Gériatrie : questionnaire et état des lieux

The proportion of aged horses has considerably increased in the last few years. The aged horse has become a companion animal and in most cases is retired under proper circumstances.Knowledge in this area is still lacking but increasing. Equine geriatrics is becoming a discipline in it’s own right. The medical approach and management of an aged horse is different to that applied in general equine medicine. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics, the owner’s perception of the old horse and, lastly, daily management. Although there was a general will to improve the welfare of the animal, changes in management largely depended on the knowledge of the owner. The signs of ageing appear after 20 years in most horses. Chronic weight loss is the most common condition described by owners and Cushing’s syndrome is mainly ...