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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.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-30 PubMed ID: 34827844PubMed Central: PMC8614453DOI: 10.3390/ani11113113Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Domingues K, Franco NH, Rodrigues I, Stilwell G, Magalhães-Sant'Ana M. Bibliometric trend analysis of non-conventional (alternative) therapies in veterinary research. Vet Q 2022 Dec;42(1):192-198.
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  2. Bergh A, Asplund K, Lund I, Boström A, Hyytiäinen H. A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Soft Tissue Mobilization. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 2;12(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12111440pubmed: 35681903google scholar: lookup
  3. Sohlberg L, Bergh A, Sternberg-Lewerin S. A Questionnaire Study on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine for Dogs in Sweden. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 15;8(12).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci8120331pubmed: 34941858google scholar: lookup
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