Objective -The goal of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Animal Rescue and Transportation Sling (ARTS) for emergency and clinical use in horses. Design -A retrospective study of the use of the ARTS in the hospital and field. Setting -The medical records of 158 horses referred to the Equine Hospital, University of Zurich, and 23 records from the Large Animal Rescue. Animals -The ARTS was used in 121 standing and 60 recumbent horses. Seventy-eight horses were sedated, 47 patients were under general anesthesia when the sling was applied and no sedation or anesthesia was required in 56 horses.Interventions and Main Results -The ARTS was applied in crane and helicopter rescue operations to stabilize horses that required lifting (n 5 41), during emergency transportation (n 5 24), to facilitate induction of general anesthesia (n 5 4) or recovery from general anesthesia (n 5 51). Additionally, the sling was used to immobilize horses with fractures (n 5 29), to reduce weight-bearing in horses with severe lameness (n 5 12), to support horses with disorders of the CNS (n 5 7), to help recumbent horses rise (n 5 9), and to provide support for horses after repair of large abdominal hernias (n 5 4). Acceptance of the ARTS by the horses was scored as excellent (n 5 153), good (n 5 19) and poor (n 5 6), and the sling was not tolerated in 3 horses. Only after longterm use (weeks) did the skin over certain pressure points become irritated, resulting in superficial pressure sores. Conclusions -The ARTS was reliable, safe, and easy to use. It proved to be ideal for a wide variety of emergencies.(J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2008; 18(6): 619-625)

One of the varied tasks of the Large Animal Rescue Service Switzerland and Liechtenstein (GTRD CH/FL)® is the recovery of animals from manure and cesspools. The aim of the present retrospective study was the evaluation of the rescue protocols of the GTRD CH/FL from such operations and the documentation of a rescue procedure. In the past 25 years, a total of 176 animals have been rescued from manure and cesspools. These included 113 cattle, 51 horses and 12 pigs. All animals could be safely rescued with the animal rescue and transport net (TBTN) or the large animal vertical rescue set (GTVBS). The TBTN is used when the opening of the cesspool is large enough to recover the animal in a horizontal position. The GTVBS is particularly suitable for narrow openings, as the recovery in a vertical position does not require any constructional modification or the enlargement of the cesspool opening. Both rescue harnesses are characterized by reliable handling and allow gentle recovery.

Zusammenfassung: In den vergangenen Jahren hat sich das Großtierrettungswesen stark weiterentwickelt. Die Bergung von Pferden und Rindern aus Gruben oder Schächten stellte jedoch bis jetzt aufgrund der engen Platzverhältnisse in Bezug auf die Körpergröße der verunfallten Tiere eine große Herausforderung dar. Um eine Horizontalbergung mittels eines herkömmlichen Aufhängesystems zu ermöglichen, mussten die Zugänge zu den jeweiligen Gruben oftmals zuerst vergrößert werden, was einen enormen Aufwand und Zeitverlust bedeutete. Oft wurden die Tiere jedoch gar nicht, tot oder mit schwersten Verletzungen geborgen. Um die Bergung von Großtieren aus solchen Kavernen zu verbessern, wurde das Großtier-Vertikalbergungsset (GTVBS) entwickelt. Unter Handhabung durch ausgebildetes Personal stellt das GTVBS eine hervorragende Möglichkeit dar, eine Vertikalbergung schonend und sicher für alle Beteiligten durchzuführen.Schlüsselwörter: Notfälle / Bergung / Aufhängesystem / Transportstabilisation / TBTN / GTVBS / Grosstier-Vertikalbergungsset The Large Animal Vertical Rescue System (LAVRS) -a further development of the Animal Rescue and Transport sling (ARTS)Mechanical suspension systems are often required for the rescue and transport of horses and other large animals. Large animal rescue has undergone significant progress over the last few years and several new lifting systems for rescue and in-clinic use have been developed. One of these is the Animal Rescue and Transport Sling (ARTS), by the Swiss Large Animal Rescue Service GTRD CH/FL in collaboration with the University of Zurich. However, the rescue of large animals entrapped in narrow spaces such as pits or wells remains difficult. In these situations, the opening to the space must be enlarged, which usually requires a great deal of work and loss of valuable time, or the animal is simply pulled out using belts, chains or ropes. Animals rescued in this fashion often die or are severely injured, or the rescue fails altogether. To facilitate the recovery of large animals from narrow enclosures, the ARTS was modified and improved to generate the Large Animal Vertical Rescue System (LAVRS) in which the animal is lifted in a vertical or near-vertical position. We have used this system extensively and found it to be safe and user-friendly. It has allowed us to rescue numerous cattle and horses without complications. The LAVRS has five main components: a front-leg sling, a dorsal belt with a hoist, a ventral belt, a seat portion and a rear hoist, and the two optional V-ropes. The application of the LAVRS is complex and at least four highly-trained and experienced people are required for a successful rescue operation. A critical component of the rescue is ensuring that the animal remains calm, and therefore one of the team members must be a veterinarian, who is responsible for the administration and monitoring of sedation and/or anaesthesia. The LAVRS is expensive and costs between 5,000 and 6,000 Swiss francs, but in our experience, most owners are willing to pay a fair price for th...