Preventive health care and owner-reported disease prevalence of horses and ponies in Great Britain

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 95; no. 2; pp. 418 - 424
• Main Authors: Ireland, J.L., Wylie, C.E., Collins, S.N., Verheyen, K.L.P., Newton, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01-10-2013; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Airway management; Animal Husbandry - methods; Animals; anthelmintics; Behavior; Confidence intervals; cross-sectional studies; Data Collection; Disease; Disease prevalence; Disease prevention; Epidemiology; Equine; Health care; health services; Herpes viruses; hooves; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - prevention & control; Horses; Immunization; influenza; Insect bites; obesity; osteoarthritis; Population; Prevalence; Preventive health care; Preventive medicine; Questionnaires; Studies; Survey; Surveys and Questionnaires; tetanus; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Veterinary medicine; Great Britain; Survey; Equine; Disease prevalence; Preventive health care; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.05.007

This study aimed to describe the provision of preventive health care and owner-reported disease prevalence in horses and ponies within Great Britain (GB), and to assess geographical variations in health care provision. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using a postal questionnaire administered to a random sample of veterinary-registered owners of horses and ponies in GB (n=797). The majority of animals received regular preventive health care: 95.6% had regular hoof care; 71.3% were vaccinated for both influenza and tetanus and median time since last anthelmintic administration was 8.7weeks. Thirty-one percent of owners indicated their animal was overweight/obese. A new health problem within the previous 7days was reported for 7.4% of animals, 59.3% of which were veterinary-diagnosed. Thirty-two percent of animals were reported to have a long-term/recurrent condition, of which osteoarthritis (13.9%) was the most prevalent. Obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, and dermatological conditions were the most prevalent conditions affecting veterinary-registered horses/ponies.