Equine Health & First Aid
Use of First Aid
Why First Aid
• Equine are accident prone:
– Kicks & Bites, Falls & Injuries
– Equine naturally curious – pawing
objects, sticking heads through fencesstall holes
Why First Aid
• Develop unsoundness because of
stress/strain to tendons, ligaments,
muscles, bones
– Overworking
– Improper exercise (too little followed by too
much)
Why First Aid
• Open Wounds
– To control excessive bleeding (Some
controlled bleeding good-helps flush wound of
contaminated material – helps clean wound)
– Wound heals quickly
Why First Aid
• Reduce Pain
• Calm animal waiting for vet
• Prevent further injury
Common First Aid Treatments
1. Wounds
A. Abrasions (Skin scrapes) – superficial
wounds from falls or tack
Treat by gentle / thorough washing with
lukewarm water or saline solution
Apply light bandage ??
Common First Aid Treatments
B. Open (Serious) Wounds
Use first aid until vet arrives
1. Move to quiet area
2. Hose area to remove dirt / contaminants
(Water pressure may force dirt deeper
into the wound
3. Clean area with saline (1 teaspoon salt
in 1 pint of boiled water - .84% salt solution)
Diluted solution of mild skin antiseptic in warm
water (1% iodine-based wash – Povidine
Iodine
Common First Aid Treatments
B. Open (Serious) Wounds
4. Remove objects from puncture wounds.
Apply poultice to draw out contaminants
5. Apply firm, direct pressure with sterile pad to
control arterial bleeding.
Reconstituted cellulose & absorbable
gelatin sponges help clot blood
6. Silver nitrate applied to help stop bleeding
Common First Aid Treatments
2. Lameness
A. Check hoof for foreign objects lodged in sole
or frog, observe for lameness, rest
equine
B. First Aid for Closed Wounds, Injuries,
Swelling
1. Apply cold press, reduces pain and
swelling
2. Cold press no more than 48 hours
3. Apply cold treatment for 20 to 30 minutes,
wait 1 hour, additional 30 minute treatment
Common First Aid Treatments
3. Bruises & Fractures
a. call vet
b. Immobilize suspected fracture with
pillow wrapped tightly with bandages
Common First Aid Treatments
4. Strains / Sprains
a. Treat tendons/ligaments with alcohol
rub or liniment
b. Wrap legs in rest bandages
Types of Bandages
1. Protect wounds from dirt, decrease
movement of area, allow faster healing,
cover medication, minimize swelling,
provide support
a. Padding material and adhesive, elastic or
non-elastic wrap
b. Vetrap – self adhering, contouring qualities.
a. Good for difficult areas
Types of Bandages
2. Stable Bandage – extends below knee or hock
to fetlock to support lower leg, support leg
opposite injured leg
a. Wrap padding snug around leg below
the
joint to below the fetlock. Cover
with
wrapping flannel or knit near the
middle of
cannon bone.
b. Tuck end of wrap under edge of padding,
wrap once around leg to just below fetlock joint
c. Wrap bandage below back of joint but rise
higher in front, causing upside down V on the
front of the joint.
Types of Bandages
3. Cold Water Bandages – apply cold
pressure to cool a warm strained leg.
Apply cold water to leg or soaking padding
in ice water and apply directly to leg.
a. Wrap padding snugly with knit leg wrap
b. Run cold water over bandage. Don’t let
dry out.
Types of Bandages
4. Change Bandage When:
1. no longer functional
2. leg is swollen above or below bandage
3. signs of pain
4. slips out of position
5. becomes dirty
Equine Health & First Aid
Vital Life Signs
Know Your Equine
1.
2.
3.
4.
Good Body Condition – Move Freely
Normal Vitals Vary
Determine normal vitals at rest
Recognize changes:
1. Loss of Appetite
2. Nature of manure
3. Dull eyes and coat, runny nose
Respiration Rate
1. At rest – 8-16 breaths per minute
a. Distress & activity increase rates
b. Serious Problem – respiration exceeds heart
rate.
c. Normally heart beats four times per breath
Determine Respiration Rate
A. Count times flanks move in and out per
minute
B. Count times nostrils flare and contract
per minute
C. Feel the breaths by holding hand in front
of nostrils
Temperature
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Normal – 99.5 to 101.5 F
102 F – mild fever
104 F – moderate fever
106 F – high fever
Low chance of recovery with high
temperature
• Rest equine at 102 F and call vet at 103 F
Temperature
• Use veterinarian
thermometer
– Take rectally
– Allow three minutes for
accurate reading
– Secure thermometer
with string
– Insert thermometer full
length to prevent
breaking
Temperature
• Procedure
– Shake mercury down to 95 to 97 F
– Dip thermometer bulb into lubricant
– Insert to full length
– Fasten thermometer to tail with clip-on string
– Remove after three minutes
– Read and wash with soap and cool water
– Dip into disinfectant and rinse again
Heart Rate
• Normal Rates:
– Adults – 28-40 beats/minute
– Newborns – 80-120 beats/minute
– Older Foals – 60-80 beats/minute
– Yearlings – 40-60 beats/minute
Heart Rate
• Determine normal rate at rest
– Check several times to determine comfortable
range for normal rate
– Sick equine may have heart rate from 80-120
beats/minute for long periods
Heart Rate
• Determine heart rate by counting
pulse rate for 30 seconds and
multiply by 2
– Points to locate artery
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Lower jaw
Cheek 4” below the eye
Under tail close to body
Inside the foreleg
Inside left elbow
Behind the knee and inside or outside the
pastern
– Press finger against artery
– Use stethoscope just behind equine’s left
elbow