Changes of the cardiac and circulatory system in the ageing horse

In old horses multiple cardiac diseases may apear, which are also visible in younger horses. But there are also some heart diseases which are typical in older horses. These are degenerative valvular diseases, congestive heart failure, aortic aneurysm and -ruptur. Also chronic pulmonary diseases may lead to a decompensated cardiac disease (cor pulmonale). In contrast to humans important degenerative myocardial changes as well as arteriosclerotic changes of the coronary vessels are rare in older horses.