EQUINE

EMERGENCY

KIT

EQUINE EMERGENCY KIT

Normal Vital Signs:

Temperature: 99 - 101.5°F 37.0 - 38.5°F Pulse: 24 to 38 beats per minute Respiration: 8 to 16 per minute

*Red Alert* Temperature about 40.0°C Heart rate 60 beats per minute or more Respiration greater than 20 per minute

Contents:

Stethoscope 1 Digital Thermometer 1 Lubricant 1 tube Hibitane Scrub 250ml Betadine Solution 250ml Betadine Proviodine Ointment 150g Telfa Pads 7.5cmX10cm 4 Leg Wrap 1 Reusable Leg Bandage 1 Brown Gauze 1 roll Gauze Sponges 7.5cmX7.5cm 30 Adhesive Tape 1 roll Epsom Salts 450g Duct Tape 1 roll Dosing Syringe 60cc Saline 500ml Latex Gloves 12 Scissors 1 Magic Cloth 2 Equine Health Record 1

2 INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Stethoscope: Used to assess heart rate. Ensure that the flat end (diaphragm) of the stethoscope is correctly positioned by tapping the diaphragm with your finger while listening in ear pieces. If you hear no sound, rotate the head of the stethoscope 180 degrees until it clicks into place, and tap it again while listening. Listen to the heart by holding the flat end of the stethoscope (diaphragm) on the left side of the chest, just underneath the left elbow. The heart beat has 2 sounds (lub-dub). Each “lub-dub” sound is one beat. Count heart beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to calculate the rate per minute.

Digital Thermometer: Used to measure rectal temperature. Lubricate if desired before insertion to the rectum, and leave in the rectum until it beeps.

Lubricant: For packing and protecting a contaminated wound while clipping the hair from the wound edges and cleaning the surrounding skin. It will be removed by flushing when the wound is cleaned (with VS scrub and/or water). Also used for lubricating thermometer.

Hibitane Scrub: Used for cleaning contaminated wounds, surrounding skin and for cleansing superficial skin infections. Also useful for hand washing before and after treating wounds. Dilute 1:10 with clean warm water before gently scrubbing wounds.

Betadine Solution: Disinfectant solution for superficial skin infections. Also to soak gauze for packing injured hooves. Dilute solutions are used for irrigating infected wounds which are under veterinary care (do not use full strength in open wounds).

Betadine Proviodine Ointment: For use as a wound dressing to help control infection and support wound healing.

Telfa Pads (Non-adherent bandage): For protection of cleaned leg wound under a support bandage.

Leg Wrap: For padding under a support bandage applied to the leg. In the case of profuse bleeding or severe tissue injury, the whole roll should be used as a compress. Pillow quilts or quilted leg wraps may be substituted.

3 Reusable Leg Bandage: Support bandage to be used only over ample bandage padding. INSTRUCIONS FOR USE CONTINUED:

Brown Gauze: To apply over bandage padding.

Gauze Sponges: For cleaning in and around contaminated wounds and as packing for injured hooves.

Adhesive Tape: For securing bandages.

Epsom Salts: For soaking unruptured sole abscesses. Dissolve a generous handful for every 1 to 2 gallons of very warm water.

Duct Tape: For bandaging injured hooves under instruction from a veterinarian. The bandage should be changed every 12 to 24 hours and the horse must be held in a clean, dry environment.

Dosing Syringe: For administering small volumes of medication orally.

Saline: For flushing wounds.

Latex Gloves: For treating wounds when hand washing is not possible.

Magic Cloth: For general cleaning and hand washing.

TO HAVE ON HAND

Additional Quilted Leg Wraps and Pillow Quilts: For bandaging the legs of a confined horse.

Paper Towels: For general cleaning and drying.

Antibiotic Eye Ointment: Available over the counter in pharmacies and veterinary hospitals.

Small flashlight or penlight: For examining the eye and general use.

