Horse Injuries and Illnesses:
Rule Number One
Never risk your own life or safety to save a horse. A horse that is injured or seriously ill can be disoriented or panic stricken and can unexpectedly or accidentally lash out at its owner. All horses, including well trained, normally gentle horse can be out of control when in severe pain. Horses are beautiful and noble animals, but any good trainer will tell you not to endanger yourself for a horse, even a valuable one. Horses can be replaced. Your life and health cannot.
Serious Emergencies
Horses are generally healthy durable animals that recover quickly from wounds and illnesses either naturally, or with appropriate treatment. When something bad happens, sometimes it is hard to judge whether immediate attention from a veterinarian is needed, or whether the complaint is minor.
Several points to remember before calling the vet:
Always keep the phone number of your veterinarian close at hand. When possible, have a back-up vet’s number in case yours is out of town. When you call the vet, identify yourself clearly and state the problem simply. If you reach an answering machine, state whether you think the problem is life-threatening or not.
About wounds-- most veterinarians prefer that you do not apply dressings, powders or topicals until you have checked with them. However, it is usually all right to hose off the wound with cold water. You may need to do this if the wound is covered with dirt or blood. You may also need to do this to see how deep the wound is, or how rapidly it bleeds.
With regards to illnesses or injuries, most veterinarians prefer that you do not feed or give the horse medicines orally or by injections before contacting them. The vet may need to tranquilize your horse to suture a wound, and may prefer that the horse not eat or drink for that reason.
Emergencies requiring immediate veterinary attention
The following are serious emergencies that you should definitely call your vet RIGHT AWAY about:
1. If the horse is bleeding profusely from a wound: This means if blood is gushing from the wound. (While you, or someone calls the vet, have someone apply pressure with a cloth firmly against the wound and if possible, try to stop the bleeding. Be careful! The horse might be frightened, or in pain. Get help!!). When you get the bleeding to stop, you might rinse the wound with cold water, and apply ice packs till the vet arrives, unless otherwise instructed. The wound might need stitches. Probably, the vet will ask you if your horse has had a tetanus booster recently, and may want to apply antiseptics or antibiotics.
2. Colic—this is an intestinal disorder, a cramping or kinking of the intestine. It can be very serious, or fatal if uncorrected. Sometimes it is hard to recognize colic in a horse. If you notice your horse acting differently than usual, pay attention. If you notice that your horse is lying down, (and doesn’t usually do this) but the other horses are all standing, be suspicious. If your horse repeatedly gets up, and then lies down and starts to roll, be more suspicious. If your horse keeps nipping or kicking at his stomach with his hind leg, and swatting his tail repeatedly, keep your eye on him. Colic is caused by many things, and some horses are more prone to this disorder than others. A change in diet, or weather, too much feed, or too much cold water or feed after a hard work out can trigger colic. Cribbing or bad hay or musty feed might cause colic. Call the vet if you suspect colic. The vet will ask you about the horse’s behavior and droppings, how long you have noticed the problem and so forth. Try to be observant.
Ask the vet if you should walk the horse around while waiting for him to arrive. Sometimes this helps.
If your horse has chronic colic, try to find out why. Your vet may prescribe or recommend a product to help in the future. But remember, prevention is the best remedy.
(To be continued.)
