Monday, June 25, 2012

Care For Your Elderly Horse Through Love As Well As Horse Vitamins

By Mark Givens


Horse vitamins are good for the elderly horse. As horses age their demands become greater and to give them a long and happy retirement some considerations must be taken. With the advent of new veterinary systems and the resolution of many horse proprietors to provide their equine companions with the best treatment possible, horses now are living well into their 20s and above. Elderly horses often have a lot more complications and needs as compared to their youthful counterparts. Taking care of older horses is not hard; it just requires a little extra knowledge and precaution.

Not enough people will get through a medical check-up without the feared needle and syringe showing up. A blood screening test can reveal a lot of details about your general health, such as crucial kidney as well as liver function. A yearly blood test for your elderly horse is a wise investment. As the horse grows older, you are increasingly prone to see degeneration in liver as well as kidney function. Your veterinarian may not be able to address the problem, but there are dietary changes that could be created to help the horse. For example, a supplement may be added to shore up a shortfall, or something eliminated from the diet to alleviate the workload in the kidneys. You save a few dollars by arranging the blood test when your vet is out dealing with another creature.

An older horse's respiratory health will be protected and enhanced with time outdoors, as regular confinement in even "clean" barns has been shown to contribute to the growth of heaves. There really are a great number of older horses having heaves and the real difficulty is that it's a progressive disease-it never disappears and it gets harder to manage as the horse ages. Turnout may also lessen an older horse's possibility of colic by increasing gut motility and encouraging natural grazing patterns. Horses were designed to be moving, grazing creatures and that doesn't change as they age. In fact, it becomes even more important.

A more mature horse's turnout requirements are not any different from those of a younger animal--just supply shelter from the elements in addition to water, a mineralized salt block and whatsoever forage is necessary to keep his weight--but you will want to ensure that he has access to these resources. A lot of times an adult horse will drop within the pecking order in the herd. The other animals might not permit him entry to the shed or they'll run him away from food. If you notice such a situation develop, you'll need to bring in either the bully or the older horse at feeding time and provide a 2nd shelter. If you've got the space, you may want to develop a smaller herd with your older horse and friendly companions.

Horse vitamins will demonstrate your love for your older horse. All of the things that apply to the care of more youthful horses are much more valuable for older animals. A sickness or lameness in an older horse is usually much harder or impossible to remedy and so prevention is your best bet. This requires routine shoeing, and deworming. In addition to a routine visit with the veterinarian for teeth and vaccines, it is important to give a thorough study of the horse nearly daily to check for any cuts or swellings, odd behavior which may show illness or something that is not typical for that horse.




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