Older Horses Part 3: Vaccinations and Deworming
Sushil Dulai Wenholz
September 1, 2007
Experts share opinions and research on guidelines for deworming and vaccinating aging equines.
Experts share opinions and research on guidelines for deworming and vaccinating aging equines.
Equine nutritionists discuss a variety of feeds and feeding practices to help horses cope with problems.
Avocado and soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) extracts–the fraction of oil that does not form soap after hydrolysis–are some of the newest joint products to grace the equine nutritional supplement shelves. The beneficial effects of ASU for horses
Success when breeding older maiden mares depends on the management of several factors
The lack of dopamine is critical, as the activity of the pars intermedia is normally inhibited (controlled) by dopamine. Without dopamine, the pars intermedia produces much more hormone than it should, causing the clinical signs of PPID.
More than half of all equine lameness is due to noninfectious joint disease and injury. It can happen from one bad step, but it’s most likely due to cyclic (repeated) trauma.
Medication options for PPID include pergolide, cyproheptadine, trilostane, and chasteberry extract. One disadvantage is that no treatment is currently FDA-approved for PPID in horses.
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction–PPID, or Cushing’s disease–is the most common disease of horses and ponies 15 years of age or older. Although it’s not fully understood yet, researchers are learning more about how to treat and prevent it.
Unfortunately, no perfect PPID test (one that is 100% accurate with a single-sample test) yet exists. At the 2006 AAEP Convention, Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University,
“Old age need not be a burden,” said Loving. “Considering all the premium health care we can offer our horses today, there is no reason they shouldn’t be living into a ripe old age in the greatest of comfort.”
We know Cushing’s disease (or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction?PPID?as it’s more scientifically called), simply put, is an “old-horse disease” that results in metabolism disturbances and an abnormally heavy hair coat. But when it comes to
The type and severity of age-related dental problems often are determined by the type of dental care the horse has had during its lifetime.
Since most horses are used for recreational or performance activities, soundness is understandably of vital importance to horse owners. A 2003 study suggested that 60% of lameness problems in horses are related to osteoarthritis, thus stressing the
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine announced on May 11 it will allow bulk pergolide to be used in compounding pergolide for use in horses.
Pergolide mesylate, a drug commonly used to treat pituitar
More than a month after pergolide mesylate, a drug commonly used to treat pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as equine Cushing’s disease, was withdrawn for human use, the FDA has yet to make an announcement on whether
Pergolide mesylate, a drug commonly used to treat pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as equine Cushing’s disease, has been withdrawn for human use. The FDA made this announcement March 29. Since that time, horse owners and
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