Emergency Care for Horses

The Horse Information lives Here! ©
The #1 Horse Industry Information Advertising Directory! Contact Ann to include your company.

Emergency Wound Care by Cindy Hallet

Woundcare Image

The sight of blood may unnerve you, but maintaining your presence of mind can save your horse's life.

Firsr Aid Kit The following suggestions should be viewed as guidelines:

1 . Catch and calm your horse to prevent further injury. Move the horse to a stall or other familiar surroundings if this is possible without -causing distress or further injury to the horse. Providing hay or grain can also be a good distraction.

2.. Get help before attempting to -treat or evaluate A wound. It can be difficult and very dangerous to try and inspect or clean a wound without someone to hold the horse. You cannot help your horse if you are seriously iqiured yourself

3 . Evaluate the location, depth, and severity of the wound. Call your veterinarian for a recommendation anytime you feel your horse-is in need of emergency care. Here are some examples of situations where your Vet should be called:

A. There appears to be excessive bleeding
B. The entire skin thickness has been penetrated.
C. The wound occurs near or over a joint.
D. Any structures underlying the skin are visible.
E. A severe wound has occurred in the lower leg or below knee or hock level.
G. The wound is severely contaminated

4. Consult with your veterinarian regarding a recommendation before you attempt to clean the wound or remove debris or penetrating objects, as you may precipitate uncontrollable bleeding or do -fin-ther damage Io the wound. Large objects should
be stabilized to avoid damaging movement if possible. Don't put anything on the wound except a compress or cold water.

5 . Stop the bleeding (This may be the FIRST step, if the bleeding is profuse!) by covering the wound with a sterile, absorbent pad (not cotton), applying firm, steady, even pressure to the wound.

6. Do not medicate or tranquilize the horse unless specifically directed by your veterinarian, If the horse hassuffrxed sevezejaloodloss or stiock, theadniinistration of certain drugs can be life-threatening.

7. If the eye is injured, do not attempt to treat- Await your veterinarian.

8. If a horse steps on a nail or other sharp object, and it remains embedded in the hoof, first clean the hoof Consult with your veterinarian regarding a recommendation before you remove the nail. If your veterinarian advises, carefully remove the nail to prevent the horse from stepping on it and driving it deeper into the hoof cavity. As you remove it, be sure to mark the exact point and depth of entry with tape and/or a marker so the veterinarian can access the extent of the damage. Apply antiseptic to the wound, and wrap to prevent additional contamination.

9. All horses being treated for lacerations or puncture wounds will require a tetanus booster.

Other Emergencies

There are far too many types of emergencies - from heat stroke to hyperkalemic periodic paralysis , bone fractures to snake bits, foaling difficulties, to colic - to adequately cover them all. However, regardless of the situation, it's important to remember these points:

1 . Keep the horse as calm as possible. Your own-calm behavio rwill help achieve this.

2. Move the animal to a safe area where it is unlikely to be injured should it go down.

3 . Get someone to help you , and delegate responsibilities, such as calling the veterinarian, retrieving the first aid kit, holding the horse, etc.

4. Notify your veterinarian immediately- Be prepared to-provide specific information about the horse's condition, as mentioned above, and other data that will help your practitioner assess the immediacy of the danger and instruct you in how to proceed.

5.. Listen closely and follow your equine practitioner's instructions.

6. Do not administer drugs, especially tranquilizers or sedatives, unless specifically instructed to do so by the veterinarian.

A great big thank you goes to Tidewater Veterinary Hospital for supplying theinformation listed and stated in the booklet, as well as agreeing to help supply products for the first aid kits. Please keep them in mind when you need help and materials to refill your first aid kits.

(Information was taken from a brochure called Emergency Care developed by the American Association of Equine Practitioner's through a grant from Bayer Corporation.)

About the author...
Bar None Farm
Bar None Farm is a breeding and training facility. We have been involved in the POA breeding for over fifteen years. We spent 5 years to find the perfect POA Stallion to head our breeding program along with our top quality mares. We have a fine selection of foals offered for sale each fall. We offer breeding services, mare care, foaling, and foal handling. We work hand in hand with our local veterinarian to provide the best care for you horse. Cindy Hallett, a John Lyons Certified Trainer, heads our training program. We offer everything from starting horses to training the trail horses, the show horses, or the pleasure horses, and conditioning Halter horses, as well as showing the halter and performance horses. (Select the photo to view more information)
Contact: Cindy Hallet
11651 Stines Store Road
Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20622
Phone: 310-934-1323
Email: barnonepoa@aol.com
www.barnonefarm.com/

Have a Product or Service that would benefit Horse Owners? Contact Ann

Home, Articles, Academic Schools, Arena Maintenance, Animal Communicators, Barn and Accessories,
Barn Equipment and Tractors, Blankets Books and Videos, Breeders, Camping Gear, Career Schools, Carts and Buggies, Clinicians, Clothing, Dogs and Puppies, Horse Fencing, Fine Art & Furniture, For Sale, Fly Control, Foal Care, Footings, Gifts, Health and Nutrituon, Hoof and Leg, Horse Rehabilitation Farms, Horse Insurance, John Lyons Certified, Lawyers, Leather Care, Links, Health , Horse Property, Photography, Portable Stalls Areanas and Roundpens, Richard Shrake, Riding Schools, Schools, Services for Horses, Shipping, Skin and Coat, Software, Specialty Trainers, Summer Camps, Tack, Trainers, Trainer Educational, Trailers, Treats and Snacks, Truck Accessories, Trucks, Vacations, Western Lifestyle