FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / A Questionnaire Study on the Use of Complementary and Altern...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(11); doi: 10.3390/ani11113113

A Questionnaire Study on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine for Horses in Sweden.

Abstract: Complementary or alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) includes treatment methods with limited scientific evidence. Swedish veterinarians are legally obliged to base treatments and recommendations on science or well-documented experience, but most CAVM methods are not well documented in animals. The aim of this study was to explore the use of CAVM in Swedish horses. Electronic questionnaires were distributed to horse owners, equine veterinary practitioners and CAVM therapists. Of the 204 responding horse owners, 83% contacted a veterinarian first in case of lameness, while 15% contacted a CAVM therapist. For back pain, 52% stated a CAVM therapist as their first contact and 45% a veterinarian. Only 10-15% of the respondents did not use any CAVM method for prevention or after injury. Of the 100 veterinarians who responded, more than half did not use CAVM themselves but 55% did refer to people who offer this service. Of the 124 responding CAVM therapists, 72% recommended their clients to seek veterinary advice when needed, 50% received referrals from a veterinarian, and 25% did not collaborate with a veterinarian. The two most common methods used by the respondents in all three categories were stretching and massage. Most veterinarians and therapists were not content with the current lack of CAVM regulation.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-10-30 PubMed ID: 34827844PubMed Central: PMC8614453DOI: 10.3390/ani11113113Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the usage of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) for horses in Sweden, highlighting its prevalence among horse owners, veterinarians, and therapists despite little scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of CAVM.

Overview of the Research

The research was intended to uncover the extent to which CAVM is employed within the Swedish equine community. To gather this information:

  • An online questionnaire was sent out to horse owners, veterinarians specializing in equine health, and CAVM therapists. The questionnaire intended to investigate the preferred choice of response by these individuals when a horse presented with specific health issues such as lameness or back pain, and their attitude towards CAVM.

Key Findings

The main findings from the study include:

  • Most horse owners (83%) would initially consult a veterinarian in case of lameness in their horse, while 15% would seek out a CAVM therapist.
  • When dealing with back pain in horses, slightly more owners would contact a CAVM therapist over a veterinarian (52% vs 45%).
  • Between 10-15% of respondents stated they did not use any form of CAVM method, either preventatively or after an injury.
  • Among the veterinarians who responded to the survey, more than half did not personally use CAVM techniques. However, 55% would refer their clients to someone who does provide such services.
  • Out of the therapists who provided responses, 72% stated that they advised clients to seek veterinary advice when necessary. Half of the therapists reported receiving referrals from veterinarians, but 25% reported no collaboration with a veterinarian.
  • The two most prevalent CAVM techniques cited by all respondent categories were stretching and massage.
  • A majority of the respondent veterinarians and therapists expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of regulation regarding CAVM.

Significance of the Findings

These research findings highlight a substantial usage of CAVM among horse owners and veterinary practitioners, despite a lack of scientific support for these methods. The prevalent use of CAVM and the dissatisfaction towards the regulatory environment suggest a need for more rigorous studies into the effectiveness of CAVM and potential need for increased regulation and oversight of this sector within veterinary medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Gilberg K, Bergh A, Sternberg-Lewerin S. (2021). A Questionnaire Study on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine for Horses in Sweden. Animals (Basel), 11(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113113

