A few weeks ago, my friend called me out of the blue. I thought it was odd since she usually texts. When I picked up, I knew instantly something was wrong. Her daughter’s horse had lain down to roll, but when she got up, she didn’t shake. That was the first red flag. And when she tried to lay down again to roll, she realized that the horse was colicking.

My friend is still relatively new to horse ownership, so she wasn’t sure what to do. Being a few hours away, I couldn’t be there to help, but I told her to keep the horse up and walking, and call the veterinarian. Thankfully, her horse came out of it, and they got some pretty funny videos of her after the vet administered some medication that made her woozy. She fell asleep standing up and snored with her tongue hanging out!

That ordeal made me realize that my own horse first aid kit needed to be upgraded. We had some basics, but it wasn’t complete. I started researching the most essential items, but also found some things I would have never thought of that could come in handy during an emergency. 

Below, find a list of items to keep in your horse first aid kit, broken down by different needs and circumstances. 

Horse First Aid Kit: Emergency & General Care

Horses are hardy animals, but more often than not, they manage to get themselves into some kind of scrape. While many injuries and illnesses can be treated at home, having the right tools on hand is essential. Here’s a list of emergency and general first aid items to keep stocked in both your barn and trailer.

Items Needed:

• Stethoscope: To check heart rate and gut sounds
• Gloves (disposable latex or nitrile): For clean handling of wounds and medications
• Twitch or sedation alternative: If handling an injured horse
• Headlamp or flashlight: For emergencies in low light
• Thermometer: To check temperature
• Syringes: To administer meds
• Needles: For injections
• Electrolyte paste or powder: To help with dehydration recovery
• Activated charcoal or Bio-Sponge: For toxin ingestion concerns
• Notebook or first aid log: To track treatments and vital signs
• Vet & emergency contact list: In case of urgent care needs

Horse First Aid Kit: Pain & Inflammation Management

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), colic is the most common cause of death in horses that are 1 to 20 years of age and the second most common cause of death for horses older than 20 years of age (USDA APHIS NAHMS 2015). Flunixin meglumine, often known under the name brand name “Banamine,” is a common NSAID used for equine inflammation and pain associated with injuries, but it’s also used to alleviate pain from colic. However, it is highly encouraged to only administer Banamine with a vet’s permission—or, better yet, by the vet themselves.

Phenylbutazone (more commonly known as “bute”) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are also common NSAIDs, mainly for joint swelling and injuries, but they’re not great for colic. In fact, if DMSO is administered incorrectly, it can actually cause signs of colic in some horses.

Dormosedan Gel (frequently nicknamed “Dorm gel”) is another good addition. This is an oral sedative for calming a panicked or uncooperative horse in stressful situations.

Be sure to talk with your vet about directions for use and follow all medication guidelines. 

Items Needed:

• Bute: Pain relief, anti-inflammatory
• DMSO: Anti-inflammatory
• Dorm gel: Oral sedative
• Topical cooling gel or liniment: For muscle soreness

Horse First Aid Kit: Wound Care & Bandaging

If you are treating a wound, it’s important to inspect the wound for depth and infection. If the wound is too deep, it can lead to an abscess and it will require a call to the vet. Wounds on the eye also warrant an immediate call to the vet. 

When cleaning a wound, remove debris and wash with soap and water if possible. Avoid hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on open wounds as they can delay healing. Instead, use wound spray or antibiotic ointment.

Items Needed:

• Non-stick gauze: For wrapping wounds
• Cling gauze: Secures dressings without adhesive
• Gauze pads: Absorbs wound fluids
• Vet wrap: Self-adhesive bandage
• Elastikon: Strong adhesive tape
• Bandage scissors: For careful cutting of bandaging items
• Cast padding: Prevents pressure sores
• Duct tape: Secures hoof wraps
• Absorbine Silver Honey®: Antimicrobial wound care
• Triple antibiotic: Prevents infections
• Wound spray: Disinfects wounds
• Saline solution: Flushes wounds/eyes
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%): For cleaning tools, but not recommended for wounds
• Betadine (povidone-iodine solution or scrub): Antiseptic for cleaning wounds
• Cold packs or instant ice packs: For swelling and injuries

Horse First Aid Kit: Hoof Care

If your horse suddenly starts limping, chances are it’s a hoof abscess. Check for heat, swelling, tenderness, or drainage from the hoof. Treating an abscess often involves soaking the hoof in warm Epsom salt water or applying a poultice to draw out the infection. Wrapping the hoof or using a boot helps keep it clean and protected.

