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Study: Colic The Primary Cause Of Death For Geriatric Horses In Retirement Centers

News — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 19:07:41 +0000

The primary causes of death among horses at a retirement facility include colic, lameness, neurological deficits, and the cumulative effects of old age, according to new research from the Netherlands.

Using records from a private equine retirement center gathered over an eight-year period, researchers aimed to pinpoint the most common causes of death in aged horses and, more specifically, to determine the effects of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) on mortality.^*

For this study, any horse 15 years of age or older was considered geriatric.

After an exhaustive review of records, researchers created fourteen categories for the cause of death: colic, lameness excluding laminitis, laminitis, down in the field, neurological deficit, sudden death, acute illness, chronic weight loss, tumor, fracture or trauma, behavior, financial, and old age. A “financial” cause of death indicated euthanasia occurred because of an owner's inability to pay for care, and “old age” designated a horse with multiple problems that cumulatively decreased welfare and whose life ended by planned euthanasia.

All horses at the facility were overseen by professional horsemen and veterinarians and were provided with routine care. Testing for PPID occurred if there were any clinical indications of the disease (cresty neck, history of laminitis, chronic infections, weight loss).

Of the 194 horses that resided at the facility, 80 geriatric horses died during the eight-year period. Twelve were between the ages of 15 and 19 years old, 25 were between 21 and 25 years old, 32 were between 25 and 30 years old, and 11 were 31 or older. The average age of those horses that died was 26 years old. All were euthanized or died of natural causes.

The most common cause of death among this population of geriatric horses was colic (20% of cases) followed by old age (15%) and lameness that did not involve laminitis (12%). Neurologic problems and an inability to rise after lying down rounded out the top five causes of death.

“For those of us that live and breathe horses, that spend time each day with horses, that study horses, these causes of death come as no surprise,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research. “The interesting aspect of this study is that this data was all mined from the records of horses housed at a single facility under similar management conditions. Because of this, there was less variation in care than there would have been if horses had been managed at multiple farms.”

With regard to PPID, of the 194 horses that resided at the facility, 125 (63%) were tested at least once for PPID. During the eight-year-study period, 62 horses of the 125 tested died, and 47 of those 62 (76%) had tested positive for PPID at an average age of 27 years old.

According to the study, horses were maintained on a diet of free-choice haylage with and were offered supplemental feed if necessary. The teeth of all horses were examined regularly and those with missing or problematic teeth were given mashes when necessary. Weight was monitored monthly using scales. “The horses at this facility appeared to be given top-flight care, especially when it came to provision of adequate feed, dental care, and regular deworming, all of which is important when it comes to lifespan,” Whitehouse said. “Old horses sometimes require more management, but the extra investment may pay off in added years at the end of a life.”

Aged horses often benefit from targeted supplementation. High-quality joint supplements can help ease the discomfort associated with the effects of a lifetime of service, and a research-proven hindgut buffer, like EquiShure, can help stabilize the pH of the hindgut so microbes can efficiently ferment forages.

^*Van Proosdij, R., and S. Frietman. 2021. Retrospective analysis of cause-of-death at an equine retirement center in the Netherlands over an eight-year period. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 110:103824.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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Are There Any Disadvantages To Popular PPID Treatment?

News — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:15:21 +0000

Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID or Cushing's disease) is a disease that affects many older horses, but it can often be controlled with the use of a medication called Pergolide.

In other parts of the world, Pergolide is used in human medicine to combat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome, and hyperprolactinemia. Side effects can include fibrotic lesions of the atrioventricular valves in the heart.

Dr. Heidrun Gehlen, from the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Free University of Berlin, gathered a team of scientists to determine whether the same effects would be seen in horses.

The scientists examined 23 horses between 19 and 30 years old, all of which had been diagnosed with PPID using the ACTH adrenocorticotrophin hormone test. The treatment group comprised 12 horses that had been receiving Pergolide for between 14 days and 6 years, while 11 other horses in the control group received no Pergolide.

The researchers performed an echocardiographic exam on all horses, and found that each was free of cardiovascular disease; no valve defects were found.

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Follow-up exams were then given to nine horses in the treatment group and five in the control group between three and eight months later. The findings were the same: use of Pergolide did not affect ventricular function or cause valve disease in horses.

Does Your Horse Have Cushing’s? Researchers Need To Hear From You

News — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:40:54 +0000

Scientists at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center and the University College Dublin have partnered to create a large-scale, 12-month study to determine if blue light can be used to help horses suffering from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID or Cushing's Disease).

