Dementia?

[StableName86]

Do you think it’s possible for horses to get dementia as they get older?

My horse is becoming increasingly more anxious, harder to integrate with other horses (more dominant and aggressive), doesn’t tolerate even the slightest change in his day and is just quite “wired” and on edge. Certainly not slowing down with age.

He has always had these characteristics to an extent but the seem to be getting more exaggerated now and he is getting harder to keep happy and settled.

He has always been on the same yard and routine hasn’t changed

 

[cauda equina]

Poor old boy
Maybe he is uptight due to pain somewhere?
IMO a vet check would be in order

 

[StableName86]

He has had a clean bill of health and looks like a 5 year old. Hes 24

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He has had a clean bill of health and looks like a 5 year old. Hes 24

Has he had a Cushings test? His symptoms could be Cushings-related.

 

[StableName86]

Not recently , I didn’t realise this , maybe I should test again this year!

 

[Orangehorse]

Sight?

 

[StableName86]

No, physically everything is fine. He isn’t spooky, can definitely see everything. Moves great. This is what lead me to wonder if it’s possibly its a mental/ cognitive issue creeping in

 

[Smogul]

It is possible. Friend's elderly mare became increasingly confused and was unable to find her way from her stable to the field in the mornings and back to her stable at night. If led there, she would stand at the gate and look panicky. She was in the same field as she had always been in with the same companions. There were no sight or hearing issues. Her behaviour was very similar to a person with dementia.

 

[dorsetladette]

I wonder if your vet would agree to a bute trial? To help rule out any underlying pain that might have been missed when checked over last.

My older lads behaviour improved when we put him on a senior balancer - I think he had some underlying pain which we couldn't see or didn't pick up on.

 

[humblepie]

No particular help but these old ones are a worry aren't they. Mine has just tested positive for Cushings, if anything his behaviour was to be quieter which is why I had the vet out to do lots of checks.

 

[Exasperated]

Do you think it’s possible for horses to get dementia as they get older?

My horse is becoming increasingly more anxious, harder to integrate with other horses (more dominant and aggressive), doesn’t tolerate even the slightest change in his day and is just quite “wired” and on edge. Certainly not slowing down with age.

He has always had these characteristics to an extent but the seem to be getting more exaggerated now and he is getting harder to keep happy and settled.

He has always been on the same yard and routine hasn’t changed

I was going to ask whether he’s recently been prescribed Pergolide (Praescend) for Cushings? but clearly not.
However, very similar symptoms shown by our ancient mare after starting with this. Adjusted the dose right down and she returned to normal, continued happily on drugs until death aged 40.
Vet recognised Pergolide can affect behaviour, often resulting in something like ‘depression’, sometimes ‘anxiety’ - whether the condition the drugs are prescribed for, does? Sounds plausible. Good luck!

 

[oldjumper]

Do you think it’s possible for horses to get dementia as they get older?

My horse is becoming increasingly more anxious, harder to integrate with other horses (more dominant and aggressive), doesn’t tolerate even the slightest change in his day and is just quite “wired” and on edge. Certainly not slowing down with age.

He has always had these characteristics to an extent but the seem to be getting more exaggerated now and he is getting harder to keep happy and settled.

He has always been on the same yard and routine hasn’t changed

My old horse that I had ridden for 15 years suddenly started behaving v oddly. He was pretty hot and forward but not particularly spooky. At 25 he was still being ridden daily until he had 2 major meltdowns whilst hacking on road. Apparently reacting to something only he could see/hear or smell. Given how extreme his behaviour was, I had to stop riding him. Planned a well earned retirement at home but a few weeks later while leading him to field he turned, spooked and kicked me off my feet. This was a kind horse that had never so much as put his ears back and now I was seriously scared of handling him! Sadly we decided to give the old boy last few weeks of summer grass then pts. Couple of months later, leading him out of stable I suddenly realised his demeanour had changed -struggle to say how I knew but from that day on he was ‘back to normal’. So not pts but happily retired til 33. We never found out the cause and only thing I could think of was some type of mini stroke that had resolved itself??

 

[Wizpop]

Is there any possibility that it could be some sort of virus? Only mentioning 5his as I know one or two people who have had very severe symptoms- one resembling a stroke, where nothing was found and assumed to be a virus. If humans can get weird virus’ possibly horses too?