First Aid for Horses
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Anyone who owns a horse will want to ensure that they stay healthy and happy in their pasture and shelter.
If they get hurt, you will need to respond immediately. Because of this, it is recommended you keep a First Aid kit in a handy place in case your horse ever needs attention. This will allow you to provide assistance to your horse if he is hurt and you can’t get to the vet right away.
Most First Aid kits can be kept in a tackle box or small container. It is important to ensure whatever you use will have a tight seal.
If the First Aid kit becomes dirty or water spills into it, the contents will either cause more severe problems or will be unusable when your horse needs to be treated. Because of the specific contents of a First Aid Kit, you should also ensure it stays out of the reach of children.
The first thing to put in your first aid kit is a thermometer that is specifically used for horses. This is a rectal thermometer that is about eighteen inches long and has a string tied at the end. You should use this thermometer regularly to check your horses’ temperature which should be between 98 and 100 degrees. For foals, it will be slightly higher.
You should also have a stethoscope in your first aid kit to measure the heart rate of your horse. A stethoscope is a handy tool which helps you to check the respirations of your horse. The average heart rate should be about 40 beats per minute.
You will also need to obtain various types of wraps and bandages in case the horse has a cut or wound. Vetrap is a classic type of bandage which is available and is very useful as it wraps neatly around a limb.
You also need gauze squares, in case your horse is bleeding. These should be fairly large in size. Sterile cotton will also come in handy if you need to apply ointment to your horse. Disposable diapers or sanitary napkins are useful as they can help cover and protect your horse’s wounds. Make sure you have included bandage scissors or a knife to help cut the bandages and gauze etc.
You will also need to keep various ointments in your first aid kit which you can apply to your horse as needed. Vaseline is very handy if there is oozing on the wounds of your horse as it will help it to stop bleeding.
Antiseptic wound ointment or spray to help with wounds is also a good addition. Betadine scrub and liquid to clean out a wound should also be included, if preferred you can use Saline Solution or Isopropyl Alcohol for this. It is recommended to keep a variety of these in your first aid kit anyway.
There are other various First Aid items you can add. If the horse has had treatment before, you can keep the old ointments in here; they can then be kept in a clean environment rather than a dusty old cupboard in a tack room. If there is room consider adding a hoof knife and your hoof pick. It will then be handy if you need to treat your horse’s hooves quickly.
Previous Articles By This Author
- Buying Your First Horse
- Equipment for Horses
- Basics of Horse Care
- Grooming your Horse
- The History of Horses
