Early recognition of pain: improving colic outcomes in horses in Senegal.
Abstract: Limited knowledge exists on recognition and treatment of equine abdominal pain in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed at finding indicators for recognizing abdominal pain, evaluating responses to clinical and behavioral changes, and assessing the impact of timely referral on colic outcomes in a suburban region of Senegal. The final goal was to identify factors that may be leveraged to improve the outcome of horses presented for abdominal pain in Senegal. Unassigned: Retrospective, observational cohort study. Unassigned: Data from 26 foals and 40 adult horses referred for acute abdomen between 2013 and 2014 and the first semester of 2023 were reviewed. Signs of abdominal pain were grouped into behavioral, posture modification and animal interactions with the environment. Time to referral was defined as the time between the recognition of abdominal pain and referral. The association of time to referral and the outcome was calculated for each subpopulation and compared using logistic regression analysis as appropriate. Unassigned: A significant proportion of owners (47%) and veterinarians (77.8%) relied on behavioral changes to detect abdominal pain in foals. Most owners referred foals within 24 h, while veterinarians referred within 12 h. Mortality in foals exceeded 50% when referral was delayed by 12 h or more. In adult horses, groomers often were the first noticing behavioral changes (79%), and they referred the horse within three hours, whereas owners typically delayed referral for 24 h or longer, leading to increased hospitalization expenses. Unassigned: The study considered a limited cohort in an suburban area of Senegal. Sourcing complete data was challenging. Additionally, accurately assessing owner experience was difficult due to the participant group's heterogeneity. Absence of a reliable system to measure daily horse-owner interaction time and logistical challenges in the abdominal pain symptom alert chain were also limiting factors. Unassigned: Early detection is critical for positive colic outcomes in both foals and adult horses. Therefore, raising awareness and providing training to horse owners for prompt recognition of symptoms and referral is essential. This proactive approach aims to improve overall outcomes and reduce the financial burden of equine hospitalization in Senegal.
© 2024 Laleye, Seye and Chiavaccini.
Publication Date: 2024-09-05 PubMed ID: 39301324PubMed Central: PMC11410767DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1429849Google 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.
- 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 ways to improve the treatment outcomes of colic, an abdominal pain condition, in horses in Senegal by focusing on early detection and timely referral for treatment.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The research aimed to establish how abdominal pain in horses can be recognized early and effectively. Identifying clear indicators that can trigger an accurate and prompt response was a core objective of this study.
- The study was retrospective and observational, gathering data from a cohort of foals (26) and adult horses (40) that were referred for acute abdominal pain treatment between the years 2013 to 2024.
- Signs of abdominal pain were grouped into three categories; behavioral changes, posture modifications, and animal interactions with the environment. The timing of a referral was calculated from the point abdominal pain was recognized.
- Analysis of the data was done via logistic regression, comparing the time to referral and the eventual outcome for each of the population subgroups.
Key Findings
- The study found that a significant proportion of horse owners and veterinarians rely on behavioral changes as critical indicators of abdominal pain, particularly for foals.
- Foals referred for treatment within 24 hours had a lower mortality rate. For those referred after a 12-hour delay, the mortality rate was significantly higher at over 50%.
- Among adult horses, groomers were most likely to detect behavioral changes, often referring the animals for treatment within three hours. In comparison, owners typically waited 24 hours or longer, which led to increased costs for hospitalization.
Limitations and Challenges
- Limitations of this study included a relatively small sample size and the challenges related to sourcing complete data.
- There was also the difficulty of accurately assessing the experience of horse owners due to the heterogeneity of the participant group.
- The lack of a reliable system to measure daily horse-owner interaction times and logistical issues in the abdominal pain symptom alert chain also complicated the study.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- Overall, the study emphasized the importance of early detection and referral for the successful management of colic in horses.
- The researchers recommended increased awareness and training for horse owners to ensure they can promptly recognize potential symptoms and seek timely treatment. Such proactive steps could drastically improve treatment outcomes and reduce the financial burden associated with equine hospitalization in Senegal.
Cite This Article
APA
Laleye BOFV, Seye M, Chiavaccini L.
(2024).
Early recognition of pain: improving colic outcomes in horses in Senegal.
Front Pain Res (Lausanne), 5, 1429849.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2024.1429849 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Département Santé Publique et Environnement, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires, Dakar, Senegal.
- Sahelvet Clinique et Pharmacie Veterinaire, Thiès, Senegal.
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 16 references
- The Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. The Economic Contribution of Working Equids in Senegal. Dakar: The Brooke; (2021).
- Dehoux JP, Dieng A, Buldgen A. Le cheval mbayar dans la partie centrale du bassin arachidier sénégalais. Anim Genet Resour Inf (1996) 20:35–54.
- Carr EA. Field triage of the neonatal foal. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2014) 30:283–300.
- Leblond A, Villard I, Leblond L, Sabatier P, Sasco AJ. A retrospective evaluation of the causes of death of 448 insured French horses in 1995. Vet Res Commun (2000) 24(2):85–102.
- Melo UP, Palhares MS, Ferreira C, Leme FOP, Gheller VA. Effects of total parenteral nutrition associated with glutamine, enteral fluid therapy with or without glutamine, and fluid therapy on the acid-base and electrolyte balance of horses starved after exploratory laparotomy. Braz J Vet Med (2022) 44:e003222.
- Curtis L, Burford JH, Thomas JS, Curran ML, Bayes TC, England GC. Prospective study of the primary evaluation of 1016 horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain by veterinary practitioners, and the differentiation of critical and non-critical cases. Acta Vet Scand (2015) 57:69.
- de Grauw JC, van Loon JP. Systematic pain assessment in horses. Vet J (2016) 209:14–22.
- Fischer AT Jr. Advances in diagnostic techniques for horses with colic. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (1997) 13(2):203–19.
- Mehdi S, Mohammad V. A farm-based prospective study of equine colic incidence and associated risk factors. J Equine Vet Sci (2006) 26(4):171–4.
- Bowden A, Burford JH, Brennan ML, England GCW, Freeman SL. Horse owners’ knowledge and opinions on recognizing colic in the horse. Equine Vet J (2022) 52:262–7.
- Costa MHDS, Medeiros PR, Melo UP, de Souza RF, da silva GEL, Ferreira C. Survey on the recognition, attitudes, and experience of horse owners during episodes of equine colic in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Braz J Vet Med (2022) 44:e003022.
- Burbidge C. Meconium impaction in the equine neonate. Vet. Nurs. J. (2012) 27:194–7.
- Sow PS, Gueye TS, Sy E, Toure L, Ba C, Badiane M. Drugs in the parallel market for the treatment of urethral discharge in Dakar: epidemiologic investigation and physicochemical tests. Int J Infect Dis (2002) 6(2):108–12.
- Swain O’Fallon EA. Emergency management of equid foals in the field. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2021) 37:407–20.
- Kaufman JM, Nekouei O, Doyle AJ, Biermann NM. Clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes of horses presented for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada (2000–2015). Can Vet J (2020) 61(3):281–8.
- Traub-Dargatz JL, Kopral CA, Seitzinger AH, Garber LP, Forde K, White NA. Estimate of the national incidence of and operation-level risk factors for colic among horses in the United States, spring 1998 to spring 1999. J Am Vet Med Assoc (2001) 219(1):67–71.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
