your ancient ones!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:42:37 +0000
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