The equine first aid kit

This article has appeared previously with Equestrian Life. To see what’s in our latest issue, please click here.

Part and parcel of horse ownership is the chance that at some point injuries are on the cards. Being in a position to safely apply some emergency treatment while waiting for a vet to arrive can provide the best outcome. Equine veterinarian, Dr Tessa Muir, puts together an essential first aid kit and a guide on how and when to use it.

By Dr Tessa Muir

Horses by nature are accident prone largely due to their inquisitive nature and instinctive flight response. It is not uncommon for them to injure themselves on a regular basis. It is inevitable that you, as a horse owner, will arrive home one day to find your horse has blood covering a once beautifully white sock or is refusing to bear weight on a limb as they walk towards you. While it is often very distressing, no matter the number of times you are presented with this same scenario, you must be prepared to provide basic first aid to your equine companion in the event of an emergency. As a horse owner you need to know how to recognise a serious problem and take the appropriate action before the vet arrives. Your knowledge and preparedness in these trying circumstances can seriously alter the outcome for your horse. At the other end of the spectrum you need to ensure all the necessary items are on hand to deal promptly with any minor cuts and scratches, so the normal routine can continue without any major disruptions.

This article aims be an informative and basic guide about equine first aid and the essential items required to build your own first class first aid kit. A good first aid kit is an essential item for anyone who owns a horse, but it doesn’t need to be an elaborate Aladdin’s cave complete with every lotion and potion available. It is important to make the distinction between a first aid kit and a medicine cabinet.

Most of the recommended items can be obtained through your veterinarian, at a chemist, feed store or tack shop. A few products are suggested in this article but it is by no means an exhaustive list of all that’s available on the market.

The role of a first aid kit is to provide first aid and help you treat the most common problems and stabilise any more serious injuries until your vet arrives. It should be kept in a clean, sturdy and closeable box, in a dust-free environment and readily accessible. Horses will get into trouble, and injure themselves in a foreign environment, so you should also have a smaller practical first aid kit for travelling away from home.

While our guide is about what to include in your kit; the exact quantities of dressing will vary depending on the individual owner, number of horses and their likelihood of injury. Some horses, like humans, seem to be more injury prone than others. Remember, they will often injure more than one limb or area at once so be prepared.

Before we consider what to put in the kit, there are a few few steps so that you are armed with all the basic information to comfortably assess and act during an emergency situation and to determine whether to seek professional advice or whether you can manage a more simple problem yourself. Not every cut and scrape will require veterinary attention if you have a basic understanding of wound care and management.

TIP 1

Do your research. Plenty of the necessary items can be found in discount human chemists thus ensuring you keep you first aid kit to a reasonable budget.

TIP 2

Laminate a list of contents and keep inside the lid together with a list of useful telephone numbers including your vet, farrier, insurance company and horse transport company. Always replace items as they are used otherwise they won’t be there when you need them in an emergency.

TIP 3

Make sure your horse’s vaccination records are up to date. It is vital that horses are vaccinated against tetanus so that any small cuts can’t lead to a more serious problem.

Step-by-step: What to do in an emergency

1. Assess the situation – if safe to do so, calmly approach and restrain the horse so an assessment of the injuries can be done and first aid applied as needed. Never put yourself in danger. If the horse is very distressed and it is unsafe to restrain, wait until it calms down or until professional help arrives. A vet will be armed with sedatives to relax a distressed patient.

Remember: You are no help to your horse if you are injured.

2. Move horse to A SAFE, CLEAN AREA IF POSSIBLE – this will provide a much better environment to work in. If you suspect a serious injury, such as a fracture, try to keep the horse still until a splint can be applied. Moving the horse can do more harm than good in this situation. Consult your vet before moving the horse if you are unsure.

3. Examine the entire HORSE – you usually notice an obvious wound and attention is instantly drawn to it. However, you must check the rest of the horse for other cuts/injuries that may not be as obvious, but can be equally if not more life threatening.

4. Check vital signs – as discussed in the last issue, it is important to know your horse and its normal behaviour and clinical signs. Know how to do a basic clinical exam that can give vital clues to the horse’s current health status. Simple procedures such as taking its temperature and checking heat rate, respiratory rate and mucus membrane colour are useful for both you and the vet in determining the seriousness of a situation.

5. Proceed with emergency MEDICAL TREATMENT – this will be situation dependent. Wounds are probably the most common emergency where you are required to administer first aid and we will consider a few key points in emergency wound care in the next section.

6. Call veterinarian if REQUIRED – if unsure, it is always safer to seek professional advice. Taking photographs to send to the vet can be extremely useful.

Emergency Wound Care

Wounds, particularly paddock wounds, can look horrendous at first sight but maintaining a calm demeanour and providing appropriate first aid is paramount. The initial steps taken to treat a wound can prevent further damage and even speed up healing.

1. Evaluate the location, DEPTH AND SEVERITY of the wound(s) – it is important to note that wounds, particularly penetrating wounds, can look harmless, but if located near a joint or tendon sheath have the potential to have catastrophic results.

When to call THE VET: it is recommended that you call a vet in the following circumstances or if there is any situation in which you are unsure about the full extent of a problem.

• Location of wound near a joint

• A puncture wound – puncture wounds near a joint or of the foot e.g. rusty nail penetrating the frog of the foot should be treated seriously. Contact your vet before removing the item and if it is necessary to remove it record the depth to which it has penetrated. This can be an essential clue as to whether a joint has been compromised.

• Severely contaminated (dirty) wound

• Large open wounds – these are likely to require stitching/stapling and should be attended to as soon as possible.

• Excessive bleeding

2. Stop excessive bleeding – If a wound is bleeding excessively it is important that you try to stem bleeding. Apply a non-adhesive dressing and compression bandage if location allows e.g. distal limb or apply firm pressure to the region manually.

3. Clean wound – cleaning a contaminated wound is a very important step in the healing process. An iodine solution e.g. Betadine is a suitable choice and should be mixed with warm water (if available, otherwise cold water is ok) to look like a weak tea solution. Carefully clean the wound, vigorous scrubbing can do more harm than good and is likely to be painful for your horse.

4. Bandage wound(s) – not all wounds are amenable to bandaging, but those that are should be bandaged as this moist, clean environment accelerates the healing process. An antibacterial cream or ointment should first be applied to the wound followed by a non-adherent dressing. Finally a compression bandage (cotton wool/gamgee) should be used to hold the dressing firmly in place. Firm, even pressure must be used to ensure the bandage does not cause further problems such as disruption to local blood supply or, if on a lower limb, injury to a tendon. If you are unsure about the correct way to apply a good bandage ask an experienced friend or your vet to show you.

5. Check Tetanus Vaccination STATUS – if you are unsure about your horse’s vaccination record, consult a veterinarian and vaccinate for this potentially life threatening illness.

First Aid Kit

This section will go through the important items you need for your first aid kit. Read through the different sections and tick off the items as you purchase them, to ensure you don’t forget anything. Remember some items will have an expiry date. Record this so you can replace items if required. If you are unsure about what else you need for the kit, talk to your local vet on a routine visit.

(click to enlarge)