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BMC veterinary research2013; 9; 4; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-4

Evaluation of contact heat thermal threshold testing for standardized assessment of cutaneous nociception in horses – comparison of different locations and environmental conditions.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of contact heat thermal stimulation in horses at different body sites and under different environmental conditions and different test situations. Five warm-blood horses were equipped with the thermal probe located on the skin of nostril (N), withers (W) or coronary band (C). Skin temperature and reaction temperature (thermal threshold) at each location were measured and percent thermal excursion (% TE = 100 * (threshold temperature - skin temperature)/(cut-out temperature - skin temperature) was calculated. Environmental conditions were changed in partial random order for all locations, so each horse was tested in its familiar box stall and stocks, in the morning and evening and at warm and cold ambient temperatures. Type of reaction to the stimulus and horse's general behaviour during stimulation were recorded. The stimulation sites were examined for the occurrence of possible skin lesions. Results: Skin temperatures were significantly different during warm and cold ambient temperatures at all three locations, but remained constant over repeated stimulation. An obvious response to stimulation before reaching cut-out temperature could be detected most frequently at N and W in boxes during warm ambient temperatures. The most frequent type of reaction to thermal stimulation at the nostril was headshaking (64.6%), skin twitching at the withers (82.9%) and hoof withdrawal at the coronary band (79.2%). Conclusions: The outcome of thermal threshold testing depended on ambient temperature, stimulation site and environment. Best results with the WTT2 in horses were obtained at the nostrils or withers in a familiar environment at warm ambient temperatures.
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Publication Date: 2013-01-08 PubMed ID: 23298405PubMed Central: PMC3551666DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 study explores the effectiveness of contact heat thermal stimulation as a method for assessing skin-based pain in horses, observing changes in different environmental conditions and body sites.

Methodology

  • The study involved five warm-blood horses which were subjected to thermal stimulus via a probe placed on their skin at three different locations (nostril, withers or coronary band).
  • Both the skin temperature and the reaction temperature were measured at each location and the percent thermal excursion was calculated.
  • The environmental conditions were deliberately varied, altering the horses’ surroundings (having them in familiar boxes and stock, during morning and evening, and in both warm and cold temperatures).
  • The type of reaction the horses had towards the stimulus, as well as their general behavior during the stimulation, was recorded.
  • The sites of stimulation were also monitored for any skin lesions.

Results

  • Significant differences were found in skin temperatures at all three locations during warm and cold ambient temperatures. However, the temperatures were constant during repeated stimulations.
  • Obvious responses to stimulation before reaching the cut-out temperature were most frequently detected at the nostrils and withers when the horses were in boxes during warm ambient temperatures.
  • Reactions to thermal stimulation varied: nostril stimulation produced a headshakin responseg 64.6% of the time, skin twitching occurred at the withers 82.9% of the time and hoof withdrawal at the coronary band happened 79.2% of the time.

Conclusions

  • The results of thermal threshold testing varied based on the ambient temperature, site of stimulation, and the horse’s environment.
  • The best results were achieved when testing was performed on the nostrils or withers in a familiar environment and at warm ambient temperatures.

Cite This Article

APA
Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB. (2013). Evaluation of contact heat thermal threshold testing for standardized assessment of cutaneous nociception in horses – comparison of different locations and environmental conditions. BMC Vet Res, 9, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-4

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Poller, Christin
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Hannover, Germany. c.poller@gmx.net
Hopster, Klaus
    Rohn, Karl
      Kästner, Sabine Br

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Environment
        • Horses / physiology
        • Hot Temperature
        • Nociception / physiology
        • Sensory Thresholds / physiology
        • Skin Physiological Phenomena
        • Skin Temperature / physiology
        • Thermosensing / physiology

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
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