Radiographic Assessment of Prevalence of Laminitis from the Hoof- Related Forelimb Lameness Feet of Nigerian Horses

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). 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.