Dr. Barbara Anne Murphy, head of equine science at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin, and Dr. Amanda Adams of the Gluck Center are looking for horses to take part in the study to determine if exposure to blue light would minimize the development of the long, thick haircoat that is a hallmark of horses with PPID. Each participant will receive an Equilume light mask for their participation, whether their horse wears the mask or is a control horse.

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Owners or managers of horses with diagnosed PPID and that have a long, curly hair coat are invited to complete a short questionnaire by October 22 to see if they are eligible to participate. Medicated and unmedicated horses can apply.

The study will require monthly hair sample collection, as well as the completion of bi-monthly questionnaires and the provision of images.

Click here to complete the questionnaire

Elevated ACTH Could Signal Complicated Conception

News — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 23:42:18 +0000

A Japanese study using infertile mares has found that many have elevated levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is linked to the endocrine disorder pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

Dr. Takeru Tsuchiya and a research team used 67 Thoroughbred broodmares with unknown fertility issues for the study. Each horse had a physical exam and was deemed healthy.

The mares were tested for PPID in the fall using baseline plasma ACTH concentrations; they were divided into three groups based on their ACTH concentration level: low, intermediate, and high.

The team found 77.3 percent conception rates in the low ACTH group, and 56.5 percent in the high ACTH group. The high ACTH group didn't have a significant difference in the number of breedings, but it had lower conception rates.

PPID affects 15 to 30 percent of horses over 15. High ACTH concentrations are common in older horses. Almost two-thirds of the mares used in the study had elevated ACTH hormones. ACTH may indirectly affect reproductive performance.

The study team concluded that if infertile mares are tested for ACTH concentration levels early, it may be possible to improve reproduction performance. They recommend that other factors, including other reproductive hormones, be investigated for their effect on reproductive performance.

Read the article here.

Pony Mistakenly Overdosed On Pergolide Has No Lasting Effects

News — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 16:54:33 +0000

A pony in Germany was accidentally given 110 times the veterinary recommended dose of pergolide (sold under the name Prascend). The most prescribed medication for horses that suffer from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (called PPID or Cushing's disease), pergolide mimics dopamine's action in the body.

Instead of being given half of a 1-milligram tablet (.5 milligrams), the pony was given 55 tablets. The mistake was discovered four hours after the pony had been medicated. The veterinary exam showed that the horse had an increased heart rate, but no other symptoms.

To try to prevent any additional absorption of the medication, vets gave the pony paraffin oil and activated charcoal through a nasogastric tube. They also administered two drugs: One to prevent heart arrhythmias, which is a known side effect of pergolide overdose in humans, and one to counter pergolide's dopamine-biding action.

The pony was unusually anxious for the week after his overdose, reacting to bright lights and fast movement. He also had a decreased appetite. Within eight days of his overdose, the pony was back to normal.

Researchers concluded that the pergolide overdose resulted in only minor, temporary effects.

Just Like Humans: Chubby Horses Require Reduced-Calorie Diets

News — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 20:08:09 +0000

Though many horses thrive on unlimited access to pasture or hay, an obese horse cannot participate in the free-for-all food buffet and remain healthy. Obesity comes from overeating and not expending enough energy. Of additional concern is horses that suffer from glucose sensitivities like Cushing's disease. These horses must have both their sugar and starch intake controlled to remain healthy.

There are multiple claims in the equine world about how to best manage horses, but overweight equines are the exception. Some of these claims include:

Restricting forage makes a horse lose muscle, as well as increase hormone reactions and oxidative stress—it can even cause Cushing's disease or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).
This has been no proof that any of the issues above are brought on or exacerbated by restricting forage intake. Restricting calories does not lead to an increase in any hormones or cause any oxidative stress. Additionally, horses won't begin to lose muscle because of restricted calorie intake unless all body fat has been burned.

Horses bodies are designed to ingest pasture or hay 24/7.
The only reason horses spend so much time ingesting grass is that it is nearly 80 percent water. Additionally, wild horses travel tens of miles each day to find food; a paddock or pasture cannot offer an obese horse exercise of that level.

Though drastic limitation of food isn't necessary to control weight, some reduction is required. The Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group (ECIR) and the National Research Council (NRC) recommends using the starting point of 1.5 percent of actual weight or 2 percent of ideal weight (whichever is larger) as the target daily hay intake. This target may have to be adjusted if the hay is high in calories.

To keep horses at an ideal weight, they should be exercised as much as possible, whether this includes turnout (possibly with a muzzle), hand walking or riding. Feeding horses in a slow-feed hay net can lengthen intake time and prevent boredom.

Keeping a chubby horse at a reasonable weight isn't fun, but it is imperative to keeping him healthy.