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Home / Equine Research Bank / Prev Vet Med / The Michigan equine monitoring system. II. Frequencies and i...
Preventive veterinary medicine1997; 29(4); 277-292; doi: 10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01080-x

The Michigan equine monitoring system. II. Frequencies and impact of selected health problems.

Abstract: A prospective study was designed to document the frequencies of equine health problems in the state of Michigan, USA. A total of 2469 horses from a random sample of 138 equine operations were monitored in the study in two 12-month periods: 1992-1993 and 1993-1994. All the major breeds of horses in the state were proportionately represented in the sample. Using weighted annual incidence densities as measures of disease frequencies, the 10 most frequently observed groups of health problems were (from most to least frequent) leg lameness, dermatological problems, respiratory problems, hoof and foot problems, reproductive problems, systemic problems, colic, whole body lameness, neurological problems and gastrointestinal problems (other than colic). This ranking of the top 10 health problems was different from the ranking provided by equine owners/operators at the beginning of the study. Overall, very low specific mortality rates were observed in the study. However, the conditions that were associated with mortality resulted in fairly high case fatalities. The five specific illnesses that most commonly resulted in fatalities were (from greatest to least case fatality risk) systemic problems, colic, gastrointestinal problems (other than colic), neurological problems, and foot and hoof problems. Impact of disease was evaluated in terms of average duration of a case and days lost for performance. Neurological problems, lameness and dermatological problems had the longest duration per case. Neurological problems, lameness, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal problems (other than colic) had the longest average days lost per case.
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Publication Date: 1997-02-01 PubMed ID: 9234436DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01080-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 paper presents the findings of a year-long study conducted in Michigan in 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 to document the most common health problems in horses. The study, which examined 2469 horses across 138 equine facilities, found that leg lameness, dermatological and respiratory issues, and hoof and foot problems were some of the most common health issues, with neurological problems and gastrointestinal diseases also causing notable distress.

Methodology

  • The study was a prospective design, meaning the researchers started with a healthy population of horses and then documented what health problems arose over a certain period of time.
  • This study was done in Michigan, USA, with a total sample size of 2469 horses chosen from a random selection of 138 equine facilities.
  • The study was conducted over two separate 12-month periods, covering 1992-1993 and 1993-1994.
  • All the major breeds of horses in Michigan were proportionately represented in the selected sample.
  • The frequency of disease was measured using annual incidence densities.

Findings

  • The ten most common health issues, in order of descending frequency, were: leg lameness, dermatological problems, respiratory problems, hoof and foot problems, reproductive problems, systemic problems, colic, whole body lameness, neurological problems, and gastrointestinal problems not related to colic.
  • The ranking of health problems reported by horse owners and operators at the start of the study differed from the results found in the study.
  • The study found very low specific mortality rates overall. However, the conditions associated with mortality resulted in relatively high case fatalities.
  • The five illnesses that most commonly resulted in fatalities were systemic problems, colic, gastrointestinal problems apart from colic, neurological issues, and foot and hoof problems.

Impacts of Disease

  • The impact of disease was evaluated using average duration of a case and days lost for performance as metrics.
  • Neurological problems, lameness and dermatological problems had the longest duration per case.
  • Neurological problems, lameness, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal problems not associated with colic resulted in the greatest average number of days lost per case.

Cite This Article

APA
Kaneene JB, Ross WA, Miller R. (1997). The Michigan equine monitoring system. II. Frequencies and impact of selected health problems. Prev Vet Med, 29(4), 277-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01080-x

Publication

Preventive veterinary medicine
ISSN: 0167-5877
NlmUniqueID: 8217463
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 4
Pages: 277-292

Researcher Affiliations

Kaneene, J B
  • Population Medicine Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1314, USA. kaneene@cvm.msu.edu
Ross, W A
    Miller, R

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Colic / epidemiology
      • Colic / mortality
      • Colic / veterinary
      • Data Collection
      • Health Status
      • Health Surveys
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horse Diseases / mortality
      • Horses
      • Incidence
      • Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
      • Lameness, Animal / mortality
      • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
      • Lung Diseases / mortality
      • Lung Diseases / veterinary
      • Michigan / epidemiology
      • Models, Biological
      • Models, Statistical
      • Morbidity
      • Population Surveillance
      • Prospective Studies
      • Seasons
      • United States / epidemiology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 13 times.
      1. Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training. J Equine Vet Sci 2023 Jul;126:104494.
        doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104494pubmed: 37075868google scholar: lookup
      2. Dybkjær E, Steffensen KF, Honoré ML, Dinesen MA, Christophersen MT, Pihl TH. Short-term survival rates of 1397 horses referred for colic from 2010 to 2018. Acta Vet Scand 2022 May 7;64(1):11.
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        doi: 10.3390/ani11082316pubmed: 34438772google scholar: lookup
      5. König KS, Verhaar N, Hopster K, Pfarrer C, Neudeck S, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. Ischaemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning with dexmedetomidine in an equine model of small intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion. PLoS One 2020;15(4):e0224720.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224720pubmed: 32348301google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.1111/evj.13135pubmed: 31087355google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.03.009pubmed: 19364615google scholar: lookup
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      13. Griessel TS, Muñoz Morán JA, Byaruhanga C, Smit Y. A single-centre retrospective study of surgical site infection following equine colic surgery (2013‒2021). Vet Rec 2025 May 17;196(10):e5227.
        doi: 10.1002/vetr.5227pubmed: 40123113google scholar: lookup
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