Ogbanya KC, Eze CA and Ihedioha JI
The objectives of the study were to uses radiological indices to confir laminitis in hoof-related forelimb lameness and to determine its prevalent rate between sexes, seasons and among age groups in a cross-sectional study. Lateromedial radiographic examination of the hooves of 66 Nigerian horses that presented with hoof-related forelimb lameness were investigated. The horses were aged as young, adult and old. Independent sample t-test was used to analyze the radiological indices between laminitic and non laminitic horses. Data for prevalence of laminitis were subjected to descriptive statistics and association between sex, age and season were analyzed using Chi square. Significance was accepted at P<0.05. Of the 66 hoof-related forelimb lameness horses examined, 42 horses had laminitis. The mean values of the radiographic soft tissue indices of the hooves such as hoof distance phalangeal distance proximal (HDPDP), hood distance phalangeal distance distal (HDPDD), ratios of HDPDP and HDPDD to the palmarocorticular length (PCL), angle of rotation (AR), sole depth (SD) and coronary extensor distance (CED) varied significantly (P<0.05) between laminitic and non laminitic horses. Male horses had 27.3% prevalence of laminitis while females had 31.8%. Prevalence of laminitis showed no significant association with sex (P>0.05). Young horses had the least prevalent rate of laminitis (4.5%) whereas adult and old horses had 28.8% and 25.8% respectively. Prevalence of laminitis at dry and rainy seasons was 21.2% and 37.9% respectively.
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