Equine lower airway disease.

This research aims to explore lower airway disease in horses, particularly racehorses, in the UK and Ireland. It considers the terminology and methodologies currently used and investigates whether they align with veterinary practices and needs.

Introduction

• The article highlights the prominence of respiratory problems among racehorses since the early 1980s, linking these issues to lost training days and decreased performance.
• The paper underscores the need for greater clarity in the terminology used to describe certain respiratory diseases such as lower airway disease, as well as a better standardization of approaches to diagnose, investigate, and treat these diseases.

The Research Project

• The Horserace Betting Levy Board has financed a two-year study being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to study lower airway disease in horses across the UK and Ireland.
• The first phase of this study involves a systematic review of existing literature about lower airway disease in horses to gather the best evidence available.
• In the second phase, the RVC will employ focus groups and questionnaires to gain a deeper understanding of current practices, views, and needs regarding lower airway disease as perceived by veterinary surgeons who treat racehorses in the UK and Ireland.

Purpose and Expected Outcomes

• The collected data from the systematic review and questionnaires will be compared to detect any existing discrepancies and to ascertain if the current research meets the field demands or if any evidence gaps still exist.
• The study appeals to UK and Irish veterinary surgeons to participate in their online questionnaire. This allows for a better collection of insights and personal experiences, aiding the researchers in understanding how current research aligns with practice when it comes to lower airway disease.
• Participation in the online questionnaire has been incentivized with a chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher. Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the RVC’s social science research ethical review board.