Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern.
Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2022 May;164(5):401-412. doi: 10.17236/sat00356.
Equine pastern dermatitis has a high prevalence in the equine population, especially in draft breeds. This skin condition is difficult to treat, and it is suspected that owners often decide on a treatment without consulting a veterinarian. The objectives of this study were to describe owner-reported clinical signs, severity, and reasons to consult a veterinarian. Moreover, we inquired about preventive measures and treatments, both instituted by owners without previous consultation or prescribed by their veterinarians. A total of 123 horses (owners recruited over social media) were included in the study. All horses suffered from equine pastern dermatitis at least once in the two years preceding the study. Standardized questionnaires collecting information on management, housing conditions, clinical signs as well as preventive measures and treatments were filled out by participants. The data was recorded, and descriptive statistics were performed. Most horses (71 out of 115 available answers, 62 %) had shown clinical signs of equine pastern dermatitis at least four times in their lives. A total of 113 horses (92 % of all included horses) were affected by equine pastern dermatitis at the time of the interview. For 37 horses (32 %) out of 114 available answers the owners consulted their veterinarian only after the horse showed signs of pain or lameness. Usually, treatments that did not require a medical prescription were applied without consulting their veterinarian (e. g. only 9 % (14 out of 150 prescriptions) of topical creams promoting wound healing were prescribed by a veterinarian). A total of 31 treatment decisions (55 %) with creams containing anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic and/or anti-inflammatory agents and 100 % of systemic medications containing anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic or anti-inflammatory agents were prescribed by veterinarians. Overall, 69 % of treatment decisions were made without consulting a veterinarian, making it then more difficult to determine underlying causes for the pastern dermatitis and rendering the treatment often longer and more onerous. To raise owner awareness of possible consequences if a veterinarian is consulted too late in the disease process, specific information campaigns to improve animal welfare should be considered.
马跗关节皮炎在马群中发病率很高，尤其是在役用品种中。这种皮肤病很难治疗，据怀疑，马主在没有咨询兽医的情况下经常自行决定治疗方案。本研究的目的是描述马主报告的临床症状、严重程度和就诊原因。此外，我们还询问了马主在没有事先咨询兽医或未按兽医处方进行的预防性措施和治疗方法。共有 123 匹马（通过社交媒体招募的马主）参与了这项研究。在研究前两年，所有马至少有一次患有跗关节皮炎。参与者填写了包含管理、住房条件、临床症状以及预防性措施和治疗方法等信息的标准化问卷。记录数据并进行描述性统计。在 115 份可获得答案中，大多数马（71 匹马，占 62%）一生中至少出现过四次跗关节皮炎的临床症状。在接受采访时，共有 113 匹马（所有纳入马匹的 92%）患有跗关节皮炎。在 114 份可获得答案中，有 37 匹马（32%）仅在马出现疼痛或跛行迹象后才咨询兽医。通常，未经咨询兽医就应用了不需要处方的治疗方法（例如，仅 9%（14 种促进伤口愈合的局部乳膏）是由兽医开具的处方）。含有抗菌、抗真菌和/或抗炎剂的乳膏的治疗方案共 31 项（55%）和含有抗菌、抗寄生虫或抗炎剂的全身药物治疗方案全部（100%）由兽医开具。总的来说，69%的治疗决策是在没有咨询兽医的情况下做出的，这使得确定跗关节皮炎的根本原因变得更加困难，治疗通常也更加漫长和繁琐。为了提高马主对在疾病过程中咨询兽医太晚可能产生的后果的认识，应考虑开展提高动物福利的专项宣传活动。
