Retrospective Analysis of Cause-of-Death at an Equine Retirement Center in the Netherlands Over an Eight-Year Period.
Authors: van Proosdij Rick, Frietman Sjoerd
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Mortality Patterns in Geriatric Horses at a Retirement Centre Over eight years, Dutch researchers examined 194 horses at a retirement facility, tracking 80 deaths in animals aged 15 years and older (mean age at death 26.2 years), with a mortality rate of 16.3 per 100 horse-years, rising significantly with advancing age. The vast majority (95%) of these geriatric cases were euthanised rather than dying naturally, with colic accounting for one-fifth of deaths, followed by old age (19%) and lameness (15%)—a finding that underscores the persistent importance of gastrointestinal and orthopaedic challenges in end-of-life decision-making. Interestingly, whilst pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) affected nearly half the population studied (48.8%), treatment of this endocrine condition did not extend lifespan, suggesting that managing PPID alone does not alter the trajectory of geriatric decline. For equine professionals involved in retirement care, these data reinforce that proactive management of colic risk, pain assessment for lameness, and holistic welfare evaluation—rather than pharmaceutical intervention for PPID—should guide clinical decision-making in aged horses. The findings highlight that veterinary surgeons and caregivers play a critical role in recognising when quality-of-life indicators have deteriorated sufficiently to warrant euthanasia, rather than viewing treatment of age-related conditions as a means to extend survival.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Prepare geriatric horse owners for the likelihood of euthanasia decisions, particularly related to colic, lameness, and age-related decline rather than expecting natural death
- •PPID management should focus on maintaining welfare and quality of life rather than extending lifespan, as treatment alone does not increase longevity in geriatric horses
- •Implement proactive management strategies for lameness and colic prevention in horses over 15 years, as these are leading causes of euthanasia decisions
Key Findings
- •Colic (20%), old age (19%), and lameness (15%) were the most common reasons for euthanasia in geriatric horses
- •Mortality rate was 16.3 per 100 horse years at risk in geriatric horses (>15 years) with average age at death of 26.2 years
- •PPID prevalence was 48.8% in the geriatric population, but PPID treatment did not result in increased longevity
- •95% of mortalities in geriatric horses were euthanasia decisions rather than natural deaths