Treatment of Hoof Disease in an Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Using Creative Surgery: A Successful Case Report

Lin, Guanghao; Chen, Liming; Xu, Youfeng; Wei, Peng

doi:10.30500/ivsa.2020.224068.1211

Treatment of Hoof Disease in an Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Using Creative Surgery: A Successful Case Report

Document Type : Clinical Report

Authors

Guanghao Lin ¹

Liming Chen ²

Youfeng Xu ³

Peng Wei ¹

¹ Plastic Repair Reconstructive Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China.

² Animal Management Department, Ningbo Youngor Zoo, Ningbo, China.

³ Department of Ultrasound, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China.

10.30500/ivsa.2020.224068.1211

Abstract

Case Description- Chronic foot disease, which is considered a tremendous clinical challenge, poses a serious threat to the overall health of elephants. We treated an Asian elephant with hoof disease by a creative surgery.
Clinical Findings- An Asian elephant presented with hoof disease, which caused the partial detachment of its right hind foot-pad.
Treatment and Outcome- We fixed the elephant’s foot by using an artificial steel plate and sternal wire, At the same time we adjusted diet. Elephant hoof disease is cured and its function restored.
Clinical Relevance- The utilization of fixation plates can be extremely useful for the treatment of hoof disease in the elephant.

Keywords

Elephant

Hoof disease

Treatment

20.1001.1.20083033.2020.15.2.12.9

Subjects

Large Animal Soft Tissue Surgery

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