Items Needed:

• Bandaging items: See above
• Duct tape: Secures hoof wraps
• Soaking boot: Easy way to soak a hoof and keep out debris
• Epsom salt: Soaks abscesses and reduces swelling
• Animalintex: Poultice pad for infections
• Green poultice: Cooling clay poultice
• Magic Cushion®: Hoof packing for pain relief
• Hoof pick: To check for lodged objects and clean the hoof
• Diapers or sanitary pads: Great for hoof abscess wraps
• Soft-Ride Boots or hoof boots: If dealing with a hoof injury

Talk With Your Vet

Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about your first aid kit. They can recommend additional items tailored to your horse’s specific needs, explain best practices for administering medications and treating injuries, and may even offer pre-made first aid kits.

Emergencies and injuries are inevitable, but having a well-stocked equine first aid kit can make all the difference. Acting quickly gives your horse the best chance at a full recovery. While some situations will still require a vet, being prepared allows you to stabilize your horse until help arrives. When the unexpected happens, you’ll be glad you took the time to get ready.

The post Horse First Aid Kit: 25+ Items Every Horse Owner Needs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Your first instinct when you see a foreign object sticking out of your horse is to pull it out immediately, but veterinarians warn, “Wait, not so fast!”

Treat a Puncture Wound as an Emergency

“An injury with an embedded object is an emergency and must be seen that day,” says Sam Crosby, DVM, whose equine veterinary practice is based in Arcadia, Okla.

Crosby has treated many horses injured in tornadoes with all manner of embedded objects, including wood, glass, small rocks, tree branches and fencing pipe. He says one of the most unusual foreign object puncture wounds he’s seen was sustained by a horse rolling on a deer antler in the pasture.

Use Technology First

Immediately take a close-up photo of the injury with your phone. Call your veterinarian and text the photo so they can quickly assess the injury.

“Get photos, call your veterinarian and have them assess it,” says Woodrow Friend, DVM, who has been a veterinarian with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., for 20 years. “In some instances, they may say, ‘Go ahead and pull it out,’ but let them assess it. Telemedicine has changed how I do things. I get a lot of FaceTime videos, and it’s easier for me to triage these injuries.”

Of course, if you live in a very remote area and you can’t get a veterinarian out for days, this changes things.

“You could end up doing FaceTime with a veterinarian and they can give you advice on what to do,” recommends Friend.

Don’t Give Drugs Before.the Veterinarian

Do your best to restrain the horse and keep him still and calm to avoid further injury, but don’t administer any drugs while waiting for the veterinarian.

“Acepromazine is a common sedative that many people have on hand, but don’t give the horse any drugs,” says Crosby. “Ace causes blood vessels to dilate, and in stress situations, this decreases blood pressure and can cause the horse to go into hypovolemic shock.”

If the puncture wound is bleeding, you can use a folded towel to apply pressure around the injury—just not on top of the embedded piece.

Friend points out that in some cases the embedded object may be stopping blood flow, and pulling it out could cause serious bleeding.

Why Wait?

There are two important reasons to wait for the veterinarian to remove an embedded object:

◆ To determine any damage of internal structures
◆ To make sure all of the object is safely removed

Depending on the injury, the veterinarian may use X-rays or ultrasound to observe internal structures around the embedded object and any resulting damage.

“Sometimes a wound can look small, but it depends on where it is,” says Friend. “If it’s near a joint capsule, you can get an infected joint.”

“If the wound is close to a joint, it’s especially important to take radiographs,” notes Crosby. “If you just pull the object out and it was near a joint, infection could set in and get a head. However, if the veterinarian knows it’s touching the joint, they can flush the joint, sew up any tear in the membrane, and treat as needed.”

