FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2021; doi: 10.1111/evj.13505

Cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys.

Abstract: Laminitis causes lameness in donkeys, but its prevalence and factors associated with disease remain uncertain. Objective: To determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with laminitis in donkeys. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: All donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary, UK, October 2015 to March 2019 were included. For animals that had laminitis during this period, age, sex, weight, body condition score, and the onset date and type of each episode (first or recurrent, acute or chronic) were recorded. Additionally, management data, foot lesion score, endocrine data, other medical conditions, occurrence of foot trimming, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, behavioural modification therapy or movement between farms within the month prior were noted. Controls were animals that did not experience laminitis during this period and similar data were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression modelling assessed the differences between the control group and laminitis outcome groups (first, all laminitis, acute and chronic episodes). Results: Altogether, 707 animals were included; 364 were control animals; 343 had a first episode of laminitis during the study period, of which 200/343 had no further episodes and 143/343 had recurrent episodes resulting in a total of 512 laminitis episodes and the period prevalence was 48.5% over 42 months. Overall, 180/512 (35%) laminitis episodes were acute and 332/512 (65%) were chronic. Compared with control animals, the laminitic outcome groups were significantly (P < .05) more likely to be younger (first episode), less likely to get extra feed (all four groups) or have an additional medical problem (first episode), and less likely to have undergone dental work, movement, imaging (all four groups) or surgery (first; all laminitis, chronic episodes) in the month preceding the episode. Conclusions: These results may not be applicable to the wider donkey population. Conclusions: Laminitis commonly affects donkeys, but factors associated with donkey laminitis differ from those reported in horses.
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-09-03 PubMed ID: 34478179DOI: 10.1111/evj.13505Google 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.

This study investigates how common laminitis (a painful condition causing lameness) is in donkeys in UK and what factors may be associated with it.

Research methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study, looking back at records from October 2015 to March 2019.
  • The study covered all donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary in the UK.
  • The researchers gathered data on all animals that had laminitis during this period, including their age, sex, weight, body condition score, and details of each laminitis episode like onset date and whether it was first or recurrent, acute or chronic.
  • Additional data was collected about management practices, such as the presence of foot lesions, endocrine data, other medical conditions, occurrence of foot trimming, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, behavioural therapy and movement between farms in the month before the onset of laminitis.
  • The control group included animals that did not suffer from laminitis during this period but had similar data collected.
  • The differences between the laminitic and non-laminitic groups were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression modelling.

Results

  • The study comprised 707 animals in total; 364 were controls and 343 had a first episode of laminitis during the study period.
  • From the laminitis group, 200 had no further episodes, while 143 had recurrent episodes, leading to a total of 512 laminitis episodes over 42 months.
  • The prevalence of laminitis in the population studied was 48.5% – revealing the condition is quite common among sanctuary donkeys. 180 cases were classified as acute and 332 as chronic indicating a higher prevalence of chronic laminitis.
  • Compared to controls, donkeys with laminitis were more likely to be younger (for a first episode), less likely to get extra feeding, have an additional health problem (for a first episode) and fewer had undergone dental work, movement, imaging (all laminitis groups) or surgery (first and chronic episode groups) in the month preceding laminitis onset.

Conclusions

  • The study reveals that the factors associated with donkey laminitis differ from those reported in horses, highlighting the need for separate therapeutic approaches for donkeys and horses with laminitis.
  • However, the conclusions drawn may not be applicable to all donkeys since this study was conducted in a single sanctuary setting and the sample may not be representative of the wider donkey population.

Cite This Article

APA
Menzies-Gow NJ, Wakeel F, Little H, Buil J, Rickards K. (2021). Cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13505

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Menzies-Gow, Nicola J
  • Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
Wakeel, Frederica
  • Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
Little, Holly
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, UK.
Buil, Jesus
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, UK.
Rickards, Karen
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, UK.

