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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Effect of an adjustable ceiling to prevent premature rising ...
Veterinary surgery : VS2025; 54(5); 851-859; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14181

Effect of an adjustable ceiling to prevent premature rising attempts after general anesthesia in healthy ponies and horses: A pilot study.

Abstract: This study aimed to assess and compare the recovery of ponies and horses following general anesthesia in two different settings: a recovery box with an inflexible, adjustable ceiling, and free recovery without restraints. Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of adjustable ceilings on the prevention of premature attempts to rise during recovery. The secondary aim was to compare the physiological stress indicators during recovery. Methods: Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Methods: Six healthy ponies and 10 healthy horses. Methods: This study used a crossover design with two settings: an inflexible, adjustable ceiling and free recovery. Recovery was scored using a quality scoring system. Heart rate, and lactate, glucose, and cortisol levels were analyzed and compared between the animals and recoveries. Results: All animals had a higher recovery quality (p = .026) with an adjustable ceiling than with free recovery. No differences were observed in glucose level or heart rate between the two settings. However, horses had higher blood lactate, 2.9 ± 1.2 mmol/L versus 1.6 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = .025), and serum cortisol, 184 ± 81 nmol/L versus 93 ± 20 nmol/L (p = .031) in restricted recovery than free recovery, respectively. Conclusions: An inflexible, adjustable ceiling improved the quality of recovery and prevented premature rising attempts; however, it was associated with increased lactate and cortisol levels, indicating an increased level of stress. Conclusions: Limiting premature rising attempts with an adjustable ceiling during recovery phase has the potential to improve the quality of recovery in horses. Further research is needed to draw conclusions for clinical use.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-30 PubMed ID: 39887480PubMed Central: PMC12282034DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14181Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the effects of using an adjustable ceiling in recovering areas post-general anesthesia on preventing premature rising attempts in ponies and horses. It also investigates the impact of this intervention on physiological stress indicators.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an adjustable ceiling in recovery boxes, designed to prevent premature attempts by the horses and ponies to get up following general anesthesia. The secondary aim was to compare the physiological stress indicators, such as heart rate, glucose, lactate, and cortisol levels during recovery.
  • This was a prospective, randomized, experimental study involving six healthy ponies and ten healthy horses.
  • The researchers utilized a crossover design, wherein the recovery process took place in two different settings: one with an adjustable, inflexible ceiling, and the other with free recovery i.e., without any restraints.
  • The recovery quality was assessed using a scoring system. Further, a comparison was drawn between heart rate, glucose, lactate, and cortisol levels of the animals in both recovery settings.

Study Results

  • All the subjects (horses and ponies) showed a higher recovery quality with the adjustable ceiling in place as compared to free recovery. However, there were no visible differences in terms of glucose levels or heart rate.
  • The study showed that horses had increased lactate and cortisol levels in the setting with restricted recovery compared to free recovery. The levels of these two indicators suggest an increased level of stress in the recovery process.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that the use of an adjustable ceiling can significantly improve the recovery quality after general anesthesia, by preventing premature attempts to rise.
  • However, the researchers also noted that the use of an adjustable ceiling was associated with an increased level of stress in horses, as demonstrated by higher lactate and cortisol levels.
  • While the study suggested promising results in improving recovery quality, the researchers recommended further research to fully determine its implications for clinical use.

Cite This Article

APA
Lindqvist A, Nyman G, Rydén A, Wattle O. (2025). Effect of an adjustable ceiling to prevent premature rising attempts after general anesthesia in healthy ponies and horses: A pilot study. Vet Surg, 54(5), 851-859. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14181

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 5
Pages: 851-859

Researcher Affiliations

Lindqvist, Anna
  • Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Uppsala, Sweden.
Nyman, Görel
  • Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rydén, Anneli
  • Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Uppsala, Sweden.
Wattle, Ove
  • Swedish University of Agriculture Science, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Male
  • Female
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Anesthesia Recovery Period
  • Heart Rate
  • Prospective Studies
  • Lactic Acid / blood

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this report.

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