Often an embedded object, such as a board or tree branch, breaks upon impact with the horse. Making sure all of it gets removed is crucial.

“Even if it’s just a piece of wood, I want to be able to assess if we got all of it out,” says Friend. “Sometimes you have the other end of the item, and you want to match the piece that came out. For example, with a broken fence board, you may think you got all of it out of the horse, but when comparing pieces, you can see there’s some missing.”

Friend relates the story of one horse who reared up in the barn and shattered a halogen light bulb with his head. When the wound kept draining and wouldn’t heal after 10 days, the owners called Friend. He found and removed a large piece of glass that was still embedded in the horse’s poll, which reinforces why it’s important for a veterinarian to initially assess puncture wounds.

Puncture Wounds in the Hoof

The most common hoof puncture wounds occur when a horse steps on a nail or fence staple.

“With the hoof, there are many internal structures,” says Friend. “You need to make sure you know where the object went.” He notes that any puncture wound of the hoof should be seen by a veterinarian, even if it seems small.

“If there’s a nail in a foot, I want to know where that nail goes,” adds Friend. “The frog will seal right up when you pull out a nail.”

“The problem with hoof wounds is that they close up quickly,” says Crosby. “If your horse steps on a nail or staple and you pull it out, then the veterinarian can’t see on X-rays how close it was to internal structures in the hoof.”

Treating Puncture Wounds

After your veterinarian has assessed the injury and taken any necessary X-rays or ultrasound images, they will remove the embedded object and begin treating the wound.

Depending on the injury, sutures may be needed. Medication to manage inflammation and pain will likely be part of the protocol.

Antibiotics may also be necessary to combat infection.

“In a tornado, pretty much anything that’s driven into a horse’s body is accompanied by debris and bacteria, and there is almost always infection involved,” says Crosby.

After initial treatment, your veterinarian will instruct you on how to continue treating the wound. Serious puncture wounds typically require a follow-up visit from the veterinarian.

With any wound—especially with punctures—it’s important for the horse to be up to date on his tetanus vaccine, so check your records. If it’s been longer than six months, your veterinarian will likely recommend a booster vaccination.

A Common Mistake

Beyond pulling out an embedded object before the veterinarian can assess it, improper wound cleaning is another common mistake.

“People get overzealous and try to do more than they should,” says Friend, who has seen horse owners flush wounds with alcohol, peroxide—even diesel fuel.

“You want to avoid anything that could be caustic to the tissues,” he explains. “The substance used to flush a wound can ‘pocket’ in the wound or be pushed into a space where it could cause more problems. [Additionally,] don’t ‘pressure wash’ the wound. Just rinse it off and keep it clean. Don’t try to do too much before the veterinarian gets there.”

Cleaning Puncture Wounds

Skip the spray nozzle when cleaning wounds. Just use a hose and normal pressure to move dirt and debris out of the injured area. You should keep a surgical scrub or mild iodine soap on hand to help clean wounds. Lacking this, a mild dish soap, such as Ivory, will suffice.

Stay Vigilant

Any of the following indicate a wound is not healing properly. Call your veterinarian promptly if you notice:

◆ Oozing/draining from wound 10 days or longer post injury
◆ Persistent heat or swelling
◆ Horse has a fever
◆ Horse shows signs of lameness

This article about the treatment of puncture wounds in horses appeared in the August 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Treating Puncture Wounds in Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

I’d been treating my patient, a sweet Quarter Horse mare named Maizey, for almost two weeks. Maizey had been running loose in a side pasture and got tangled in some fencing wire. I’d spent a very long night stitching the horse’s chest and torso back together. I wasn’t terribly worried about those wounds; it was the horse’s leg wound that was the problem.

The wire had wrapped around Maizey’s lower front leg and had tightened like a tourniquet. As the poor mare fought to get free, she succeeded in lacerating and degloving the cannon area from the knee to the ankle, and there was almost 5 inches of exposed bone on the leg with a large slab of damaged tissues hanging from the leg.

Purple Power

Fortunately, Celia realized quickly that her beloved mare was missing, and she and her husband went searching for her. Carl had cut Maizey free from the wire and pulled out his pet remedy: the purple spray found in almost every barn, despite me scolding him every time he used it.

