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First Aid Kit
This first aid kit will assist you in caring for your horse in an emergency until a veterinarian can arrive. It is a good idea to carry this kit with you when you are out on trail rides, horse camping, or are otherwise in a situation where veterinary attention is not readily available. Listed below are the contents of this kit along with the recommended usage for each item.
Thermometer |
Your horse's normal temperature should be between 99.0 and 101.5 degrees F. |
Stethoscope |
This is often the most effective tool to monitor heart rate. You can hear your horse's heartbeat most clearly just behind the left elbow. It is also useful for listening for gut sounds. |
Flashlight |
A small, waterproof flashlight is essential at night. |
Electrolytes |
When your horse is dehydrated, it is important to encourage drinking. Sometimes warming water and adding 1 teaspoon of electrolytes per gallon of water can increase water consumption. |
Neosporin |
This should be applied twice daily to minor abrasions and partial thickness wounds in these superficial wounds the skin edges cannot be moved separately). |
Dilute iodine solution |
A bottle of dilute iodine solution can be used to flush out any full thickness wounds. Any wound that will be seen by a veterinarian within 4 hours of injury (8 hours for head injuries) should not have any other medications applied, but should simply be flushed and covered to prevent drying. |
Nolvasan |
This is an antiseptic ointment to be applied to full thickness wounds that will not be seen by a veterinarian within the first 4 to 8 hours. |
Hydrogen peroxide |
This should only be used to flush deep puncture wounds. It should not be placed into any other type of wound. |
Knife |
This can have a wide variety of uses such a making splints, cutting bandaging materials, cutting your horse free from a tangled rope. Of course extreme care should always be used when using a knife around your horse. |
Wire cutters |
Your horse could get caught in an old wire fence or other stray wire and might need to be cut loose. |
Twitch |
This tool can help calm and restrain your horse during painful procedures. |
Hoof pick |
This is the best tool for cleaning out the bottom of the foot to search for punctures, bruising, or other foot problems. |
Fly lotion |
This can be used to keep flies and other insects from irritating and contaminating open wounds that cannot be bandaged. Apply the lotion directly around but not inside the wound. |
Bandaging Materials |
Telfas
Practical Cotton
Flexus
Elasticon
Duct Tape |
Bandaging materials can be used to stop bleeding, protect wounds from contamination and further trauma, support tendon or ligament sprains, or to splint fractures or dislocations.
For bleeding wounds, pack the wound with cotton and tightly wrap with Flexus and at the same time apply as much direct pressure with your hands as possible until the bleeding is under control. The wound can be rebandaged later.
For other wounds or for rebandaging, first remove any dirt, hair or other contamination. Next, flush the wound with a large volume of dilute iodine solution. If indicated, apply a liberal amount of Nolvasan (see above). Cover the wound with a Telfa or other non-stick gauze. Wrap several layers of practical cotton around the limb. Wrap with Flexus or other elastic bandage using mild tension and hold in place with Elasticon using mild tension.
For tendon or ligament sprains, wrap the limb with as much practical cotton as possible and tighten using moderate tension with Flexus and hold in place with Elasticon using mild tension.
For fractures or dislocations, first wrap the unstable area with as much practical cotton as possible. Place a smooth, sturdy splint on the inside and outside of the limb and wrap tightly with Flexus and then as much Elasticon and duct tape as possible. This should be left in place only long enough to transport your horse to a veterinarian.
The following underlined items are normally to be used only by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. In an extreme emergency situation where veterinary attention is not readily available, there are specific uses for each of these items.
Hemostats |
These should only be used in a dire emergency when profuse bleeding is from an isolated vessel and the hemorrhage cannot be controlled by direct pressure. These should be clamped directly across the bleeding vessel and should be left in place and bandaged over until a veterinarian can remove them. |
Phenylbutazone |
This paste should only be used if your horse is so painful that walking out of a situation to receive veterinary attention is not possible without some sort of pain relief. You can give an absolute maximum of 4 grams (2 grams for a pony) daily. |
Acepromazine |
This should only be used if your horse is so unruly or anxious that walking out of a situation to receive veterinary attention is not possible without some tranquilization. Acepromazine can cause collapse and even death under certain circumstances, so use this only if absolutely necessary. Give 3 to 4 ml (1 to 2 ml for a pony) in the muscles of the neck and wait 20 minutes for full effect. Sedation lasts for 2 to 3 hours. |
Epinephrine | This should only be used when your horse has been stung by a bee or wasp and has an anaphylactic reaction. If this occurs your horse will collapse within minutes to hours of being stung. At this time you can inject 10 to12 ml (5 to 6ml for a pony) of epinephrine in the muscles of the neck or rump. |
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