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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Sci / Complementary and alternative medicine for the management of...
Veterinary medicine and science2017; 3(3); 125-133; doi: 10.1002/vms3.64

Complementary and alternative medicine for the management of orthopaedic problems in Swiss Warmblood horses.

Abstract: It appears that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used increasingly often in horses for the assessment and treatment of suspected orthopaedic problems, especially back problems. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of CAM use for the management of orthopaedic problems in a defined population of Swiss Warmblood horses. A total of 239 owners and caretakers of horses from a pre-defined database were called by a veterinarian to participate in the survey. A standardized questionnaire was designed to determine, for each orthopaedic case, where the localization of the problem was (limb or back) and if conventional medicine or CAM was used for consultation and treatment. When CAM was employed, the CAM discipline and administrator (veterinarian or alternative therapist) was defined. A total of 222 cases in 170 horses with orthopaedic problems were identified. Sixty-two horses were identified with a back problem, 96 horses with a lameness involving one or more limbs and 12 horses with a combined back problem and lameness. CAM was used commonly in this population (73.9%, 164 of 222) for both diagnostic workup and treatment of suspected orthopaedic problems, but was rarely administered by a veterinarian (12%, 27 of 222). In general, if a back problem was suspected by the owner, CAM was more frequently applied for diagnosis and treatment than in cases where a lameness was suspected; (91.9%, 68 of 74) vs. (64.9%, 96 of 148) ( < 0.001), respectively. Osteopathy was the most frequently applied CAM discipline. CAM was frequently used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in Swiss Warmblood horses with suspected orthopaedic problems. CAM practitioners were consulted predominantly if a back problem was suspected, and the majority of CAM practitioners were not veterinarians.
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Publication Date: 2017-05-29 PubMed ID: 29067209PubMed Central: PMC5645843DOI: 10.1002/vms3.64Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 research article discusses the increasing usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in assessing and treating orthopaedic problems, particularly those related to the back, in Swiss Warmblood horses.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The research aimed to ascertain the frequency of CAM application in handling orthopaedic issues in a particular group of Swiss Warmblood horses.
  • The study utilized a standardized questionnaire, developed to identify the location of the orthopaedic problem (either limb or back) and if CAM or conventional medicine was employed for consultation and treatment.
  • The study consisted of 239 eligible horse owners or caretakers. Feedback from these participants helped identify 222 cases of 170 horses suffering from orthopaedic issues.
  • Additionally, the questionnaire was designed to specify the type of CAM (if applied) and the practitioner of the therapy (either vet or an alternative therapist).

Findings of the Study

  • In the 222 identified cases of orthopaedic problems, CAM was frequently used (73.9% or 164 of 222 patients) for both diagnosis and treatment purposes.
  • However, CAM was rarely administered by a vet (only in 12% or 27 of 222 cases).
  • Among the cases where back problems were suspected by the horse owner, 91.9% (68 out of 74) of them preferred CAM for diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, CAM was opted for only 64.9% (96 out of 148) of horsecases where limb issues were suspected.
  • Osteopathy, a form of drug-free non-invasive manual therapy, emerged as the most frequently applied discipline of CAM.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The study concludes that CAM is frequently used in Swiss Warmblood horses for diagnosing and treating suspected orthopaedic problems.
  • It was noticed that CAM practitioners were predominantly consulted when a back problem was suspected by the owner.
  • Last but not least, it was observed that most CAM practitioners were not vets, stressing the increasing trust in and use of alternative therapies.

Cite This Article

APA
Lange CD, Axiak Flammer S, Gerber V, Kindt D, Koch C. (2017). Complementary and alternative medicine for the management of orthopaedic problems in Swiss Warmblood horses. Vet Med Sci, 3(3), 125-133. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.64

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 3
Issue: 3
Pages: 125-133

Researcher Affiliations

Lange, Catharina D
  • Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.
Axiak Flammer, Shannon
  • Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.
Gerber, Vinzenz
  • Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.
Kindt, Ditte
  • Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.
Koch, Christoph
  • Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Hyytiäinen HK, Boström A, Asplund K, Bergh A. A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Electrotherapy.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 23;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13010064pubmed: 36611674google scholar: lookup
  2. Maldonado MD, Parkinson SD, Story MR, Haussler KK. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 19;12(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12202845pubmed: 36290230google scholar: lookup
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Gilberg K, Bergh A, Sternberg-Lewerin S. A Questionnaire Study on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine for Horses in Sweden.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 30;11(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11113113pubmed: 34827844google scholar: lookup
  6. Haussler KK, Hesbach AL, Romano L, Goff L, Bergh A. A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Mobilization and Manipulation Techniques Used in Veterinary Medicine.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 24;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102787pubmed: 34679808google scholar: lookup
  7. . Corrigendum.. Vet Med Sci 2018 Nov;4(4):373.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.116pubmed: 30430762google scholar: lookup
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