References

This article includes 41 references
  1. Thiemann AK, Poore LA. Hoof disorders and farriery in the donkey.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2019;35:643-58.
  2. Morrow LD, Smith KC, Piercy RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Olmos G. Retrospective analysis of post-mortem findings in 1444 aged donkeys.. J Comp Pathol 2011;144:145-56.
  3. Cox R, Burden F, Proudman CJ, Trawford AF, Pinchbeck GL. Demographics, management and health of donkeys in the UK.. Vet Rec 2010;166:552-6.
  4. Karikoski NP, Horn I, McGowan TW, McGowan CM. The prevalence of endocrinopathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral equine hospital.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2011;41:111-7.
  5. Hood DM. Laminitis in the horse.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1999;15(2):287-94.
  6. Barrio E, Rickards KJ, Thiemann AK. Clinical evaluation and preventative care in donkeys.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2019;35:545-60.
  7. Menzies-Gow NJ, Stevens K, Barr A, Camm I, Pfeiffer D, Marr CM. Severity and outcome of equine pasture-associated laminitis managed in first opinion practice in the UK.. Vet Rec 2010;167:364-9.
  8. Pollard D, Wylie CE, Newton JR, Verheyen KLP. Incidence and clinical signs of owner-reported equine laminitis in a cohort of horses and ponies in Great Britain.. Equine Vet J 2019;51:587-94.
  9. Du Toit N, Shaw DJ, Keen J. Adrenocorticotropic hormone in domestic donkeys-reference values, seasonality and association with laminitis.. Proc 50th British Equine Veterinary Association Congress Liverpool, UK. 2011; p. 85-6.
  10. du Toit N, Trawford AF, Keen JA. Insulin and ACTH values in donkeys with and without laminitis in the UK.. Proc 49th British Equine Veterinary Association Congress Birmingham, UK. 2010. p. 88.
  11. Du Toit N, Trawford AF. Determination of serum insulin and insulin resistance in clinically normal donkeys and in donkeys with a history of laminitis (obese and non obese).. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Annual Congress Anaheim, California, 2010; p. 779.
  12. Bailey SR, Habershon-Butcher J, Ransom K, Elliott J, Menzies-Gow NJ. Hypertension and insulin resistance in a mixed-breed population of ponies predisposed to laminitis: further characterizing pre-laminitic metabolic syndrome.. Am J Vet Res 2008;69:122-9.
  13. Menzies-Gow NJ, Katz LM, Barker KJ, Elliott J, de Brauwere N, Jarvis N. An epidemiological study of pasture-associated laminitis and concurrent risk factors in the South of England.. Vet Rec 2010;690-4.
  14. Wray H, Elliott J, Bailey SR, Harris PA, Menzies-Gow NJ. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in previously laminitic ponies.. Equine Vet J 2013;45:546-51.
  15. Potter K, Stevens K, Menzies-Gow N. Prevalence of and risk factors for acute laminitis in horses treated with corticosteroids.. Vet Rec 2019;185:82.
  16. Menzies-Gow NJ, Harris PA, Elliott J. Prospective cohort study evaluating risk factors for the development of pasture-associated laminitis in the United Kingdom.. Equine Vet J 2017;49:300-6.
  17. Hinckley KA, Henderson IW. The epidemiology of equine laminitis in the UK.. Proc 35th Congress of the British Equine Veterinary Association UK. 1996. p. 62.
  18. Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Incidence of laminitis and survey of dietary and management practices in pleasure horses and ponies in south-eastern Australia.. Aust Vet J 2017;95:370-4.
  19. de Laat MA, Reiche DB, Sillence MN, McGree JM. Incidence and risk factors for recurrence of endocrinopathic laminitis in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019;33:1473-82.
  20. Welsh CE, Duz M, Parkin TDH, Marshall JF. Disease and pharmacologic risk factors for first and subsequent episodes of equine laminitis: a cohort study of free-text electronic medical records.. Prev Vet Med 2017;136:11-8.
  21. Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR. Risk factors for equine laminitis: a case-control study conducted in veterinary-registered horses and ponies in Great Britain between 2009 and 2011.. Vet J 2013;198:57-69.
  22. Daly K, Proudman CJ, Duncan SH, Flint HJ, Dyer J, Shirazi-Beechey SP. Alterations in microbiota and fermentation products in equine large intestine in response to dietary variation and intestinal disease.. Br J Nutr 2012;107:989-95.
