Obesity and laminitis
| Obesity and laminitis Obese animals with laminitis are more likely to die than are their thinner counterparts, recent research has confirmed. The study was conducted by members of the British Equine Veterinary Association working in first opinion practice. Its aim was to examine laminitis more closely and determine the factors that affect recovery from the condition.
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Details of 107 horses and ponies with acute pasture-associated laminitis were recorded. Each animal's size and weight was noted, along with the severity of the condition and details of the treatment given.
Overall, 83% of the animals in the study were overweight. Severely affected cases tended to have a higher body mass index.
Affected animals were more likely to survive if they had lower body weight and optimal body condition, and if they showed mild rather than severe signs of disease.
The type of horse was also associated with the outcome. None of the small horses were judged to have a bad outcome, while about one third of large ponies and cobs, small ponies and large horses had a bad outcome.
The results of the study have been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Celia Marr, the principal investigator, said: "When laminitis does occur, overweight animals are more likely to die of the disease than their thinner counterparts."
"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."
"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." she added.
Sponsors of the project were the British Veterinary Association's Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) and Merial Animal Health.
Chairman of the BVA AWF, 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."
For more details of the BVA AWF see: www.bva-awf.org.uk
Reproduced with kind permission of Mark Andrews BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
© Copyright Mark Andrews - Equine Science Update 2009
Added on: 29/05/09.
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