By the time I arrived, Maizey was purple as well as red from the blood, and after I’d finished cleaning her up, I was purple and red from head to toe as well.

Carl roared with laughter when he saw me and informed me that I was going to be purple for some time, “cause that ain’t gonna wash off easily, Doc. It’s good strong stuff, and that’s why I like it.”

I’d gritted my teeth and pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol to clean my hands and arms. My clothing was beyond help, and I knew from experience that the stains weren’t coming out. Carl received another scolding from both Celia and I, but he paid no attention.

Carl suffered from chronic kidney and bladder stones, and lately he was visiting his doctor more and more frequently. After ribbing me for a while, he’d hopped in his truck to head to an appointment.

When Celia led Maizey down the aisle toward me for our weekly recheck, I could tell by her face that Carl had been at it again. There was a Vetrap and duct tape bandage on the horse’s lower leg that had slid down and was flopping around the ankle, exposing the wound. Even worse, it was purple again.

Celia brought her horse to a halt in front of me and gave me her special exasperated-with-Carl death look. I knew Carl was in for it when he returned from yet another doctor’s appointment.

“Let’s see what we’ve got, Celia,” I said as I began to cut the bandage off. “Maybe Carl went easy this time.”

Chemical Overload on the Wound

Unfortunately, Carl had not gone easy this time. In fact, he’d outdone himself, and I groaned when I saw a thick coating of the stuff on the leg.

Maizey had a stained muzzle from licking at the wound, and the horse left a large colorful smear across Celia’s barn jacket. Celia dragged the hose over grimly and began to wash the wound, as purple water ran across the barn floor and down the drain.

It took almost 30 minutes to get Maizey cleaned up, and because the spray was almost 90 percent alcohol, I had to place a special dressing on the leg. Wounds don’t like caustic chemicals and get irritated very easily. If all infection is gone, they prefer a clean, moist and quiet healing environment so that the healing cells can migrate to where they’re needed and not be disturbed, irritated by chemicals or scrubbed off by overzealous wound cleanings. My old mentor, Dr. George Platt, used to tell me sternly that if I wouldn’t put a particular substance in my eye, don’t put it on a horse’s wound, and I followed those instructions religiously.

As I finished bandaging Maizey, Celia muttered that she was going to put a padlock on the stall door to keep Carl out. As I walked out of the barn, I heard the familiar roar of Carl’s old truck, and soon he was parking in front of the barn. Celia remained behind, presumably to throw away every bottle of purple stuff that she could find. But when she heard the truck pull up, she hastened out of the barn, clutching a remaining can of the spray.

Giving Up for Good

Carl exited his truck and slowly walked toward us. Patch, his beloved Border Collie, shot out from underneath a nearby bush and followed him over.

“Carl, are you OK?” I asked. I’d never once seen Carl move slowly.

He grimaced. “They flushed out the plumbing today.” He pointed miserably at his groin. “It hurts like hell, Doc.”

Celia was moving towards us shaking the spray menacingly, and on a whim, I grabbed the bottle from her and started reading the label out loud.

“Ninety percent alcohol, wow, that’ll burn out just about any infection! And gentian violet soaks deeply into inflamed tissues. You might pee purple for a while, but Carl, you should use this stuff to treat your bladder infection!”

Carl looked me in horror, and I gave him an innocent smile and offered him the bottle. He muttered something, then headed to the house in a stiff, crouching gait, Patch at his side.

Celia was howling with laughter.

“Oh dear! Dr. Diehl, I don’t know what gets into you sometimes! I bet Carl never goes near this stuff again!”

Eventually I started packing up my truck. Celia gave me a quick hug, then smiled sadly.

“I better go tend to my husband, Doc. He’s not getting any younger and this bladder problem really worries me.”

I was starting to feel a little guilty, but Celia winked at me.

“I think I’ll hang a bottle of that purple stuff on the refrigerator door. Then he won’t eat all the ice cream.”

Also Read: More Editions of Vet Adventures

This column about treating a horse’s wound appeared in the August 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Vet Adventures: How Not to Treat a Horse’s Wound appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.