Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2011 Jan;43(1):37-44. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00142.x. Epub 2010 Aug 23.
Geriatric horses (aged≥15 years) represent a substantial proportion of the equine population, yet very few studies have investigated the prevalence of diseases within the UK equine geriatric population.
To describe the provision of routine preventive health care measures, prevalence of clinical signs of disease and the prevalence of owner reported diseases. Additionally, the effect of increasing age on the provision of preventive health care and the presence or absence of clinical signs and disease was assessed.
A cross-sectional study was conducted, surveying a randomly selected sample of veterinary registered owners with horses aged≥15 years, using a self-administered postal questionnaire.
As geriatric horses increased in age, there was a reduction in the provision of preventive health care measures, such as vaccination, farrier care and routine veterinary checks. Only 68.7% of horses had received a routine veterinary visit within the previous 12 months. Owners frequently observed clinical signs in their animals, with 77% reporting at least one clinical sign of disease. Increasing age was associated with increased reporting of many clinical signs of disease. Over half (58%) of horses had at least one episode of disease within the previous 12 months, yet only 31% of owners reported that their animal currently suffered from a known disease or disorder.
Although owners frequently observed clinical signs in their aged horse, there may be incorrect or under recognition of many diseases and health problems. Reduced frequency of routine preventive health care measures, along with suboptimal owner recognition of health and welfare problems may lead to compromised welfare in the geriatric population.
老年马（年龄≥15 岁）在马群中占很大比例，但很少有研究调查英国老年马群中的疾病流行情况。
描述常规预防保健措施的提供情况、疾病临床症状的流行情况以及主人报告的疾病的流行情况。此外，还评估了年龄增长对预防保健措施的提供以及临床症状和疾病的存在或不存在的影响。
采用横断面研究方法，对年龄≥15 岁的兽医注册马主进行随机抽样，使用自我管理的邮寄问卷进行调查。
采用横断面研究方法，对年龄≥15 岁的兽医注册马主进行随机抽样，使用自我管理的邮寄问卷进行调查。
随着老年马年龄的增长，预防保健措施（如疫苗接种、蹄铁护理和常规兽医检查）的提供减少。只有 68.7%的马在过去 12 个月内接受过常规兽医检查。主人经常观察到动物的临床症状，77%的人报告至少有一种疾病的临床症状。年龄增长与许多疾病的临床症状报告增加有关。超过一半（58%）的马在过去 12 个月内至少发生过一次疾病，但只有 31%的主人报告他们的动物目前患有已知的疾病或障碍。
随着老年马年龄的增长，预防保健措施（如疫苗接种、蹄铁护理和常规兽医检查）的提供减少。只有 68.7%的马在过去 12 个月内接受过常规兽医检查。主人经常观察到动物的临床症状，77%的人报告至少有一种疾病的临床症状。年龄增长与许多疾病的临床症状报告增加有关。超过一半（58%）的马在过去 12 个月内至少发生过一次疾病，但只有 31%的主人报告他们的动物目前患有已知的疾病或障碍。
尽管主人经常观察到他们的老年马有临床症状，但许多疾病和健康问题可能被错误识别或未被识别。常规预防保健措施的频率降低，以及主人对健康和福利问题的识别不足，可能导致老年马群的福利受损。
