Abstract
Use of owner-reported data could further epidemiological knowledge of equine laminitis. However, owner recognition of laminitis has not previously been assessed. The primary objective was to establish whether cases of owner-suspected laminitis would be confirmed as laminitis by the attending veterinary surgeon. Secondary objectives were to compare owner- and veterinary-reported information from veterinary-confirmed cases of equine laminitis. Cross-sectional study. Twenty-five British veterinary practices were invited to submit laminitis reporting forms (LRFs) for active laminitis cases attended between January 2014 and October 2015; detailing 27 clinical signs, 5 underlying conditions and 7 risk factors associated with laminitis. Owners were invited to independently complete a modified LRF if reason for the veterinary visit was suspicion of laminitis. Differences between paired veterinary and owner LRFs, and between cases where owners did and did not recognise laminitis, were assessed using McNemar's and Fisher's Exact tests, respectively. Veterinary LRFs were received for 93 veterinary-diagnosed laminitis cases. All 51 owner-suspected cases were confirmed by veterinary diagnosis, with the remaining 42 (45.2%) not recognised as laminitis by owners. Undefined lameness, foot abscesses, colic and stiffness were common reasons for owner-requested veterinary visits in owner-unrecognised cases. 'Divergent growth rings' (prevalence difference: +27.3%, P=0.01) and 'breed type' (prevalence difference: +21.2%, P=0.04) were more commonly reported by veterinary surgeons in owner-recognised compared to owner-unrecognised cases. 'Difficulty turning', 'shifting weight' and risk factor 'body condition' were more frequently reported by veterinary surgeons whilst 'increased hoof temperature' was reported more frequently by owners. The limited clinical data restricted statistical inferences regarding the secondary objectives. All owner-suspected laminitis cases were confirmed upon veterinary examination, showing validity for the inclusion of owner-reported cases in future epidemiological studies. However, failure of laminitis recognition by owners highlights further need for evidence-based education to ensure early disease detection.
Highlights
Equine laminitis is a complex, multifactorial disease for which further epidemiological investigations have been identified as key to reducing its welfare impact [1; 2]
Information was collected regarding the presence of predefined clinical signs, underlying conditions and risk factors which may have contributed to laminitis being suspected by the owner and/or diagnosed by the veterinary surgeon
The study population represented a range of breeds and their crosses (Figure 1), with Welsh breeds and crosses most frequently reported in this sample (32.2%; confidence intervals (CI) 22.8-41.8%)
Summary
Equine laminitis is a complex, multifactorial disease for which further epidemiological investigations have been identified as key to reducing its welfare impact [1; 2]. Whilst data from first-opinion veterinary practices has been used successfully to collect prospective data for other diseases [7-11], it is recognised that this may underestimate the true incidence of disease [12; 13]. This may be true for equine laminitis due to the chronic and recurrent nature of the disease which potentially leads to owner recognition and treatment without veterinary intervention. Before owner-reported information can be used to further epidemiological knowledge, it is important to confirm the validity of what horse owners report as laminitis in their animals is consistent with a veterinary diagnosis of the disease. Owner recognition of laminitis has not previously been assessed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
