We are appealing to all the UK's equine veterinary practices to encourage their clients to participate in the National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) during 5–11 May 2013. Run by Blue Cross, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association and with support from Zoetis UK Ltd, NEHS was introduced in 2010 and is now an annual fixture.
It is conducted as a quick and easy online snapshot survey of common health issues in horses, communicated directly by horse owners themselves. NEHS data collected to date has revealed crucial information about common diseases such as skin problems, lameness, weight issues and colic. The results are shared across the sector to help establish benchmarks for equine health and disease in the UK and define priorities for future research, training and education.
Key findings so far:
- Laminitis— overall, laminitis had a prevalence of 3.6%, which was lower than estimated in some previously published surveys based on veterinary practitioner opinion.
- Lameness — lameness was one of the most prevalent syndromes (13.8%), with foot lameness recorded in 4.5% of returns and lameness in the proximal limb recorded as the most prevalent cause of lameness.
- Skin disease — skin disease was the most prevalent syndrome recorded (15.2% of returns); sarcoids were a prevalent tumour (3.25%), but melanoma was also frequently recorded with an overall prevalence of 1.9%.
- Wounds — wounds were commonly reported (overall prevalence 3.6%).
- Colic — the overall prevalence of colic was 5.6% with a ratio of medical to surgical colic of 7:1, broadly in line with previously published estimates from veterinary practices and referral centres.
- Respiratory diseases — respiratory diseases were prevalent and were recorded in 5% of returns. Allergic respiratory disease (3.6%) was more frequently recorded than infectious respiratory disease (0.5%), reinforcing the importance of hypersensitive respiratory disease in the UK and also the generally low prevalence of clinically apparent infectious respiratory disease.
- Back problems — back problems were commonly recorded (3%), although this is a notoriously difficult syndrome to diagnose and owner-reported back disease is likely to have higher prevalence than veterinary practitioner-reported back disease.
- Weight — owner reports of underweight and over-weight as syndromes were interesting. Overall 7.5% of returns recorded animals as overweight (fat score >4), which is at significant variance from reports in the literature, especially those reporting data collected from shows. The lower figure recorded in the NEHS surveys may reflect limitations in owners’ perceptions of fatness and obesity or may reflect differences in the general equid population from those attending shows; either way, this is an area worthy of further investigation.
Overall, the NEHS data has reinforced the importance of certain syndromes to the health and welfare of the UK equid population, for example laminitis, colic and lameness. The data have also revealed other disease syndromes as being of relatively high prevalence and possibly deserving greater attention than previously, for example melanoma, head shaking and stereotypies.
To secure the long-term success of NEHS, it is essential that a culture change in the UK horse industry is achieved to make ‘NEHS Week’ a fixture on the calendar of all UK horse owners. The veterinary industry is an obvious lynchpin for the survey's success, by helping to raise awareness to your clients of the importance of taking part. The more data collected, the more valuable the survey.
NEHS is quick and easy to complete, owners pick one day during the week of 5–11 May 2013 to go and check their horse over and complete the online survey, which should take no more than 5 minutes. Please encourage your clients and colleagues to register at www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS. Everyone who takes part will be entered into a competition to win some fabulous prizes.
