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Frontiers in veterinary science2019; 6; 206; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00206

Oral Lesions in the Bit Area in Finnish Trotters After a Race: Lesion Evaluation, Scoring, and Occurrence.

Abstract: Oral lesions in the bit area are common in horses, but not comprehensively studied in harness racing horses. This study describes the type and occurrence of oral soft tissue lesions in the area affected by the bit, hereafter called the bit area, in trotters after a race. Based on our results, we suggest a system for scoring lesions according to size, type (bruise or wound), age, and depth (superficial or deep). The data was collected during a welfare program for trotters, conducted by The Finnish Trotting and Breeding Association (Suomen Hippos ry). The rostral part of the mouth of 261 horses (151 Standardbreds, 78 Finnhorses, and 32 ponies) was examined after a race in a systematic manner, using a bright light source without sedation or a mouth gag. The lip commissures (outside and inside), bars of the mandible, buccal area near the second upper premolar teeth, tongue, and hard palate were visually examined; bars of the mandible were also palpated. Points were assigned to every lesion and then added together, such that each horse got an acute lesion score. Based on the score, the horses were divided into four groups (A-D) as follows: Group A, no lesions; B, mild lesions; C, moderate lesions; D, severe lesions. Of all the horses examined, 84% (219/261) had acute lesions in the bit area. In total, 21% (55/261) had mild lesions, 43% (113/261) had moderate lesions, and 20% (51/261) had severe lesions. Visible bleeding outside the mouth was observed in 2% (6/261) of the horses. Further, 5% of the horses (13/261) had blood on the bit when it was removed from the mouth, even though no blood was visible outside the mouth. In conclusion, soft tissue lesions in the bit area were common in the Finnish trotters examined. Moreover, the absence of blood outside the mouth does not rule out serious injuries inside the mouth. The scoring system presented can be used for evaluating the severity of oral lesions in different equestrian disciplines and populations to allow for comparable data across studies.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-12 PubMed ID: 31355213PubMed Central: PMC6640207DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00206Google 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.

The study investigates the type and prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions or injuries in the bit area of Finnish harness racing horses, known as trotters. It suggests a system for grading these wounds based on size, type, age and depth. The findings show that such injuries are common and that serious internal damage can occur even if no blood is visible outside the mouth.

Study Overview

  • The researchers examined the oral tissue in the bit area of 261 trotters following a race as part of a horse welfare program under the Finnish Trotting and Breeding Association. The horses included were 151 Standardbreds, 78 Finnhorses, and 32 ponies.
  • Examination of the horses was conducted without sedation or a mouth gag. Locations inspected include the lip corners, bars of the mandible or lower jaw, the cheek area near the second premolars, the tongue, and the hard palate or the roof of the mouth. The bars of the mandible were both visually inspected and palpated or examined by touch.
  • Each horse’s lesions were scored by assigning points to every wound. The scores were then added together to establish an acute lesion score for each horse.
  • The researchers sorted the horses into four groups (A to D) based on these scores: Group A were horses with no lesions, Group B had mild lesions, Group C had moderate lesions, and Group D had severe lesions.

Findings and Conclusion

  • Results indicated that 84% (219 out of 261) of the trotters suffered from acute wounds in the bit area. Based on their scores, 21% had mild lesions, 43% had moderate lesions, and 20% had severe lesions.
  • 2% of the trotters (6 out of 261) were observed to have visible external bleeding. However, 5% (13 out of 261) had blood on the bit upon removal, indicating the possibility of internal injuries even if no blood was evident outside the mouth.
  • The study concluded that soft tissue lesions in the bit area of racing trotters are common. The absence of blood outside the mouth does not rule out serious injuries.
  • The researchers recommended the scoring system as a tool for assessing the severity of oral wounds in different horse breeds, equestrian disciplines, and populations, aiming to facilitate consistent data collection across similar studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Tuomola K, Mäki-Kihniä N, Kujala-Wirth M, Mykkänen A, Valros A. (2019). Oral Lesions in the Bit Area in Finnish Trotters After a Race: Lesion Evaluation, Scoring, and Occurrence. Front Vet Sci, 6, 206. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00206

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 6
Pages: 206
PII: 206

Researcher Affiliations

Tuomola, Kati
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Mäki-Kihniä, Nina
  • Independent Researcher, Pori, Finland.
Kujala-Wirth, Minna
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Mykkänen, Anna
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Valros, Anna
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

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Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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