Initial clinical impressions of the U.C. Davis large animal lift and its use in recumbent equine patients.

Abstract

The U.C. Davis Large Animal Lift (LAL) is a lightweight sling developed to help lift horses in clinical and rescue situations. Here we report on its first use in 16 recumbent horses with neurologic, muscular and musculoskeletal disorders. For each horse, history, sedation, ease and time of LAL application and hoisting, standing ability, LAL tolerance and outcome were recorded. The LAL was easily and safely applied in all horses in less than five minutes and the procedure was well tolerated with minimal to no sedation. While 10 horses were able to stand in the LAL after being hoisted, 6 horses were unable to stand and were eventually euthanized due to the inability to regain weight bearing function. The LAL has shown to be a useful devise to evaluate the standing ability of recumbent horses and can be used alone or in combination with the Anderson Sling Support Devise to allow standing support of horses with a variety of debilitating problems.