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Equine First-Aid Kit
A well-stocked equine (and human) first-aid kit should be kept in a place where it is
easily accessed. Any used or out-of-date items should be replaced as soon as
possible. However, other than for minor injuries, a veterinarian should be consulted
before treating a sick or injured animal.
The basic items any equine first-aid kit should include are:
Tools & Diagnostic Equipment:
 Horse safe rectal thermometer.
 Petroleum jelly (to use as lubrication for thermometer)
 Stethoscope (for listening to heartbeat, respiration and, in the case of suspected colic, gut sounds)
Pulse and respiration can be determined without a stethoscope. Gut sounds can be heard by
putting one's ear to the horse's side, but doing so increases the risk of being kicked by the horse.
 Penlight.
 Pair of bandage scissors (Sharp, clean scissors and reserved for first aid kit only).
 Hoof Pick.
 Humane Twitch.
 Poultice boot, for hoof injuries. (A hoof boot can be used for this purpose, though a medical boot is
usually easier to put on and take off).
 Pair needle nose pliers with wire cutters (for freeing a tangled horse) or equivalent such as a
fencing tool or lineman's pliers; though these objects are often kept in a well-organized barn, an
extra set in a first-aid kit is helpful for major emergencies.
 Pair Latex Exam Gloves.
 Nylon rope (50 feet).
Medicines:
 Sterile saline solution, which is used to clean wounds. Contact lens solution may be used for this
purpose.
 Insect sting pads.
 Bottle Clear Eyes (3.5 oz.).
 Bottle Betadine (16 oz.).
 Bottle Providine solution.
 Bottle of Iodine.
 Container Providine scrub (Medical grade antibacterial soap).
 Bottle of eye wash.
 Bottle of anti-inflammatory medications.
 Bottle hydrogen peroxide.
 Petroleum jelly.
 Wound ointment for minor scrapes.
 Epsom Salts for drawing out infection & treating pain.
 Phenylbutazone ("Bute") paste for pain relief.
 Flunixin Meglumine ("Banamine", "Finadyne") granules or paste for colic treatment
 Acepromazine ("Ace") or similar tranquilizer pill, paste, or pre-filled injector
 Epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injectors for emergency treatment of a horse that goes into
anaphylactic shock when stung by a bee, wasp or other insect.
 Poultice dressing.
Cleaning Supplies:
 Clean bucket, reserved for first-aid kit only, for washing out wounds
 Clean sponge, reserved for first-aid kit only
 Gauze (for cleaning wounds)
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 Cotton balls or sheet cotton for absorbing liquids, particularly good for
dipping into liquid products and then squeezing or dabbing the liquid
onto a wound. (Cotton used to clean a wound may leave fibers in the
injury; gauze is a better product if the wound must be touched.)
 Hypodermic syringe (without needle), for cleaning wounds. (Using the
syringe to wash out a wound is preferable to cleaning it with cotton or
gauze.) An old syringe, if cleaned first, works fine for this.
 Clean towels and rags
 Disposable rags or paper towels
Bandages and other forms of protection:
 Absorbent padding, such as roll cotton or a set of cotton leg wraps (keep a clean set sealed in a
plastic bag)
 Gauze to be used as wound dressing underneath bandages.
 Sterile wound dressing, such as Telfa pads (4” x 4”)
 Leg Bandages - stable bandages or rolls of self-adhering vet wrap
Adhesive tape for keeping bandages in place:
 Rolls duct tape (10 yd ea.).
 Rolls first aid adhesive tape.
 Rolls 3-inch porous tape.
 Rolls 4-inch elastic gauze.
 Large box cotton rolls.
 Large box gauze sponges
 Disposable diapers (nappies) or sanitary napkins may also be cut and used as a poultice as they
draw moisture out of wounds. Kaolin clay may also be used as a poultice.
 Veterinary medications - in most locations, these are prescription medications and can only be
obtained through a licensed Veterinarian. They should generally not be administered without prior
consultation with a veterinarian, either over the telephone or by specific advance instruction.
 Veterinarian's and Farrier's telephone and emergency numbers.
 A paper and pencil, for recording symptoms, pulse, respiration and veterinary instructions.
 A Veterinary Emergency Handbook, giving basic instructions, in the event that a veterinarian
cannot be reached immediately.
 Suitable box/container for all of the above, to keep materials and equipment clean and tidy.
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