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Weight gain in horses more than doubles laminitis risk - study
A high risk of laminitis was present in horses shod or trimmed at intervals of more than eight weeks.

Findings underscore the importance of regular weight monitoring

Weight gain more than doubles the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies, according to new research.

The study, conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and Rossdales Equine Hospital, also found that native ponies and their crosses are most at risk.

Researchers say their findings underscore the importance of owners keeping track of their animal’s weight to prevent adverse health outcomes.

In the study, scientists collected data from owners of more than 1,000 horses and ponies across the UK. For 29 months, these owners reported their animals' management, health and weight via an online questionnaire.

Researchers found that a high risk of laminitis was present in horses shod or trimmed at intervals of more than eight weeks and in horses that took a long time to return to soundness after an episode of lameness.

The study also found that grazing, diet, and health factors were closely linked to the development of laminitis - something the team wishes to investigate further.

“This is one of the largest, and the first, online laminitis studies where we collected regular information from the same group of owners in real-time,” explained Dr Dee Pollard of the AHT. “We assessed the relationship between laminitis and many potential management and health factors and identified those more likely to be present before a laminitis episode was reported.

“We now have good evidence to develop laminitis prevention guidelines and a number of different avenues to explore in the future. We cannot emphasise enough how important systematic and regular weight and body condition monitoring are.”

Many horse owners that participated in the study used a custom tool to track changes in there animal’s weight and body condition. The tool was designed by the study team and is available at https://www.aht.org.uk/research/lameness/laminitis

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."