Equestrian Magazine

8 ··························································································································································································· EQUESTRIAN S p rin g /Summer 2021

Be prepared and know when to act What every horse owner needs in their first aid kit - and when to call the vet, writes Caroline Gillespie, Celtic Equine Vets A first aid kit is essential for any yard, or for taking away to competitions with your horse, but knowing what to do with it and when to call the vet is just as important. emergency, or if you are waiting for them to arrive. In the case of wounds, any wound should be clipped and cleaned thoroughly with a dilute solution of surgical scrub, applied with gauze swabs or cotton wool, and wounds on a limb can be

This is a question that worries many owners, and the short answer is any time your horse is not showing their normal behaviour, or you are unsure what to do about the symptoms you are seeing. It is always sensible to call because at the very least the vet at the end of the phone can give advice, provide reassurance and can help you decide whether a visit is necessary. The most common emergencies would be these: bleeding wounds; colic signs such as excessive rolling, flank watching, kicking; eye injuries or a swollen closed eye; non­ weightbearing lameness; breathing difficulties and foaling that takes longer than 20 minutes. There are of course others, but these are the commonest. Your first aid kit comes in to its own in situations when the vet does not need to attend immediately as an

dressed to keep them clean and provide protection and support. First apply a sterile dressing, held in place with a soft padding bandage, followed by a layer of cotton wool or gamgee, supported with a conforming bandage and secured with cohesive wrap. If the wound is bleeding profusely this should be applied tightly until the vet arrives. It is not advisable to apply ointments or creams to a fresh wound, especially if the vet is on their way. For any lame horse, the hoof should be picked out, and ideally any penetrating object should be left in place to aid the vet in determining the severity of injury. If a hoof abscess is suspected, or found by the farrier, a foot poultice is advised which should be changed daily. It is made up of soaked poulticing material, cut to size, bandaged in place, and held with duct tape.

are to have a nose twitch handy for emergencies to restrain a horse for example with a wound or caught in fencing or to take the temperature safely. Here is a list of what we would advise you have in your kit: Sterile dressings (e.g. Melolin), poultice

In the case of colic, walk the horse in hand to prevent rolling and encourage digestive movement. For an unwell horse, perhaps coughing or not eating, taking the temperature is helpful, use a rectal thermometer­ a temperature above 38.5 Celsius indicates a fever. Other useful tips

dressing (e.g. Animalintex), scissors, cohesive bandage (e.g. Vetrap), surgical scrub (e.g. Hibiscrub), rectal thermometer, gauze swabs, cotton wool roll, duct tape, padding bandage (e.g. Soffban), conforming bandage (e.g. Knit-firm), hoof pick, clippers, nose twitch.

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