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‘Quarter of horses with back problems also lame’
London’s Hyde Park Police Horses lining up for National Equine Health Survey.
Latest NEHS offers insights into equine health

Over a quarter of horses with back problems also show signs of lameness, according to the results of the latest National Equine Health Survey (NEHS).

Out of the 5.5 per cent of horses who had back problems, 26 per cent also had signs of lameness. Although the results do not confirm a link between the two, it ties in with recent research carried out at the Animal Health Trust (AHT).

The Blue Cross, who carries out the NEHS in conjunction with the BEVA, calls this “one of the most significant findings” in this year’s survey.

Dr Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at AHT’s Centre for Equine Studies, explained: “It is a common observation that horses with lameness stiffen the back as a protective mechanism and develop muscle pain which may be misinterpreted as a primary back problem. 

“We have shown objectively that abolition of lameness by diagnostic analgesia results in an immediate increase in range of motion of the back. The current data supports this close relationship between lameness and back pain.”

The survey suggests skin diseases are the most common health issue in horses, accounting for 31.1 per cent of all reported diseases. Sweet itch and mud fever the most frequently reported individual syndromes.

Lameness (including laminitis) accounted for 23.4 per cent of reported disease syndromes, making it the second most common issue. If laminitis were excluded from the analysis, lameness due to problems in the limb proximal to the foot was more common than problems in the foot.

The other three top health problems reported were:
  • Metabolic diseases (8.1 per cent). Equine Cushing’s disease accounted for 73.4 per cent of this figure.
  • Eye problems (7.6 per cent), with ocular discharge accounting for 54.2 per cent of all recorded ocular problems.
  • Gastrointestinal problems (7.5 per cent), of which 39 per cent were gastric ulcers.

NEHS is a snapshot survey conducted every year during May. This year, 5,235 people took part and returned records for 15,433 horses. Most horses were kept for leisure and hacking in livery or private yards. The majority were aged five to 10 years and spanned a wide range of breeds including natives, thoroughbreds and warmbloods. Over half (59) were recorded as healthy and 41 per cent had one or more health problems.

Professor Josh Slater of the RVC, who advises the Blue Cross on the survey, said: “NEHS is a unique initiative that has shown it is possible to generate reliable syndromic disease surveillance data direct from horse owners. NEHS has, for the first time, provided us with data on the disease problems faced by horses in the UK.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.