Obese
horses and ponies in greater danger
A BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) and Merial
Animal Health sponsored study has examined the factors
that affect the likelihood of recovery from laminitis,
a painful and debilitating condition that affects
the feet of horses and ponies, and found obese animals
were more likely to die.
In the study members of the British Equine Veterinary
Association (BEVA) documented cases over four years
and found that overweight animals which develop laminitis
tend to have more severe signs than those of optimal
weight.
Reporting on the study conclusions the principal investigator
and veterinary surgeon, Celia Marr, said “When
laminitis does occur, overweight animals are more
likely to die of the disease than their thinner counterparts.
The animals with the best outcome tended to be those
that had received acepromazine, a drug that improves
the blood supply to the feet and relaxes the animal.
Horse owners and vets are encouraged to ensure that
horses and ponies are not allowed to become excessively
fat as this can have a significant effect on their
health, as we have seen in this study.”
Speaking on behalf of the BVA AWF, the Chairman Carl
Padgett said “As the veterinary profession’s
own animal welfare charity a key part of our activities
is to fund academic research which will have a positive
and practical impact on animal welfare. We were therefore
delighted to support this study in recognition of
the devastating effects that laminitis has on horse
welfare.”
Summary of the study:
· 107 cases of acute pasture-associated laminitis
were recruited from first opinion practices to study
factors associated with clinical severity, survival
and return to ridden exercise
· 83% were overweight and there was a trend
towards severe laminitis cases having a higher BMI
· eight weeks after disease onset, 95% were
alive
· lower body weight, optimal body condition,
mild rather than severe laminitis and acute/chronic
founder were significantly associated with survival
· the clinical outcome was judged by a panel
of three veterinarians as good in 72% of cases
· clinical outcome
was significantly associated with horse type; outcome
was bad in none of the small horses compared with
34.1% of large ponies/cobs, 32.4% of small ponies
and 30.0% of large horses
The British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare
Foundation (BVA AWF) is the BVA’s own animal
welfare charity committed to improving the welfare
of all animals through science, education and debate.
For further information about the charity please visit
www.bva-awf.org.uk
For further information about Merial Animal Health
please visit www.merial.com
A low resolution x-ray image of a horse's foot is
attached
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