Equine Emergency Medicine Dr. John Henton

Equine First Aid Kit As Suggested By Dr. John Henton

Bandage Material Telfa Pads (non-stick bandages like band-aids) 4x4 Gauze Pads Elasticon Bandage 3 inch (adhesive stretch bandage: expensive) Best available for may wounds and good for pressure over vessels Ace Bandage Clean leg wraps (Derby or Polo Wraps) Vet Wrap (only over adequate padding!!! NEVER DIRECTLY OVER LEG

First Aid Kit White tape (Many uses) 2-3" CAN MAKE 1-2" out of wider tape Sheet Cottons Clean leg quilts (Padding for wrapping legs over lacerations) Army Combine (Large clean bulky bandage) Roll gauze or Kling Wrap, (Hold bandages in place) Duct Tape (Bandage Foot, water proof leg bandages)

Medications Disinfectant Soap (Chlorohexadine, Povidone Iodine, etc.) Water Soluble antibiotic ointment Silver sulfadiazine Antibiotic powder Panalog Ointment (retards proud flesh) KY Jelly (protects wound while shaving edges) Eye Wash Flouro-strips (used to determine if eye has corneal ulcer)

Medications Non Steroid containing eye ointment Rompun* Pain relief for colic and tranquilizer for other times Banamine* Good injectable non-steroidal inflammatory agent, colic ?? Bute Paste Epsom Salts Safety razor & or clippers * only with veterinarians approval

Equipment Digital thermometer (mercury type will break in hot weather) Scissors Humane Twitch Splint for leg (Plastic PVC pipe cut in ½)14-16" long & 28" long) Medi boot for hoof (especially good for horses that pulled shoes)

What is a True Emergency? Definition: Veterinary Medical Emergency A medical condition which warrants medical treatment immediately

What Can I Do?

True Emergencies Dystocia Laceration with blood loss Colic Laminitis Choke Long bone fractures

Dystocia

Dystocia Determine presentation Correct presentation Immediate help is essential If can not correct position - walk to delay labor

Laceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood Loss Apply pressure directly on wound Clean compress Elasticon, ace bandage, etc. Keep horse quiet until help arrives don't walk to barn, it will increase bleeding Do not apply ointments or powders Do not try to clean prior to bandage will increase bleeding

Laceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood Loss If bleeding continues, put more bandage on top of first bandage Do not remove the first bandage!!

Laceration with Blood Loss Tourniquet Pressure on vessels above or below the wound

Colic

Colic Prevent self injury Evaluate clinical signs Temperature Pulse Respiration Color of gums

Colic Remove all feed Walk if necessary, only to prevent rolling Administer drugs only after talking with your Veterinarian Rompun Banamine-may mask clinical signs Dipyrone

Traditional Examination By Veterinarian Determine P.R. Assess cardiovascular output Determine intestinal sounds Rectal examinations if possible Pass stomach tube Access gastric reflex

Traditional Treatment Mineral oil if no gastric reflex Analgesics IV fluids Surgical correction

Laminitis

Laminitis Definition: An inflammatory process of the laminae of the hoof. Many times caused by endotoxin, fever, trauma etc. Separation of bony structures from hoof may occur.

Clinical Signs Reluctant to move, especially on turns Increased digital pulses May involve all four feet

Early Treatment Do not force exercise Apply frog pressure Apply support to sole Stand in sand

Veterinary Treatment Frog pressure Mineral oil Anti-endotoxics Banamine Analgesics Bute DMSO Orally or IV

Esophageal Choke

Clinical Signs Nervous Retching Food material out of nose

Early Treatment Keep head down Decreases aspiration Walk

Veterinary Therapy Tranquilize – Rompun Lowers head Pass stomach tube Flush out obstruction or move obstruction to stomach Muscle relaxants Antibiotics Treat possible aspiration pneumonia

Non Weight Bearing Lameness: Longbone Fracture

Non Weight Bearing Lameness: Longbone Fracture Do not move Stabilize Splint Robert Jones bandage Very large protective bandage Prevent bone fragments from penetrating skin Increases prognosis Greatly decreases infection

Veterinary Therapy Radiograph Determine blood supply of distal extremity Determine if fracture repair practical or possible

Problems That Are Not A Veterinary Medical Emergency, But Do Require Veterinary Attention Within 2-4 Hours

Problems That Require Veterinary Attention, But Are Not Urgent Emergencies Laceration Not bleeding Non weight bearing lameness Eye problems Retained placenta Sick foals Grain intoxication High fever Other

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss Clean area with mild soap Run cold water on wound Apply bandage if possible Clean compress NO ointments or lotions Wounds on legs need immediate care & bandage to allow potential suturing of the laceration Swelling will occur quickly

Non Weight Bearing Lameness

Non Weight Bearing Lameness Usually involves one foot/ leg Most likely cause is subsolar abscess

Subsolar Abscess Clinical Signs Increased digital pulse Area of sensitivity in sole Check coronary band for lesion

Treatment Establish drainage Draw out infection Soak in Epsom salt water Drawing agents Magnapaste Ichthammol Keep Clean Bandage until defect closed

Subsolar Abscess Drawing agents Soaking in Epsom Salts

Subsolar Abscess Bandage with drawing agents Magna paste Icthamol

Subsolar Abscess Quittor Bandage Wheat bran/ Epsom Salt Poultice

Subsolar Abscess Keep foot covered until defect is closed

Eye Problems

Clinical Signs Squinting Tearing Swelling

Corneal Laceration/ Ulceration Painful Sensitive Graying of the cornea

Stain with Fluorescein Area of cornea injured will retain green stain

Treatment Early treatment essential Flush Antibiotic ointment No steroids Retards healing Increase possibility of fungal infections

Recurrent Uveitis (Moon Blindness) Painful eye Small pupil Eye may become swollen

Retained Placenta

Retained Placenta Should be passed in 3 hours if retained greater then 3 hours call Veterinarian DAY OR NIGHT Treatment oxytocin IM or as IV drip Uterine treatment Laminitis prevention

Sick Foals

Sick Foals Look at mare's udder If foal off feed, mare will drip milk & have enlarged udder Normal temperature 100-102.5°F Swollen joints Early - septicemia Diarrhea Foal heat diarrhea is normal Rotavirus Status of foal may change quickly

High Fever

High Fever Infection Need to determine cause May lead to laminitis Antipyretic drugs Bute Dipyrone Banamine

Grain Overload

Grain Overload Needs treatment soon Mineral oil Laminitis protection Anti-endotoxic drugs Colic - soon Laminitis - 1-3 days

Injection Sites