  23. Kristoffersen C, Jensen RB, Avershina E, Austbo D, Tauson AH, Rudi K. Diet-dependent modular dynamic interactions of the equine cecal microbiota.. Microbes Environ 2016;31:378-86.
  24. Hood DM, Grosenbaugh DA, Mostafa MB, Morgan SJ, Thomas BC. The role of vascular mechanisms in the development of acute equine laminitis.. J Vet Intern Med 1993;7:228-34.
  25. Funk RA, Stewart AJ, Wooldridge AA, Kwessi E, Kemppainen RJ, Behrend EN. Seasonal changes in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in normal, aged horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:579-85.
  26. Gehlen H, Twickel S, Stockle S, Weber C, Bartmann CP. Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin, triglycerides, glucose, fructosamines, and -GT).. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020;104:679-89.
  27. Walshe N, Duggan V, Cabrera-Rubio R, Crispie F, Cotter P, Feehan O. Removal of adult cyathostomins alters faecal microbiota and promotes an inflammatory phenotype in horses.. Int J Parasitol 2019;49:489-500.
  28. Fricke WF, Song Y, Wang AJ, Smith A, Grinchuk V, Mongodin E. Type 2 immunity-dependent reduction of segmented filamentous bacteria in mice infected with the helminthic parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.. Microbiome 2015;3:40.
  29. Alford P, Geller S, Richardson B, Slater MR, Honnas C, Foreman JH. A multicenter, matched case-control study of risk factors for equine laminitis.. Prev Vet Med 2001;49:209-22.
  30. Polzer J, Slater MR. Age, breed, sex and seasonality as risk factors for equine laminitis.. Prev Vet Med 1996;29:179-84.
  31. Slater MR, Hood DM, Carter GK. Descriptive epidemiological study of equine laminitis.. Equine Vet J 1995;27:364-7.
  32. Pollard D, Wylie CE, Verheyen KLP, Newton JR. Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach.. BMC Vet Res 2019;15:59.
  33. Dorn CR, Garner HE, Coffman JR, Hahn AW, Tritschler LG. Castration and other factors affecting the risk of equine laminitis.. Cornell Vet 1975;65:57-64.
  34. Luthersson N, Mannfalk M, Parkin TDH, Harris PA. Laminitis: risk factors and outcome in a group of danish horses.. J Equine Vet Sci 2017;53:68-73.
  35. Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Donkey internal medicine - part 1: Metabolic, endocrine and gastrointestinal tract disturbances.. J Equine Vet Sci 2018;66-74.
  36. Asplin KE, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC, McGowan CM. Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal ponies.. Vet J 2007;174:530-5.
  37. de Laat MA, McGowan CM, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC. Equine laminitis: induced by 48 h hyperinsulinaemia in Standardbred horses.. Equine Vet J 2010;42:129-35.
  38. McFarlane D. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011;27:93-113.
  39. Mejia-Pereira S, Perez-Ecija A, Buchanan BR, Toribio RE, Mendoza FJ. Evaluation of dynamic testing for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction diagnosis in donkeys.. Equine Vet J 2019;51:481-8.
  40. Ashley FH, Waterman-Pearson AE, Whay HR. Behavioural assessment of pain in horses and donkeys: application to clinical practice and future studies.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:565-75.
  41. Taylor TS, Matthews NS. Mammoth asses: selected behavioural considerations for the veterinarian.. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1998;60:283-9.

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Merridale-Punter MS, Wiethoelter AK, El-Hage CM, Hitchens PL. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Working Equid Lameness in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 10;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223100pubmed: 36428328google scholar: lookup
  2. Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Angeloni MG, Lee L, Bigi D, Padalino B. Systematic Literature Review on Donkeys (Equus asinus): Husbandry and Welfare in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 23;15(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15192768pubmed: 41096364google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,113 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.