BVA:AWF Announces Funding of New Equine Laminitis Study

5 April 2005

The British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA:AWF) has announced, together with Merial Animal Health Limited, funding for a new project to tackle laminitis, an extremely painful condition affecting  horses’ feet.

The project, just launched, is to be conducted by members of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and aims to examine the treatment and management factors that influence the success or failure of treatment.  With an estimated 7 per cent of the general horse and pony population in Britain affected, laminitis also accounts for around 7 per cent of deaths in older horses.  Despite this significant impact, the most efficacious treatments for acute laminitis have yet to be defined.  To do so will be a major step forward in improving the welfare of our equine population, an objective central to the aims of the BVA:AWF.

The BVA:AWF Trustees are also pleased to announce their intention to fund research at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.  The research aims to provide new insights into the underlying aetiology of laminitic pain and improve techniques for the assessment of equine laminitis.  This will hopefully provide a foundation for the development and evaluation of novel effective strategies for the treatment of laminitis.   

ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. As the veterinary profession’s own charity, the BVA:AWF was established by the BVA in 1984 and aims to apply the knowledge, skill and compassion of veterinary surgeons in an effective way through a variety of projects and activities.  The Foundation is committed to improving the welfare of all animals through veterinary science, education and debate.

2. The project is part of a series of BEVA initiatives in evidence-based medicine.  BEVA would like all its 1500 members to have the opportunity to be involved in research whilst carrying out their normal everyday clinical work.  By gathering information in a carefully structured way, recording it and putting together the results from members across the UK and Ireland, BEVA hopes to create powerful studies that will genuinely influence equine clinical veterinary medicine within a relatively short time frame.   For further information on this project please contact Celia Marr of BEVA at celia.marr@rossdales.com.

3. For further information please contact the BVA Press Office on 020 7636 6541 or email helenac@bva.co.uk or media@bva.co.uk.

 
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