USE OF GLUE-ON SHOES TO IMPROVE CONFORMATIONAL ABNORMALITIES IN TWO ASIAN ELEPHANTS ( ELEPHAS MAXIMUS).

This report describes the use of custom-made, glue-on shoes for the front feet of two female adult Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus) with conformational abnormalities. Both elephants had unequal leg lengths. The first elephant also had bilateral fetlock varus causing recurrent nail infections of the fourth digits of the front feet. The second elephant displayed weight shifting. Over several years, multiple shoe prototypes were tested. The current version is made of two types of shoe rubber, glued together and attached to the pad of the shorter leg with a liquid adhesive. The first elephant also has bilateral wedge pads to offload pressure from the fourth nails. The shoes are removed each month for foot care, then replaced. Within several months of wearing shoes, the first elephant's nail infections healed and the second elephant stopped weight shifting. Both elephants' gaits became smoother. This is the first description of corrective shoeing in elephants.

Strangulating intestinal obstructions in four captive elephants (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana).

Three captive-born (5-day-old, 8-day-old, and 4-yr-old) Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and one captive-born 22-yr-old African elephant (Loxodonta africana) from three private elephant facilities and one zoo in the United States presented with depression, anorexia, and tachycardia as well as gastrointestinal signs of disease including abdominal distention, decreased borborygmi, tenesmus, hematochezia, or diarrhea. All elephants showed some evidence of discomfort including agitation, vocalization, or postural changes. One animal had abnormal rectal findings. Nonmotile bowel loops were seen on transabdominal ultrasound in another case. Duration of signs ranged from 6 to 36 hr. All elephants received analgesics and were given oral or rectal fluids. Other treatments included warm-water enemas or walking. One elephant underwent exploratory celiotomy. Three animals died, and the elephant taken to surgery was euthanized prior to anesthetic recovery. At necropsy, all animals had severe, strangulating intestinal lesions.