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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Incidence and clinical signs of owner-reported equine lamini...
Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(5); 587-594; doi: 10.1111/evj.13059

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

Abstract: Previous robust epidemiological studies of equine laminitis have utilised only veterinary-diagnosed episodes of disease, potentially underestimating true disease frequency. Objective: To estimate the incidence of, and describe clinical signs associated with, owner-reported active laminitis in horses/ponies, using both veterinary-diagnosed and nonveterinary-diagnosed episodes. Methods: Prospective cohort. Methods: Data were collected from horse/pony owners in Great Britain between August 2014 and December 2016 using a web-based application. The incidence of owner-reported laminitis was estimated using both first incident and repeat episodes reported during the study period via a previously validated laminitis reporting form. Owner-reported clinical signs present in these episodes were recorded. Results: A total of 1070 horses/ponies contributed 1068 horse-years at risk (HYAR) and 123 active laminitis episodes were reported in 97 animals. Sixty-two of these episodes (50.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 41.6, 59.2%) were veterinary-diagnosed and 75.3% (CI 66.7, 83.8%; n = 73) of horses/ponies reported to have laminitis during the study had a previous laminitis history. Overall owner-reported first episode incidence was 9.6 episodes (CI 7.8, 11.7)/100 HYAR, whereas incidence including repeat episodes was 11.5 episodes (CI 9.7, 13.7)/100 HYAR. Laminitis occurred throughout the year with no significant differences between seasonal incidence estimates. Incidence was highest in Connemara and New Forest and lowest in Draught and Cob breed categories. The most prevalent owner-reported clinical signs (≥70%) were difficulty turning and a short/stilted or lame walk. Laminitis was reported in all limbs, however; both forelimbs were most commonly affected (62.9%, CI 54.1, 71.7%; n = 73/116). Conclusions: Self-selection enrolment of participants may limit generalisability of the findings. Conclusions: Laminitis remains a considerable year-round welfare issue of horses and ponies, with frequency estimates utilising owner-reported data more representative of the true impact of the disease. The clinical signs reported by horse/pony owners were reflective of those previously described by veterinary surgeons.
© 2018 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-01-16 PubMed ID: 30516850DOI: 10.1111/evj.13059Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 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.

Cite This Article

APA
Pollard D, Wylie CE, Newton JR, Verheyen KLP. (2019). Incidence and clinical signs of owner-reported equine laminitis in a cohort of horses and ponies in Great Britain. Equine Vet J, 51(5), 587-594. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13059

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 5
Pages: 587-594

Researcher Affiliations

Pollard, D
  • Epidemiology Department, Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
  • Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Wylie, C E
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Newton, J R
  • Epidemiology Department, Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Verheyen, K L P
  • Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cohort Studies
  • Foot Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foot Diseases / pathology
  • Foot Diseases / veterinary
  • Hoof and Claw / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Incidence
  • Inflammation / epidemiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / veterinary
  • Seasons
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Grant Funding

  • Margaret Giffen Charitable Trust
  • World Horse Welfare
  • Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
  • Horserace Betting Levy Board
  • Racehorse Owners Association

Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Lykkjen S, Stenbakk LK, Holmøy IH. Prevalence and risk factors for laminitis within the Norwegian pony breed Nordlandshest/Lyngshest. Acta Vet Scand 2023 Jun 16;65(1):22.
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  2. Knowles EJ, Elliott J, Harris PA, Chang YM, Menzies-Gow NJ. Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of nonlaminitic ponies. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):12-23.
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  7. Murray JK, Kinsman RH, Lord MS, Da Costa REP, Woodward JL, Owczarczak-Garstecka SC, Tasker S, Knowles TG, Casey RA. 'Generation Pup' - protocol for a longitudinal study of dog behaviour and health. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jan 4;17(1):1.
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  9. Pollard D, Wylie CE, Verheyen KLP, Newton JR. Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach. BMC Vet Res 2019 Feb 12;15(1):59.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1798-8pubmed: 30755193google scholar: lookup
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