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Risk factors for equine laminitis: a case-control study conducted in veterinary-registered horses and ponies in Great Britain between 2009 and 2011.
Abstract: Laminitis is a highly debilitating disease of the foot known to have a complex and multifactorial aetiology of metabolic, inflammatory, traumatic or vascular origin. The disease has major welfare implications due to unrelenting pain associated with degenerative changes, which often necessitate euthanasia on welfare grounds. Despite this, there have been few high-quality studies investigating risk factors for equine laminitis, and only a limited number of risk factors have been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to conduct a case-control study of risk factors for active episodes of veterinary-diagnosed laminitis in horses and ponies attended by veterinary practitioners in Great Britain, based on multivariable statistical analyses. Questionnaires were received for 1010 animals, comprising 191 laminitis cases and 819 controls. Factors associated with an increased risk of laminitis were weight gain in the previous 3 months, summer and winter months compared to spring, new access to grass in the previous 4 weeks, box rest in the previous week, owner-reported history of laminitis, lameness or foot-soreness after shoeing/trimming, existing endocrinopathic (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome) disease and increasing time since the last anthelmintic treatment. Factors associated with a decreased risk of laminitis were increasing height (cm), feeding of additional supplements in the previous week and transportation in the previous week. Novel associated factors were identified that may aid in the management and prevention of the disease in the veterinary-registered equine population.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-09-04 PubMed ID: 24070987DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.08.028Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Case Reports
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Metabolic Syndrome
- Euthanasia
- Horses
- Lameness
- Metabolic Health
- Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction
- Pony
- Risk Factors
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Weight Loss
- Welfare
Summary
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This research paper investigates the risk factors of equine laminitis, a severe foot disease in horses, through a case-control study conducted in Great Britain. The study identifies several factors, including weight gain, season changes, new grass access, rearing practices, history of lameness, and underlying health issues that increase the disease’s risk. It also finds that certain factors can lower this risk.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of this paper was to analyze the risk factors associated with equine laminitis, a painful and debilitating foot disease that often leads to euthanasia in horses.
- A case-control study was implemented on horses and ponies in Great Britain to gather essential data.
- Data was collected through questionnaires received from veterinary practitioners. A total of 1010 animals were included in the study, with 191 confirmed cases of laminitis and 819 acting as control animals.
- The investigation relied heavily on multivariable statistical analyses to identify potential risk factors.
Risk Factors Identified
- The study found that weight gain in the last 3 months increases the risk of encountering the disease.
- The seasons of summer and winter also contribute to a higher risk compared to the spring season.
- Access to fresh grass in the previous 4 weeks was another risk factor identified.
- Keeping horses in rest boxes in the past week was likewise associated with increased risk.
- Previous history of laminitis, lameness, or foot-soreness after shoeing/trimming, were also linked to higher instances of the disease.
- Animals with existing endocrinopathic diseases, such as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome, had an enhanced likelihood of developing laminitis.
- A longer duration since the last anthelmintic treatment also heightened the risk.
Factors Reducing the Risk
- The research found that factors such as taller height (cm) can decrease the likelihood of developing laminitis.
- Feeding of additional supplements in the previous week could also mitigate the risk.
- Transportation in the previous week was similarly associated with a lowered risk.
Significance of the Findings
- The study’s findings contribute significantly to the understanding of equine laminitis, outlining various factors that can either heighten or reduce the risk of the disease.
- These findings can aid veterinarians, horse owners, and trainers in managing and reducing the prevalence of laminitis in the equine population by acknowledging and modifying certain practices.
Cite This Article
APA
Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.
(2013).
Risk factors for equine laminitis: a case-control study conducted in veterinary-registered horses and ponies in Great Britain between 2009 and 2011.
Vet J, 198(1), 57-69.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.08.028 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Epidemiology Department, Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. Electronic address: claire.wylie@uab.cat.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Foot Diseases / epidemiology
- Foot Diseases / etiology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Models, Biological
- Multivariate Analysis
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- United Kingdom
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Lykkjen S, Stenbakk LK, Holmu00f8y IH. Prevalence and risk factors for laminitis within the Norwegian pony breed Nordlandshest/Lyngshest.. Acta Vet Scand 2023 Jun 16;65(1):22.
- 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.
- Daradics Z, Crecan CM, Rus MA, Morar IA, Mircean MV, Cu0103toi AF, Cecan AD, Cu0103toi C. Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction in Dairy Cows and Horses: Comparison to Human Metabolic Syndrome.. Life (Basel) 2021 Dec 16;11(12).
- Theelen MJP, Luiken REC, Wagenaar JA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Rossen JWA, Zomer AL. The Equine Faecal Microbiota of Healthy Horses and Ponies in The Netherlands: Impact of Host and Environmental Factors.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 12;11(6).
- Zhu Y, Wang X, Deng L, Chen S, Zhu C, Li J. Effects of Pasture Grass, Silage, and Hay Diet on Equine Fecal Microbiota.. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 7;11(5).
- Ward AB, Stephen K, Argo CM, Harris PA, Watson CA, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White DH, Morrison PK. COVID-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity.. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0252340.
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- Fitzgerald DM, Pollitt CC, Walsh DM, Sillence MN, de Laat MA. The effect of different grazing conditions on the insulin and incretin response to the oral glucose test in ponies.. BMC Vet Res 2019 Oct 16;15(1):345.
- 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.
- de Laat MA, Sillence MN, Reiche DB. Phenotypic, hormonal, and clinical characteristics of equine endocrinopathic laminitis.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1456-1463.
- Takahashi Y, Takahashi T. Seasonal fluctuations in body weight during growth of Thoroughbred racehorses during their athletic career.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Aug 18;13(1):257.
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- Horseman SV, Buller H, Mullan S, Whay HR. Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders.. PLoS One 2016;11(8):e0160269.
- Morgan R, Keen J, McGowan C. Equine metabolic syndrome.. Vet Rec 2015 Aug 15;177(7):173-9.
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