Owner-reported equine health disorders: results of an Australia-wide postal survey.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of health disorders reported by horse owners registered with veterinary practices in Australia.


METHODS
Mailed questionnaire-based study of horse owners in Australia conducted in 2001.


RESULTS
Data were obtained for 3901 horses belonging to 621 owners. The most prevalent health disorders were non-laminitic lameness (13.0%), skin disorders (6.1%) and behavioural disorders (4.5%). Prevalence of health disorders varied among different age, breed and sex categories within the study population, and disorders were more prevalent in male and older horses.


CONCLUSIONS
The most frequent disorders reported by owners were lameness, skin disorders and behavioural disorders. The disease profile was similar to that described in other owner reported studies conducted in the UK and USA.
Cole
F L
FL
University Veterinary Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney PMB 4, Narellan Delivery Centre, Narellan, New South Wales 2567.
Hodgson
D R
DR
Reid
S W J
SW
Mellor
D J
DJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires