A cohort study of equine laminitis in Great Britain 2009-2011: estimation of disease frequency and description of clinical signs in 577 cases.
Authors: Wylie C E, Collins S N, Verheyen K L P, Newton J R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
Between 2009 and 2011, Wylie and colleagues conducted a prospective cohort study across Great Britain, recruiting veterinary practitioners to record all cases of active laminitis they diagnosed, ultimately capturing data from 577 cases to establish reliable prevalence and incidence figures for a disease where such epidemiological evidence had previously been lacking. The prevalence of veterinary-diagnosed active laminitis was considerably lower than anticipated at 0.47–0.49% depending on the denominator used, equating to roughly one case per 200 veterinary visits or per 200 horses registered with a practice, with an incidence of 0.5 cases per 100 horse-years at risk. Clinical presentation was relatively consistent across cases: bilateral forelimb involvement predominated (53.5%), and the most frequent presenting signs included increased digital pulses, difficulty turning and a shortened, stilted gait, with severity greatest in the front feet. The substantially lower frequency compared with earlier published estimates likely reflects differences in case definitions, study design, and population characteristics rather than a genuine reduction in disease occurrence. For practitioners, these figures provide a pragmatic baseline for disease prevalence in the general British equine population and reinforce that whilst laminitis remains a significant clinical entity, the typical presentation involves characteristic lameness signs and digital pulse changes that warrant early intervention, particularly given the propensity for bilateral forelimb disease.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Laminitis frequency in Great Britain is lower than previously reported in the literature, suggesting earlier publications may have overestimated disease prevalence in the general horse population
- •Bilateral forelimb involvement predominates in laminitis cases, so assessment protocols should prioritize detailed evaluation of both front feet
- •Digital pulse assessment combined with gait observation (difficulty turning, stilted walk) provides practical clinical indicators for laminitis detection in practice
Key Findings
- •Prevalence of veterinary-diagnosed active laminitis was 0.47% (95% CI 0.42-0.52%) in the veterinary-attended population, representing nearly 1 in 200 equine visits
- •Incidence of veterinary-diagnosed active laminitis was 0.5 cases per 100 horse-years at risk (95% CI 0.44-0.57)
- •Bilateral forelimb involvement was most common (53.5%, 95% CI 49.4-57.7%), with front feet showing greatest severity
- •Most frequent clinical signs were increased digital pulses, difficulty turning, and short stilted gait at walk