Welfare and management of decreased visual capacities and pain in a pony suffering from equine recurrent uveitis: A clinical case

Abstract

This clinical case describes a 14-year-old Gypsy Cob gelding presented for suspected impaired vision. Given the apparently insidious presentation, bilateral equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) was strongly suspected. ERU management was addressed both clinically and from a welfare point of view. Treatment using ointment was preferred to eye drops to reduce the frequency of administration. Clicker training was used to facilitate treatment administration by eliciting positive emotions. In response to the progressive bilateral blindness, social and physical environments and new relational practices were adapted to reduce stress on the pony by increasing predictability and controllability of his situation. This case is to our knowledge the first to include detailed welfare management strategies as a part of a more comprehensive medical approach to ERU. † A. de Boyer des Roches and X. Peyrecave-Capo are equally contributing authors (co-first authors).

Animal Welfare Considerations and Ethical Dilemmas Inherent in the Euthanasia of Blind Canine Patients

“…Sudden onset blindness could be significantly harder for both the dog and owner than a gradual loss of vision. To reduce the stress because of the progressive blindness, it could be utilized to adapt to social and physical environments and new relational practices by increasing the predictability and controllability of the animal’s situation [ 48 ]. In this regard, it might be useful to remove potentially hazardous objects that the blind dog may bump into; to leave food and water bowls in the same place; to place scent or tactile location signals to aid orientation around the house; to consider the levels of lighting, e.g., dogs with PRA function better in bright light.…”

Hello darkness my old friend: Management of blind horses

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The case report by de Boyer des Roches et al (2021) describes compassionate management of a Gypsy Cob pony gelding with bilateral equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). The pony presented blind in the right eye, with failing vision in the left.

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