EQUINE Wound Care
Horses are curious, and with that
curiousness combined with their
fight or flight tendency, they tend
to routinely aquire an assortment
of wounds. Statistically, this makes
the horse the number 1 animal for
accidental injuries. With that kind of
track record, it becomes important
to know when to call the vet and
when to treat it yourself.
BASIC WOUND TYPES
Common basic types of wounds
include: abrasions, punctures, and
lacerations.
1. An abrasion is a superficial scraping
wound on the skin with minimal bleeding.
There may be some additional
yellowish serum/plasma seepage within
and around the wound edges. Moist
wound management methods generally
hasten the recovery and additionally,
decrease the pain significantly.
Applications of soothing ointments to
encourage rapid healing and infection
prevention are commonly used.
2. Puncture wounds in the skin or hoof
are also common and potentially serious.
Sometimes overlooked because
of their size and lack of blood and skin
flaps, these wounds become a nidus
for bacterial growth. Initial examination
and observations must be taken to assure
that no foreign body is remaining
in the site. After cleansing, the wound
must be thoroughly cleaned of any dirt
and debris. Antibiotics and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs are generally
usually used. Depending on the
site, ice packs near the affected area
are sometimes recommended as well
as controlled movement of the area.
These wounds types are serious and
need the expertise of a veterinarian.
3. The laceration is the tearing of the
skin in an uncontrolled direction (or
directions) and can additionally involve
bruising. Complicated wounds include
not only the skin laceration but also
can include the underlying structures
such as muscle, ligaments, tendons,
bone etc. A veterinarian should examine
any lacerations as soon as possible
as scarring and functionality of the
area depend upon proper healing.
EQUINE Health
Part 1
PREPARATION
Elbow Wound Nose Wound
The first step in first aid process is to
have a first aid kit readily available. It
should include:
• Rolled cotton
• Clean towels
• Self adhesive wraps
• Bandage scissors
• Stethoscope and thermometer
• Flashlight (and glasses, if necessary)
• Veterinary records (vaccinations etc.)
• Emergency phone numbers including
veterinarian and family
• Selection of OTC creams, sprays,
saline, gauze, wipes, and tape
• Notepad with useable pen
First off, observations are essential.
Know the basic behavior of the horse
and what your horse’s normal temperature,
pulse and respiration rates
are. Take the horse’s TPR and WRITE
IT DOWN. You can then inform the
veterinarian of the current readings
(temperature, pulse and respiration)
which can help indicate the general
state of the horse with regards to the
wound. By comparing the “normal TPRs
of the horse with the current readings,
you can more accurately assess the
situation.
NEXT STEPS
An excited owner/caretaker along side
an already anxious horse is a recipe for
disaster. The first thing is to leave emotions
at the stall door so as to remain
48 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
calm. Try to get the horse in a well lit
and quiet area to assess the damages.
Keep in mind that pain trumps
everything in horse behavior and logic;
therefore, caution on your part is imperative.
Forget “the horse knows you
and it would never hurt you” attitude.
A 180 pound human is no match for
a 1200 pound pain laden horse. If you
cannot safely examine the wound(s),
wait for the veterinarian. Sedation will
make the process far less eventful, both
mentally and physically for you both.
SAFETY FIRST.
If the wound is pulsating, apply direct
pressure over the exit site. Use clean
or sterile towels to apply a steady
pressure. The first task is to stop or at
least minimize the flow rate so press
firmly. Remember that a horse contains
around 10 gallons of blood and can
loose about 4 gallons and still survive if
managed aggressively. Don’t panic,
but call the veterinarian immediately.
They will advise you as to the next
steps.
If the wound is slowly bleeding and not
pulsating, apply direct pressure but
avoid wiping blood from the area as it
seeps out. Wiping blood from the area
can traumatize the already damaged
tissues and may contaminate the
wound further. Don’t use loose cotton
or wool wipes. These can leave particles
within the wound area. If neces-
Continued...
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