Signs your Horse may Need Help
- Not drinking water.
- Signs of distress, anxiety or discomfort.
- Lethargy, depression or a horse that's "off-feed."
- Absence of gut sounds.
- Signs of oncoming lameness: head-bobbing, reluctance to move, odd stance, pain, unwillingness to rise.
- Bleeding, swelling, evidence of pain.
- Seizures, paralysis, or "tying up" (form of muscle cramps that ranges in severity from mild stiffness to life-threatening illness).
The horse's natural behavior makes it accident-prone, our advise, Be Prepared!
Tips for being prepared for an Equine Emergency
No matter what the emergency is; being prepared is important.
Get Help and Be Careful! Even the most genital horse can be dangerous when frightened or injured. Remember, Flight is a horses natural defense.
- Keep our number by each phone, including after-hours numbers.
- Talk with us about a backup veterinarian's number.
- Know in advance the most direct route to our clinic, and have a trailer available.
- Post the names and phone numbers of friends and neighbors who can assist you.
- Prepare a first-aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, accessible place. Family members and other barn-users should know how to use the kit and where it is located.
- Keep a kit handy, consider having three emergency kits: One for the barn, one for the trailer, and a small pack for the trail.
- A large fishing tackle box with a tight lid works well for a first-aid kit.
- Tape a list of the box's contents, along with expiration dates, to the inside lid. Drugs and ointments have expiration dates and will need to be replaced.
- Make a diagram of the items' locations within the box. When you are trying to calm your horse and hold pressure on a bad cut, your helper will be able to locate the needed materials.
- Remember to add specialty items that fit your horse's medical needs.
- Store your first-aid kit in moderate temperatures and away from direct sun. Drugs may become ineffective if stored in very hot or cold temperatures.
- Keep a horse first-aid book handy!
Ask us for recommended medications for your first-aid kit.
A Rule of Thumb: Keep only items you're comfortable using in your first-aid kit.
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