Tag: Equine Pain and Welfare App

New App Helps Owners Determine If Horses In Pain

A new smartphone app can help horse owners and caretakers determine if their horse is in pain. A joint project between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and Stichting De Paardenkamp, the Equine Pain and Welfare App (EPWA) uses scientific pain measurement to help determine if a call to a veterinarian is warranted.

The app asks for user input on physiological variables, like heart and respiration rate; behaviors like lying down or rolling; and facial expressions that include the movement of the mouth, ears, eyes and nostrils. It then calculates a pain score between 0 and 18; users are advised to contact a vet if the score is above a 5.

The app also has a checklist to see if a horse is showing signs of Cushing's disease. A journal feature allows owners to input how much a horse eats, medications he may take and how often he exercises. It also includes 10 recommendations for equine welfare, and a place to record medical information and appointments.

The app is free from the App Store and Google Play.

For more details, click here (language can be changed through Google translate).

Read more at Equine Science Update.

The post New App Helps Owners Determine If Horses In Pain appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Horses Can Hide Signs Of Pain; A New Phone App Is Here To Help You Detect Them

Horses have evolved as prey animals, and that means some of them are resistant to showing outward signs of pain. For many, the subtle signs that a horse may be dealing with discomfort are especially difficult to spot.

According to The Horse, Dutch researchers recently completed a project to make it easier for owners to objectively assess whether a horse is in pain. Dr. Thijas van loon, faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht University, and his colleagues engineered a smartphone app for processing facial expressions ad body language, instructing an owner on what to look for and how to measure the signs they see.

The Equine Pain and Welfare App works for both horses and donkeys, and provides guidance for both facial and body expressions of discomfort. Users are instructed to observe facial expressions for two minutes and body language for five, making note of behaviors or expressions as they occur during that time. Ear position, head position, and eye appearance are all elements in a horse's pain score.

App users are advised to consult a veterinarian for horses scoring over a five on a scale of 0 to 18. It will also store information, allowing users to pinpoint changes to a horse's comfort level over time.

Read more at The Horse

The post Horses Can Hide Signs Of Pain; A New Phone App Is Here To Help You Detect Them appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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