A new
research project aiming to help horse owners reduce the impact of
laminitis is being undertaken by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in
partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
The study,
which will extend over four years, is being funded by World Horse
Welfare. It will take a closer look at management factors that may
contribute to the development or recurrence of laminitis within the
British horse and pony population. Through modifying these
contributing factors, it is hoped that horse owners can significantly
reduce the impact of this important welfare problem.
The AHT and
RVC plan to create a website where owners from all over the country
can register their horses and ponies and assist in the regular
gathering of information related to potential risk factors for
laminitis, over a period of two years.
This will
help establish a timeline of events and gain a better understanding of
the factors leading to laminitic episodes.
The study, to
be conducted by PhD student Danica (Dee) Pollard, will follow-up on
previous research conducted by Dr Claire Wylie in which factors such
as rapid weight gain, increasing time since last deworming, box rest
in the previous week and new access to grass in the past month
increased the risk of laminitis.
Dr Wylie’s
study also revealed that factors such as feeding of additional
supplements and transport in the previous week were associated with a
reduced risk of laminitis.
These are factors that could all be changed by the owner, and
this is why they are of particular interest to the new study.
Dee Pollard,
based at the AHT, said: “This will be a very exciting opportunity
for owners to be at the frontline of equine health research and
contribute to a study which aims to provide evidence-based
preventative strategies to combat laminitis.”
Horse owners
interested in taking part in the research project are asked to
register their interest via email to danica.pollard@aht.org.uk
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