BEYOND PRIMARY CARE: HOW TO MANAGE UNCOMMON CONDITIONS


cases, the movement was followed by quieting down. One horse (horse 1) kicked once during the lowering process. Overall, lift behavior was considered ex- cellent (n  1/6), very good (n  3/6) good (n  2/6) and poor (n  0/6). The first test horse which re- acted poorly to the loops between its hind limbs was retested using foam tubes placed over the loop straps which created less pinch in the groin area (Fig. 1D). Horses 1 through 4 had a prior history of lameness


and/or musculoskeletal problems noted in their medical records. Physical examinations prior to the lifting procedure revealed no abnormalities in any of the 6 horses. No horses developed signifi- cant changes on physical exam findings post lifting. None of the horses had any signs of pain or edema in the sheath, or in the axillary, xiphoid and inguinal areas before the lift. One horse (Horse 2) was noted to have a mild, inconsistent lameness at the trot (Grade 1) before the lift. All horses were able to ambulate normally at the walk thirty minutes to one hour after the lift. Physical examinations after the lifting procedure revealed moderate sheath edema in Horse 3. The lameness on Horse 2 observed prior to the lift procedure was unchanged after the lifting procedure. The other subjects did not dem- onstrate any lameness before or after the lift.


Loop System Placement for Vertical Lift System Timing


The overall time for placement of the Loop Vertical Lift System for the two-person team ranged from 43 to 82 seconds (mean, 61  13 seconds), and for the three-person team ranged from 22 to 40 seconds (mean, 27  6 seconds). The present study describes a novel vertical lift procedure using a simple lift device to be used in large animal rescue for quick and safe vertical lift of stranded or recumbent horses and may be suitable for mules or donkeys and other large animals. The major advantages of this novel vertical lift are: 1) provides short-term full support using the skele- tal system of the horse without causing injury to muscles, nerves, or vasculature; 2) placement is fast and safe for personnel; 3) system does not require J-hooks or knots; 4) is a compact and portable device which can employ commercially available and rea- sonably priced equipment. The greater accessibil- ity of this novel system at an incident may facilitate the rescue of stranded and recumbent equids, and expedite the rescue thus having a positive impact on animal welfare. The two-step protocol of sedation provided an ad-


equate chemical restraint for the study. The initial dose of detomidine hydrochloride at 0.005 to 0.009 mg/kg was adequate for the purpose of placing the intravenous catheter and the Loop System. The subsequent dose of detomidine appeared to provide sedation with less struggling when higher doses of 0.016 to 0.018 mg/kg were given. Furthermore, the two horses that received higher doses of sedation were the ones that tolerated the procedure without


any struggling. It is also possible that the horse’s demeanor and temperament influenced the level of sedation. This study evaluated the set time for vertical non-


weight bearing lifting of the horses as 3 minutes. The 3-minute guideline used in this study was to simulate extreme conditions and should be the max- imum time that a horse is allowed to hang non- weight bearing. On average, horses began some movement while suspended within 100 seconds of be- ing lifted. When the horse first began amovement, it was interpreted as the point at which the horse be- came uncomfortable. As a result of the observations in this study, it is of the authors’ opinion that the Loop System is not designed for long-term support, and is to be utilized for emergency lifting, the rescue of a stranded or recumbent equid, or extraction from a confined space situation. Thus, it is not recom- mended to use the Loops System for longer than the tested 3 minutes when using it for complete off the ground body support. Furthermore, studies should be conducted with larger sample sizes, and with mules and donkeys to confirm this conclusion. It should be noted that in other studies using more extensive body support systems such as the UC Davis Anderson Sling, horses while non-weight bearing exhibited some degree of struggling and body movement as well.11 While the study did not involve mules or donkeys,


the similar anatomy for skeletal system support would suggest this system to be appropriate for these equids. Different behavioral responses might occur with donkeys or mules and sedation protocols would have to be adjusted for that species.


Summary of Tips for Safe Use of Lifting of a Recumbent Equine


1. Obtain prior training before attempting use of the Loops System or any lifting system and use the incident command system to run the incident response.


2. Make a plan of action. 3. Recumbent or trapped horses can have unpre- dictable violent arousals and injure people.


4. Have a veterinarian administer sedation or general anesthesia as the incident demands.


5. Remember a sedated horse can arouse at any time and cause injury to people.


6. Have head control on the horse using two long lead ropes on the halter with experienced people.


7. Establish a clear area around the horse in case horse leaps when trying to stand.


8. Secure a strong rope running from a solid object to the clevis above the horse to keep the horse in the desired location if struggling upon regaining standing.


9. Have additional sedation and venous access if the horse reacts adversely during loops place- ment or during lift.


AAEP PROCEEDINGS  Vol. 65  2019 221


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