Assessment of horse owners' ability to recognise equine laminitis: A cross-sectional study of 93 veterinary diagnosed cases in Great Britain.
Authors: Pollard D, Wylie C E, Verheyen K L P, Newton J R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Owners correctly identified laminitis in just over half of 93 veterinary-confirmed cases, with 45% of diagnoses initially missed—typically attributed to owners interpreting the presentation as simple lameness, foot abscess, colic, or stiffness rather than recognising the underlying laminitic process. Pollard and colleagues collected veterinary and owner-reported clinical data from 25 British practices between 2014 and 2015, comparing observations from cases where owners suspected laminitis against those diagnosed by vets without owner recognition. Whilst all 51 cases suspected by owners were confirmed as laminitis, the vets more frequently documented divergent growth rings and breed type in owner-recognised cases; interestingly, owners were more likely to report increased hoof temperature, yet vets more commonly noted difficulty turning and weight-shifting behaviour. The findings validate the reliability of owner-suspected cases for epidemiological research, but the substantial proportion of missed diagnoses underscores a critical gap in owner education—early recognition of clinical signs remains paramount to prompt intervention, particularly given the time-sensitive nature of laminitis management and prognosis.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Owner observations of laminitis are reliable enough to include in epidemiological research; when owners suspect laminitis, they are likely correct, making owner reports valuable for disease surveillance.
- •Almost half of veterinary laminitis cases go unrecognised by owners, suggesting many horses receive delayed treatment—targeted owner education about early laminitis signs (especially divergent growth rings and hoof heat) could improve early detection and outcomes.
- •Farriers and veterinarians should communicate more clearly with owners about laminitis risk factors and clinical signs, as owners tend to attribute laminitis to other conditions like foot abscesses or undefined lameness, delaying appropriate management.
Key Findings
- •All 51 owner-suspected laminitis cases (100%) were confirmed by veterinary diagnosis, demonstrating high validity for owner-reported cases in epidemiological studies.
- •42 cases (45.2%) of veterinary-diagnosed laminitis were not recognised as such by owners, who attributed symptoms to undefined lameness, foot abscesses, colic or stiffness instead.
- •Divergent growth rings and breed type were significantly more commonly reported by veterinarians in owner-recognised cases (prevalence differences of +27.3% and +21.2% respectively).
- •Owners reported increased hoof temperature more frequently than veterinarians, while veterinarians more frequently documented difficulty turning and weight shifting.