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Gilberg, Karin
  • Distriktsveterinärerna Gävle, Ludvigsbergsvägen 12, 81831 Valbo, Sweden.
Bergh, Anna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Sternberg-Lewerin, Susanna
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences & Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 37 references
  1. Smith CA, Alternative and Complementary Therapies Task Force. AVMA guidelines for complementary and alternative medicine.. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2001;218:1731.
    pubmed: 11394819
  2. Arlt S, Heuwieser W. Evidence-based complementary and alternative veterinary medicine—A contradiction in terms?. Berl. Münch. Tierärztl. Wochenschr. 2010;123:377–384.
    doi: 10.2376/0005-9366-123-377pubmed: 21038809google scholar: lookup
  3. Ramey WD, Rollin BE. Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered.. Iowa State University Press; Ames, IA, USA: 2003.
  4. Johnson KA. Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine: Where things stand for feline health.. Sci. Technol. Libr. 2018;37:338–376.
    doi: 10.1080/0194262X.2018.1541430google scholar: lookup
  5. Taylor N, Gough A. No Way to Treat a Friend: Lifting the Lid on Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine.. 5m Publishing; Sheffield, UK: 2017.
  6. Xie H, Sivula N. Review of veterinary acupuncture clinical trials.. Am. J. Tradit. Chin. Vet. Med. 2016;11:49–60.
  7. Habacher G, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Effectiveness of acupuncture in veterinary medicine: Systematic review.. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2006;20:480–488.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2006.tb02885.xpubmed: 16734078google scholar: lookup
  8. Rose WJ, Sargeant JM, Hanna WJB, Kelton D, Wolfe DM, Wisener LV. A scoping review of the evidence for efficacy of acupuncture in companion animals.. Anim. Health Res. Rev. 2017;18:177–185.
    doi: 10.1017/S1466252317000068pubmed: 29224586google scholar: lookup
  9. Scott M, Swenson LA. Evaluating the benefits of equine massage therapy: A review of the evidence and current practices.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2009;29:9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2009.07.017google scholar: lookup
  10. Corti L. Massage therapy for dogs and cats.. Top. Companion Anim. Med. 2014;29:54–72.
    doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2014.02.001pubmed: 25454377google scholar: lookup
  11. Formenton MR, Pereira MAA, Fantoni DT. Small animal massage therapy: A brief review and relevant observations.. Top. Companion Anim. Med. 2017;32:139–145.
    doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2017.10.001pubmed: 29525233google scholar: lookup
  12. Wynn SG, Marsden S. Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine: Science and Tradition.. Mosby; Saint Louis, MO, USA: 2013.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-01354-3.X5001-3google scholar: lookup
  13. Haussler KK, Hesbach AL, Romano L, Goff L, Bergh A. A systematic review of musculoskeletal mobilization and manipulation techniques used in veterinary medicine.. Animals 2021;11:2787.
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102787pmc: PMC8532674pubmed: 34679808google scholar: lookup
  14. Rome PL, McKibbin M. Review of chiropractic veterinary science: An emerging profession with somatic and somatovisceral anecdotal histories.. Chiropr. J. Aust. 2011;41:127–139.
    doi: 10.3316/informit.795865396309721google scholar: lookup
  15. Lima CR, Martins DF, Reed WR. Physiological responses induced by manual therapy in animal models: A scoping review.. Front. Neurosci. 2020;14:430.
    doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00430pmc: PMC7227122pubmed: 32457570google scholar: lookup
  16. Yocom AF, Bass LD. Review of the application and efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in equine tendon and ligament injuries.. Equine Vet. Educ. 2019;31:271–277.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12780google scholar: lookup
  17. MacKay AV, McOnie RC, Riddell LP, Robinson KA. Characterization of the use of shock wave therapy among equine veterinarians.. Can. Vet. J. 2020;61:990–993.
    pmc: PMC7424940pubmed: 32879526
  18. Dahlberg JA. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) on Osteoarthritis and Post-ESWT Analgesia in Animal Models.. Master’s Thesis. Iowa State University; Ames, IA, USA: 2006.
  19. Henea ME, Stanciu GD, Tipa GA, Ursache A, Solcan G. Evaluation of therapeutic efficiency of electrostimulation in dogs using electromiography.. Med. Vet. 2016;59:185–190.
  20. Mahaseth PK, Raghul S. Veterinary physiotherapy—A literature review.. Int. J. Sci. Healthc. Res. 2021;6:288–294.
  21. Mathie RT, Clausen J. Veterinary homeopathy: Systematic review of medical conditions studied by randomised placebo-controlled trials.. Vet. Rec. 2014;175:373–381.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.101767pubmed: 25324413google scholar: lookup
  22. Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. Lag om Verksamhet Inom Djurens Hälso- Och Sjukvård. [Regulation of Operations within Animal Healthcare and Veterinary Medicine] (in Swedish). SFS 2009:302 2009.
  23. Memon MA, Sprunger LK. Survey of colleges and schools of veterinary medicine regarding education in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine.. J Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2011;239:619–623.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.239.5.619pubmed: 21879961google scholar: lookup
  24. Bergenstrahle A, Nielsen BD. Attitude and behavior of veterinarians surrounding the use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine in the treatment of equine musculoskeletal pain.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2016;45:87–97.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2016.05.019google scholar: lookup
  25. Meredith K, Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, Gee EK. The use of allied health therapies on competition horses in the North Island of New Zealand.. N. Z. Vet. J. 2011;59:123–127.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2011.562861pubmed: 21541885google scholar: lookup
  26. Knight N. The Behaviours and Attitudes Surrounding the Use of Equine Complementary and Alternative Medicine amongst Horse-Carers in the Auckland Region.. Unpublished Document Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Osteopathy. Unitec Institute of Technology; Auckland, New Zealand: 2011.
  27. Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Van Rompay ML, Kaptchuk TJ, Wilkey SA, Appel S, Davis RB. Perceptions about complementary therapies relative to conventional therapies among adults who use both: Results from a national survey.. Ann. Intern. Med. 2001;135:344–351.
    doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-135-5-200109040-00011pubmed: 11529698google scholar: lookup
  28. MacLennan AH, Wilson DH, Taylor AW. The escalating cost and prevalence of alternative medicine.. Prev. Med. 2002;35:166–173.
    doi: 10.1006/pmed.2002.1057pubmed: 12200102google scholar: lookup
  29. Robinson M, McGrail MR. Disclosure of CAM use to medical practitioners: A review of qualitative and quantitative studies.. Complement. Ther. Med. 2004;12:90–98.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2004.09.006pubmed: 15561518google scholar: lookup
  30. Foltz V, St Pierre Y, Rozenberg S, Rossignol M, Bourgeois P, Joseph L, Adam V, Penrod JR, Clarke AE, Fautrel B. Use of complementary and alternative therapies by patients with self-reported chronic back pain: A nationwide survey in Canada.. Jt. Bone Spine. 2005;72:571–577.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2005.03.018pubmed: 16256395google scholar: lookup
  31. Thomson P, Jones J, Browne M, Leslie SJ. Why people seek complementary and alternative medicine before conventional medical treatment: A population based study.. Complement. Ther. Clin. 2014;20:339–346.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.07.008pubmed: 25156988google scholar: lookup
  32. Sharma R, Haas M, Stano M. Patient attitudes, insurance, and other determinants of self-referral to medical and chiropractic physicians.. Am. J. Public Health. 2003;93:2111–2117.
    doi: 10.2105/AJPH.93.12.2111pmc: PMC1448161pubmed: 14652343google scholar: lookup
  33. Lange CD, Axiak Flammer S, Gerber V, Kindt D, Koch C. Complementary and alternative medicine for the management of orthopaedic problems in Swiss Warmblood horses.. Vet. Med. Sci. 2017;3:125–133.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.64pmc: PMC5645843pubmed: 29067209google scholar: lookup
  34. Riccio B, Fraschetto C, Villanueva J, Cantatore F, Bertuglia A. Two multicenter surveys on equine back-pain 10 years apart.. Front. Vet. Sci. 2018;5:195.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00195pmc: PMC6115529pubmed: 30191152google scholar: lookup
  35. Wilson JM, McKenzie E, Duesterdieck-Zellmer K. International survey regarding the use of rehabilitation modalities in horses.. Front. Vet. Sci. 2018;5:120.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00120pmc: PMC6004390pubmed: 29942811google scholar: lookup
  36. Gilberg K. Investigation of the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine for Horses in Sweden. (In Swedish). Master’s Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Uppsala, Sweden: 2001.
    pmc: PMC8614453pubmed: 34827844
  37. Sohlberg L. Investigation of the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Methods in Swedish Dogs—A Survey. (In Swedish). Master’s Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Uppsala, Sweden: Jan, 2021.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.