4 EMERGENCY CARE FOR THE HORSE

1) Lacerations: Ensure Tetanus vaccination status is current. (Yearly vaccination, with booster required for deep wounds if more than 6 months since last vaccine.) Before calling your veterinarian, examine the injury to determine: i) Blood loss - attempt to estimate the quantity of blood as well as the nature of the bleeding if it has not stopped (ie: spurting bright red blood versus oozing) ii) The dimensions of the wound (and also the depth, if possible) iii) The location of the wound

Treatment: i) Stop the bleeding. Minor bleeding is beneficial for cleansing the wound, but profuse bleeding must be controlled by direct pressure. Bleeding lower leg wounds are bandaged with the leg wrap and brown gauze. Use firm even pressure and apply the leg wrap from the coronet to just below the knee or hock. Cover with a reusable leg bandage. Wounds of this severity should be treated by or consultation with your veterinarian. ii) Cleaning. Minor wounds are cleansed by first packing the laceration with sterile lubricant. Surrounding hair is then carefully trimmed or clipped away and the skin around the wound is gently cleaned with the hibitane scrub and rinsed thoroughly (the lubricant helps to keep hair and other contaminants from sticking to the exposed tissue). The wound is then gently cleaned with a small amount of hibitane scrub and gauze sponges. Rinse the wound very thoroughly with running water, if possible. If there is much bruising associated with the wound or if the wound is more extensive, then best treatment is hydrotherapy (cold hosing) 2 or 3 times daily for 5 to 10 minutes. iii) Dressing. Use a water based cream such as betadine proviodine ointment. iv) Bandaging. Lower leg wounds can be protected with a support bandage. After applying a suitable wound dressing, a non-adherent pad is applied and held in place with leg wrap. Cover this with one roll of brown gauze and apply the reusable leg bandage. DO NOT use any roll bandage material on a horse’s leg without padding underneath. It can slip and tighten, with extremely serious consequences.

5 RED ALERT:

i) Wounds spurting blood ii) Wounds near tendons, joints, eyes and deep wounds of the chest or abdomen. iii) Very pale gums and persistent pulse over 60 beats per minute

2) Contusions (bruises) Contusions are commonly the result of direct blows or kicks. The area is typically warm, swollen and painful. Treat by hydrotherapy (cold hosing) 2 or 3 times daily. A large, persistent soft swelling at the site may indicate a hematoma requiring veterinary treatment.

3) Hoof Injuries. Ensure Tetanus vaccination is current. If more than 6 months since last tetanus vaccination, it should be boosted. Deep punctures or tears should be treated by a veterinarian. If in doubt, always call for advice.

i) Cleaning. Clean the hoof well with running water and Hibitane Scrub. ii) Dressing. Dry the foot thoroughly and pack and open cavity with Betadine soaked sponges. iii) Bandaging. Apply a duct tape bandage over the whole hoof and keep the horse in a clean, dry environment.

4) Colic. Colics can rapidly worsen and it is important that you can get help quickly if you need it.

i) Call your veterinarian. If possible, have the following information when you call. a) Quantity and consistency of manure passed, if any b) Degree of pain the horse is experiencing c) Heart rate (taken either by stethoscope of by pulse) d) Color of gums

ii) Walking. Walk the horse to stimulate it to pass manure. If the horse is trying to roll, keep it up and moving. If it will lie quietly, it may rest between periods of walking. Walk it 20 to 30 minutes each hour, unless the horse tries to roll when it stops.

6 iii) Feeding. Offer very small amounts of laxative foods such as fresh grass or a bran mash, with free access to water. iv) Do not give vegetable oils or attempt to give mineral oils by mouth.

RED ALERT:

i) Persistent pulse of more than 60 beats per minute ii) Severe unrelenting pain iii) Fluid or feed material coming from the nostrils

5) Sprains or Strains. These types of injuries involving joints or tendons usually benefit from early veterinary intervention, and a consultation with your veterinarian is advised.

6) Eye injuries or infections. Uveitis (inflammation of the eye) can cause persistent and recurring eye problems in the horse. Examine the horses eye in a dark area with a penlight or other small directional light. Symptoms of uveitis include:

i) Constricted pupil (compare pupil size with unaffected eye) ii) Cloudiness in the cornea (the clear membrane at front of the eye) iii) Sensitivity to light

If some or all of these symptoms are evident, you should consult with your veterinarian. Antibiotic eye ointment can be used safely in most eye conditions.

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