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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / In-Person Caretaker Visits Disrupt Ongoing Discomfort Behavi...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(2); doi: 10.3390/ani10020210

In-Person Caretaker Visits Disrupt Ongoing Discomfort Behavior in Hospitalized Equine Orthopedic Surgical Patients.

Abstract: Horses have evolved to show little indication of discomfort or disability when in the presence of potential predators, including humans. This natural characteristic complicates the recognition of pain in equine patients. It has been our clinical impression that, whenever a person is present, horses tend to "perk up" and ongoing discomfort behavior (DB) more or less ceases. The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate and describe this effect. For each of 20 orthopedic surgical patients, continuous 24-h video was reviewed to record all occurrences of DB during a caretaker visit (3.23 to 7.75 min), for comparison to the hour preceding as well as the hour following when undisturbed. The mean ± S.E. DB observed per minute during the preceding and following hours, respectively, were 1.65 ± 0.17 and 1.49 ± 0.22. The difference was not significant (p > 0.05). In contrast, mean DB per minute during the visit was 0.40 ± 0.11. This was significantly lower than during both the preceding and following hours (p < 0.0001). All 20 patients expressed fewer observable DB per minute during the visit, with a mean reduction of 77.4% ± 0.17%. For 30% of these patients, ongoing DB ceased altogether during the visit. These findings confirm our clinical impression that caretaker visits interrupt DB, resulting in under-appreciation of discomfort.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-27 PubMed ID: 32012670PubMed Central: PMC7070845DOI: 10.3390/ani10020210Google 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 study explores the impact of human presence on the behavior of horses, particularly those under post-operation orthopedic care. The study found that horses tend to exhibit fewer signs of discomfort during human visits, making it more challenging for caregivers to accurately assess their pain levels.

Study Objective

  • The study aimed to quantify and describe the observed phenomenon where horses, as a survival instinct, reduce behaviors indicating discomfort when humans are present.

Methodology

  • The study examined 20 orthopedic surgical patients – horses that have undergone a surgical procedure.
  • For each horse, continuous 24-hour video footage was reviewed. The researchers documented any signs of Discomfort Behavior (DB) during a caretaker visit, which lasted about 3 to 8 minutes.
  • The team compared these findings to the behavior of the horse an hour before and an hour after the visit, during which they were undisturbed.

Results

  • The study found that the mean DB per minute during the visits was 0.40 ± 0.11, significantly lower than the preceding and following hours, with DB at 1.65 ± 0.17 and 1.49 ± 0.22 per minute respectively.
  • All 20 patients presented fewer observable DB per minute during human visitation, with the mean reduction in DB at 77.4% ± 0.17%.
  • Additionally, for 30% of these patients, DB ceased completely during the visit.

Conclusion

  • The study confirmed the researchers’ initial hypothesis that caretaker visits have a subduing effect on horse discomfort behavior.
  • This pattern could lead to an underestimation of discomfort in horses, as they instinctively mask signs of pain in front of humans, similar to potential predators.

Cite This Article

APA
Torcivia C, McDonnell S. (2020). In-Person Caretaker Visits Disrupt Ongoing Discomfort Behavior in Hospitalized Equine Orthopedic Surgical Patients. Animals (Basel), 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020210

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2

Researcher Affiliations

Torcivia, Catherine
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
McDonnell, Sue
  • Havemeyer Equine Behavior Lab and Clinic, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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