The role of the equine veterinarian in end-of-life phase of geriatric horses

Geriatric horses (over 15 years of age) represent a growing proportion of the total equine population, as reported by several studies of equine populations in various countries (Brosnahan and Paradis, 2003; Ireland et al, 2011a; van Proosdij and Frietman, 2022). Geriatric horses are prone to developing chronic diseases that can have severe health and welfare implications, such as weight loss, dental problems, lameness, laminitis and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Owners, caregivers and other equine professionals, such as veterinarians, all have a responsibility to care for and monitor the welfare of the horses under their supervision (McGowan, 2011; Ireland et al, 2011b; Ballou et al, 2020; Ireland, 2020; van Proosdij and Frietman, 2022). As a horse ages, the horse's owner will inevitably face a decline in the animal's overall health and welfare. At some point, owners of geriatric horses will need to make the difficult decision for euthanasia during the end-of-life stage of the horse. Such a decision can be a heavy burden for the owner, who will often rely on their veterinarian for advice (McGowan, 2011; Preshaw et al, 2018; McGowan et al, 2016; van Proosdij and Frietman, 2022). The role of the veterinarian at the horse's end-of-life is poorly studied, and no study covers all the stages of this process (Cameron et al, 2022). This article outlines the role of the equine veterinarian as an adviser for end-of-life decisions and provides a guideline for the different stages of this role.