Cross sectional study to identify prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys

Menzies?Gow, N.J.; Wakeel, F.; Little, H.; Buil, J.; Rickards, K.

Abstract

Background
Laminitis causes lameness in donkeys, but its prevalence and factors associated with disease remain uncertain.

Objectives
To determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with laminitis in donkeys.

Study design
Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods
All donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary, UK, October 2015 to March 2019 were included. For animals that had laminitis during this period, age, sex, weight, body condition score, and the onset date and type of each episode (first or recurrent, acute or chronic) were recorded. Additionally, management data, foot lesion score, endocrine data, other medical conditions, and occurrence of foot trimming, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, behavioural modification therapy or movement between farms within the month prior were noted. Controls were animals that did not experience laminitis during this period and similar data were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression modelling assessed differences between the control group and laminitis outcome groups (first, all laminitis, acute and chronic episodes).

Results
Altogether, 707 animals were included; 364 were control animals; 343 had a first episode of laminitis during the study period, of which 200/343 had no further episodes and 143/343 had recurrent episodes resulting in a total of 512 laminitis episodes and the period prevalence was 48.5% over 42 months. Overall, 180/512 (35%) laminitis episodes were acute and 332/512 (65%) chronic. Compared to control animals, the laminitic outcome groups were significantly (P

Citation

Menzies‐Gow, N., Wakeel, F., Little, H., Buil, J., & Rickards, K. (in press). Cross sectional study to identify prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13505

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 3, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 4, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
• Print ISSN: 0737-0806
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-3306
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13505
• Keywords: General Medicine
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1551303