A cross-sectional study of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Part 2: Health care and disease.
Abstract: Geriatric horses (aged≥15 years) represent a substantial proportion of the equine population, yet very few studies have investigated the prevalence of diseases within the UK equine geriatric population. Objective: To describe the provision of routine preventive health care measures, prevalence of clinical signs of disease and the prevalence of owner reported diseases. Additionally, the effect of increasing age on the provision of preventive health care and the presence or absence of clinical signs and disease was assessed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, surveying a randomly selected sample of veterinary registered owners with horses aged≥15 years, using a self-administered postal questionnaire. Results: As geriatric horses increased in age, there was a reduction in the provision of preventive health care measures, such as vaccination, farrier care and routine veterinary checks. Only 68.7% of horses had received a routine veterinary visit within the previous 12 months. Owners frequently observed clinical signs in their animals, with 77% reporting at least one clinical sign of disease. Increasing age was associated with increased reporting of many clinical signs of disease. Over half (58%) of horses had at least one episode of disease within the previous 12 months, yet only 31% of owners reported that their animal currently suffered from a known disease or disorder. Conclusions: Although owners frequently observed clinical signs in their aged horse, there may be incorrect or under recognition of many diseases and health problems. Reduced frequency of routine preventive health care measures, along with suboptimal owner recognition of health and welfare problems may lead to compromised welfare in the geriatric population.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2010-08-23 PubMed ID: 21143632DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00142.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper conducts a detailed study on the prevalence of diseases and provision of preventive healthcare for elderly horses in the UK, highlighting that as these horses age, their healthcare provision decreases while their reported disease symptoms increase.
Objective
- The primary objective of this research was to understand the regular preventive healthcare provided to geriatric horses in the UK, diagnose the prevalence of disease symptoms, and record the occurrence of owner-reported diseases in this population.
- The study also aimed to examine the impact of increasing age on the delivery of preventive healthcare, and the presence or absence of disease symptoms and diseases.
Methodology
- This was a cross-sectional study wherein randomly selected horse owners registered with veterinarians, who own horses aged 15 years and above, were surveyed through a self-administered postal questionnaire.
Results
- The result revealed a downward trend in the provision of preventive healthcare measures like vaccination, farrier care, and routine veterinary checks as the horses aged.
- In the prior 12 months, only about 68.7% of horses were subject to a routine veterinary visit.
- Owner-observed clinical signs of disease were common, with 77% of owners reporting at least one disease symptom in their horses.
- Advancing age in horses correlated with increased incidence of disease symptoms.
- Within the previous year, over half (58%) of the horses experienced at least one disease episode.
- Despite these findings, only 31% of owners stated that their horse currently suffered from a known disease or disorder.
Conclusion
- The conclusion drawn from this study suggests that despite the high frequency of clinical disease symptoms observed by horse owners, there might be frequent inaccuracies or under-recognition of many diseases and health problems.
- The research also established the compromised welfare status of geriatric horses due to the decrease in the provision of routine preventive healthcare measures, and inadequate owner recognition of health and welfare issues.
Cite This Article
APA
Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, McKane SA, Pinchbeck GL.
(2010).
A cross-sectional study of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Part 2: Health care and disease.
Equine Vet J, 43(1), 37-44.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00142.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. j.ireland@liverpool.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Data Collection
- Female
- Helminthiasis, Animal / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses / physiology
- Lameness, Animal
- Male
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Stoeckle SD, Timmermann D, Merle R, Gehlen H. Plasma Amino Acids in Horses Suffering from Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 27;12(23).
- Kelemen Z, Grimm H, Long M, Auer U, Jenner F. Recumbency as an Equine Welfare Indicator in Geriatric Horses and Horses with Chronic Orthopaedic Disease.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 8;11(11).
- Hausberger M, Lesimple C, Henry S. Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
- Bell C, Rogers S. Attitudes of the Equestrian Public towards Equine End-of-Life Decisions.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
- Smith R, Pinchbeck G, McGowan C, Ireland J, Perkins E. Caring for the Older Horse: A Conceptual Model of Owner Decision Making.. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 2;11(5).
- Krebs BL, Marrin D, Phelps A, Krol L, Watters JV. Managing Aged Animals in Zoos to Promote Positive Welfare: A Review and Future Directions.. Animals (Basel) 2018 Jul 13;8(7).
- Carmalt JL, Waldner CL, Allen AL. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: An international survey of veterinarians' approach to diagnosis, management, and estimated prevalence.. Can J Vet Res 2017 Oct;81(4):261-269.
- Horseman SV, Buller H, Mullan S, Whay HR. Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders.. PLoS One 2016;11(8):e0160269.
- McGowan C. Welfare of Aged Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2011 Oct 31;1(4):366-76.
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