Horses over 15-20 years old face increasing health challenges including dental deterioration, joint disease, and metabolic conditions requiring adapted management to maintain quality of life.
Veteran horses often suffer in silence as owners misinterpret age-related decline as normal aging rather than treatable or manageable conditions. Dental pain from diseased teeth causes difficulty eating and reduced body condition. Uncontrolled PPID causes coat, metabolic, and hormonal disturbances. Chronic joint pain limits mobility and causes ongoing suffering. Regular veterinary assessment identifies treatable conditions and guides appropriate pain management. The decision about euthanasia in horses with progressively declining welfare requires honest assessment of quality of life rather than emotional attachment to prolonging life.