Have you ever walked out to see your horse and find her wounded and bleeding? Did you panic a bit? It’s very important for every horse owner to know how to triage a significant wound or injury until the vet can arrive.
During winter, your horse has probably been on limited turnout. Pastures tend to be muddy and slick, injuries and wounds can sometimes occur. If your horse has a serious wound or injury, the steps you take before you call the vet can have a major effect on his prognosis and outcome.
ASSESS THE INJURY:
When you find that your horse is injured, carefully assess the injury. Gather information before you take action. See whether your horse can stand comfortably, whether there is active bleeding, and whether there are any broken bones. This information can help you better decide what your next steps should be. Also look for signs that your horse is going into shock, such as pale gums, poor coordination, and
unresponsiveness.
DON'T MOVE YOUR HORSE:
In many cases, it’s best to not move your horse until the full extent of her injury is known. This is particularly true of wounds as moving the horse may start or increase the bleeding. If your horse is in a safe location, try to keep her calm and in
place until the vet can arrive and/or help assess the situation.
STOP ANY BLEEDING:
If your horse has a significant wound which is actively bleeding, then your first priority should be to stop the bleeding. If your horse allows, then apply steady, firm pressure to the wound using a clean towel. You can also wrap an
ice pack in a towel, or cold hose the areas around more minor wounds. The cold helps to restrict blood flow to the area, slowing and eventually stopping the bleeding.
If your horse is profusely bleeding from a leg, then you may need to apply a tourniquet. You should tie the tourniquet around your horse’s leg, above where the bleeding is occurring, in order to restrict blood flow and slow your horse’s blood
loss. Be VERY careful with the use of a tourniquet and use ONLY as a last resort.
LEAVE FOREIGN OBJECTS IN PLACE:
In some cases, your horse may have a foreign object in a wound. Items such as a piece of wood, wire or fencing may be embedded in the wound.
It's often tempting to remove the object right away. Removing the object, may reduce pressure in the wound and may cause increased or even worse bleeding. Leave any foreign objects in your horse until the vet can arrive to safely remove them.
CALL THE VET:
Once you have your horse somewhat stable, call
the vet and describe the situation in detail. Be sure to identify any signs of shock and give your vet an estimate of the amount of blood loss. If you can see any signs of broken bones or other serious injuries, describe them to your vet. Your vet may be able to give you additional steps and further actions to take until they arrive.
Most important of all, do your best to stay calm and DON'T PANIC
when a serious injury occurs! Your horse depends on your quick, clear minded actions. Prepare for an emergency by keeping a first-aid kit in your barn. Your first aid kit should contain wound care items and emergency supplies like instant ice packs and bandaging materials.
While we hope that you never need this advice, being prepared for a serious
situation means that you’re better able to deal with one should it ever occur.
