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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th September 2016
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One in three horses with health problems are lame
gemma taylor
Gemma Taylor, education officer at Blue Cross.

National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) results disclosed

Osteoarthritis and limb conditions are predominantly responsible for the continuing trend in horse lameness. The Blue Cross NEHS records were returned in May and investigated the nation’s equine health, with increasing participant numbers reaching 16,751 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Of the 38 per cent of horses that were recorded as having health problems, a third (32.9 per cent) were lame, and of these, 47.4 per cent were suffering from proximal limb lameness, with the majority suffering from degenerative joint disease. Foot lameness accounted for approximately one third of all cases and cases of pus in the foot have doubled since last year. The persistent wet weather around the time of the survey is thought to be the cause of the increase.

Gemma Taylor, education officer at Blue Cross, said: “The significant increase in participation again this year shows that owners and keepers of horses are really getting behind the survey and recognising its importance in safeguarding the future health of the UK’s horses.”

The 2016 survey, which was distributed in May, listed the six most notable diseases and syndromes as lameness, followed by skin diseases (25.5 per cent), laminitis  (6.8 per cent), followed by  PPID (equine Cushing’s disease), recurrent airway obstruction and back problems.

Josh Slater from the Royal Veterinary College and member of BEVA’s Health and Medicines Committee analysed the data and said: “The data gleaned from the survey remains consistent year on year, confirming the reliability of our findings for benchmarking, referencing and research.”

The 2016 NEHS survey results are available to download from http://www.bluecross.org.uk/nehs2016reults

 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.