Cross-sectional study of horse owners’ knowledge, and opinions on recognising colic in the horse

Bowden, A.; Burford, J.H.; Brennan, M.L.; England, G.C.W.; Freeman, S.L.

Abstract

Background
Colic is the most common emergency problem in the horse. An owner’s ability to recognise colic and seek assistance is a critical first step in determining case outcome.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess horse owners’ knowledge and opinions on recognising colic.

Study design
Cross‐sectional study.

Methods
An online questionnaire was distributed to horse owners with open and closed questions on their knowledge of normal clinical parameters in the horse, confidence and approach to recognising colic (including assessment through case scenarios), and their demographics. Descriptive and chi squared statistical analyses were performed.

Results
There were 1564 participants. Many respondents either did not know or provided incorrect estimates for their horse’s normal clinical parameters: only 45% (n = 693/1540) gave correct normal values for heart rate, 45% (n = 694/1541) for respiratory rate and 67% (n = 1028/1534) for rectal temperature. Knowledge of normal values was statistically associated with participants’ educational qualifications (P

Citation

Bowden, A., Burford, J., Brennan, M., England, G., & Freeman, S. (2019). Cross-sectional study of horse owners’ knowledge, and opinions on recognising colic in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13173

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 23, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 28, 2019
• Publication Date: Aug 28, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2019
• Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
• Print ISSN: 0425-1644
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-3306
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13173
• Keywords: Equine; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2556209
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.13173
• Contract Date: Sep 3, 2019