One of the more curious of those methods is the nose twitch or just twitch. Not as easy to find the origin of the word as you might think: Google was useless. My copy of the Oxford English Dictionary yes, I can be a bit nerdy at times helped some, showing the first reference of the word in horses to come in To pinch or pull at as with pincers or the like; to nip; to hurt or pain as by doing this. NOTE: The video clip, above, shows just one kind of twitch.
Probably the most common explanation is that the causes a bit of dull pain. The idea is that this bit of pain will cause the horse to concentrate on the pain while an unpleasant task is being performed. So, for example, your headache might not feel so bad if someone kicks you hard in the shin. Take a horse with colic please. When a horse is in pain from a colic, he shows it.
He rolls around, or paws, or gets up and down. When a horse is in pain from a lameness, he limps. You can review an abstract of the article , which was published in a fairly prestigious journal. Learn from the equine experts. One of the common misunderstandings in the veterinary equine industry is how to properly use a twitch.
Here are the answers to seven commonly asked questions. Study up to stand out next time you use a twitch. Photo right: Here's a horse with a twitch properly applied.
Note how the technician, not pictured, is holding both the twitch and shank to keep control of the horse. The long handle provides greater safety for the handler as well as the horse. It can also distract the patient slightly, so be prepared to restrain the horse. Photo upper right: Here's how to apply a skin twitch on an equine patient. Grasp the horse's loose skin just in front of the scapula and twist or roll it. The effect of the twitch wears off quickly. Even with these caveats, McDonnell says she regularly uses nose twitches on her equine patients.
Another method of twitching is an ear twitch. Researchers at Brown University sought to find out more about how lip and ear twitches work. The abstract of their study was published in the September-October Journal of Veterinary Behavior. Using a group of 12 geldings, the researchers measured heart rate, heart rate variability, and salivary cortisol levels before and after application of the twitch. An increased heart rate is a possible sign of stress or pain while an increased heart rate variability—the change in interval between heartbeats—is a sign of reduced stress.
Elevated cortisol levels are also a sign of a stress response. The aim was to determine stress and pain levels. The lip twitch caused a decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability when applied for five minutes, but an increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability when used for a longer period. There was no significant change in salivary cortisol levels. The researchers say this indicates that the lip twitch subdues horses through a calming, possibly pain-killing effect, but that the effect may be reduced after the first five minutes.
The ear twitch caused horses to have an increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability regardless of duration.
0コメント