Prevalence and risk factors in serous arthritis in the carpal joint of Norwegian coldblooded trotters.
Abstract: Of 508 four-year-old coldblooded trotters examined for carpitis, 135 (27%) had the condition. Thirty horses had unilateral carpitis on the left frontlimb, 52 on the right frontlimb and 53 had bilateral carpitis. Of these horses, 105 were stallions, 135 were geldings and 269 were mares. The prevalence of carpitis in these three groups was 25%, 25% and 28%, respectively. Information was obtained on the training regimes in four periods of the life of 378 horses. The odds ratios for the training variables were of the same order in all four periods. In logistic regression analyses on the training variables for the first period for the variable percentage of carpitis within each progeny group (sire index), the odds ratio corresponding to a 10% increase in sire index was 1.7 (1.4, 2.1) (95% confidence interval of the odds ratio). The odds ratios for leaving the horses out in a paddock, walking in a jogcart and fast training, or not in each case, were 0.4 (0.2, 0.9), 2.5 (1.2, 5.3) and 2.0 (0.9, 4.4), respectively. This implies a decreased risk of developing carpitis for horses left out in a paddock as a two-year-old, and a 2.5 and 2.0 times increased risk of carpitis occuring in horses exposed to walking in a jogcart and fast training, respectively. Information on the feeding regimes during the first, second and third year collected by a questionnaire revealed no association with carpitis beyond that which could be ascribed to chance. The rations offered were within normal ranges except for calcium, which was below recommended levels.
Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 7831757DOI: 10.1007/BF01839194Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the incidence and risk factors of a joint disorder called ‘carpitis’ in a breed of Norwegian coldblooded trotters. The study evaluates the relationship between early lifestyle factors like training regimes, and the development of this condition among 508 young horses, and concludes that certain types of training can increase or decrease the risk of carpitis.
Study Demographics and Prevalence of Carpitis
- In a total population of 508 four-year-old coldblooded trotters, 135 or 27% were found to have carpitis, a condition affecting the carpal (wrist) joint.
- The affected horses consisted of 30 with carpitis on the left frontlimb, 52 on the right frontlimb, and 53 with the condition on both limbs.
- Among the various categories of horses – 105 stallions, 135 geldings, and 269 mares – the condition was most prevalent among the mares (28%), with a 25% occurrence rate in the other two categories.
Impact of Training Regimes on Carpitis Occurrence
- Information on the equine training routines during four life periods of 378 horses in the study was analyzed.
- The odds ratios for the different training variables were found to be similar across all four periods.
- A 10% increase in the sire index – calculated as the percentage of progeny with carpitis for each sire – corresponded to an odds ratio of 1.7, which indicates that horses with a higher sire index were more likely to develop carpitis.
- Three specific training activities were found to influence carpitis risk. Horses left out in a paddock at age two had a decreased risk (odds ratio of 0.4). However, horses subjected to activities such as walking in a jogcart and intense, fast training demonstrated increased risk with odds ratios of 2.5 and 2.0 respectively.
Other Factors: Diet and Nutrition
- Data on dietary plans for the first three years of the horses’ lives did not show any significant correlation with the occurrence of carpitis.
- The dietary plans were generally found to be within the normal range with one exception: Calcium levels were found to be lower than recommended, although the effect of calcium on carpitis was not explored in the paper.
The study therefore concludes that specific training programs may significantly increase the risk of developing carpitis in young trotters, and recommends further research to understand the application of these findings in the prevention of the condition.
Cite This Article
APA
Dolvik NI.
(1994).
Prevalence and risk factors in serous arthritis in the carpal joint of Norwegian coldblooded trotters.
Vet Res Commun, 18(4), 281-288.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01839194 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Arthritis / epidemiology
- Diet / veterinary
- Female
- Forelimb
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Statistics as Topic
References
This article includes 1 references
- Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Gabel AA. A clinical perspective on lameness originating in the carpus.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1988 Sep;(6):12-8.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Dolvik NI, Klemetsdal G. The effect of arthritis in the carpal joint on performance in Norwegian cold-blooded trotters.. Vet Res Commun 1996;20(6):505-12.
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