Incidence and clinical signs of owner-reported equine laminitis in a cohort of horses and ponies in Great Britain.

This research article presents a study examining the occurrence and clinical symptoms of horse laminitis as reported by horse owners in Great Britain between 2014 and 2016. It highlights that equine laminitis is a significant year-round health issue, and it notes that using owner-reported data could provide more accurate estimates of the disease’s impact.

Research Methods

• The study followed a prospective cohort methodology and gathered data through a web-based application for a duration from 2014 to 2016.
• It focused on horse and pony owners in Great Britain.
• Researchers employed a previously validated laminitis reporting form to calculate the incidence of laminitis. This process considered both the first and subsequent instances of the disease reported during the period.
• The team also captured the clinical signs associated with the disease episodes, as reported by the owners.

Findings

• The researchers observed 123 active laminitis episodes in 97 out of the 1070 horses/ponies involved in the study.
• About half of these episodes (50.4%) were diagnosed by a veterinarian. However, most of the horses/ponies (75.3%) that experienced a laminitis episode during the study had a history of the disease.
• The incidence rate for first-time episodes was measured at 9.6 per 100 horse-years at risk (HYAR), while including repeated episodes increased the rate to 11.5 per 100 HYAR.
• The disease was found in all breeds of horses and ponies. It was observed throughout the year, with no significant variances based on the season. Incidence was highest in Connemara and New Forest breeds, while Draught and Cob breeds had the lowest rates.
• The most frequent symptom among afflicted horses/ponies was difficulty turning or a short, stilted, or lame walk. The disease was reported in all limbs, but the forelimbs were most affected, experiencing 62.9% of all reported episodes.

Conclusion

• The study acknowledged potential limitations such as selection bias in participant enrolment.
• However, it emphasized that horse and pony laminitis remains a significant and widespread health problem throughout the year.
• It proposed that using owner-reported data can produce a more accurate picture of the disease’s impact, which might be understated in veterinary-diagnosed cases.
• The symptoms as reported by the owners were found to align with the clinical signs that veterinary surgeons typically associate with the disease.