webbing fabrics . The portable PM Horse Swinglifter TM

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ABSTRACT The equine veterinar crucial role in the care and long-term of the equine patient in a sling . In this aim to provide a practical resource for regarding the application and use of a hospitalised horses , as well as tips on care and nutrition of these patients .

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ABSTRACT The equine veterinary nurse plays a

Keywords equine , horse , sling , veterinary , nursing

crucial role in the care and long-term management of the equine patient in a sling . In this article , we aim to provide a practical resource for equine nurses regarding the application and use of a sling in hospitalised horses , as well as tips on the nursing care and nutrition of these patients .

This sling consists of four components and an overhead rectangular base frame , which can support up to 2 tonnes of weight . It differs from other slings as it has a large rectangular base frame , which provides level and stable support for the horse ' s weight and movement , rather than a single point of suspension ( Figure 1 ).

The four-piece unit includes an abdominal support sling

Keywords equine , horse , sling , veterinary , nursing

Introduction

Hospitalised patients with severe locomotive debilitation , such as those with fractures , myopathies , laminitis or neurological disorders , often progress to recumbent states or are required to rest for prolonged periods . These patients are difficult to manage and demand high staffing levels with intensive care ( Ryan et al ., 2020 ). Sling suspension of these patients can partially relieve pressure on horses ' feet , in the case of laminitic patients , or allow for prolonged periods of

with chest- and rear-support panels , which help evenly distribute the patient ' s weight safely through the frame ( Figure 1 ). Additional leg supports can also help further reduce pressure on the horse ' s abdomen ( Gardner , 2011 ). The latest models of the ASSD are colour- and number-coded for ease of application ( Figure 2 ). In this article , we will refer to the use of the ASSD .

Long-term nursing care of the equine patient in a sling

Jackie Ryan , RVN , DipVN rest for patients who are unable to lie down , such as certain fracture patients . In the authors ' experience , horses managed correctly can be maintained in slings for up to 4 – 6 weeks . However , the duration of use usually depends on the horse ' s clinical condition and may be significantly shorter . In this article , we will discuss the use of slings in horses and the essential role the veterinary nurse plays in caring for the equine patient in a sling .

Choosing a sling

Equine Veterinary Medical Center – member of Qatar Foundation , Doha

Jackie Ryan has worked as a veterinary nurse for over 19 years . She obtained her diploma in Veterinary Nursing from University College Dublin in 2009 and has since worked in equine hospitals in Ireland and Australia . She moved to Qatar in 2018 , where she joined the team at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center as head surgery nurse .

Jessica P . Johnson , BAgrSc , MVB , MRCVS , Dip ECVS , DVMS https :// orcid . org / 0000-0001-9146-4967

There are numerous commercially available equine slings on the market , such as the Large Animal Lift TM , the Liftex TM sling , the PM Horse Swinglifter TM , and the Anderson Sling Support Device TM ( ASSD ) ( Madigan , 1993 ; Gardner , 2011 ). The Large Animal Lift TM ( LAL ) from Large Animal Lift Enterprises ( http :// www . largeanimallift . com ) is a useful , lightweight sling , designed to lift a recumbent horse to standing in both hospital and rescue situations . However , it is not designed for long-term support ( Pusterla & Madigan , 2006 ). The Liftex TM sling from Liftex Corp ( https :// www . liftex . com / animal-slings ) can be tailor-made for different equine uses , in a variety of speciality

Figure 1 . A four-piece unit can provide additional support and more even weight distribution .

Equine Veterinary Medical Center – member of Qatar Foundation , Doha

Envelopejjohnson @ qf . org . qa

Jessica Johnson graduated with an MVB in veterinary medicine from University College Dublin in 2011 . She is a European specialist in large animal surgery , and has completed a Doctorate of Veterinary Medical Specialisation ( DVMS ). In 2018 , she joined the Equine Veterinary Medical Center in Qatar as a surgery clinician . unit from Michael Puhl ( https :// www . pmhuftechnik . saarland / home-english / pm-horse-swinglifter ) is a practical sling choice for many hospitals as it is a portable unit with an inbuilt hoist that can be installed in any location , so a stall does not need a pre-installed hoist to accommodate a horse in a sling ( Puhl , 2010 ). Finally , the ASSD from CDA Products ( https :// www . andersonsling . com / andersonsling ) can provide longterm standing support to horses with musculoskeletal

34 Veterinary Nursing Journal debilitation or recumbency ( Pusterla & Madigan , 2006 ).

Figure 2 . Extra padding can dramatically reduce skin ulceration caused by sustained shear pressure .

Volume 37 ( 4 ) • September 2022 35

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Volume 38 ( 5 ) • October 2023

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