Basic First Aid for Horses

 Compliments of:
Golden Animal Hospital, Inc.
17575 South Golden Road
Golden, CO 80401

 Motto: "Foremost, do no harm."

EYE INJURY

Most acute eye problems are either corneal bruises or corneal ulcers. Typical signs include squinting, conjunctival swelling, or photophobia (increased discomfort in bright light). Occasionally, corneal wounds can be seen by viewing the eye at an oblique angle. Many times they are not apparent until special stains are applied to the eye.

Corneal ulcers may be made worse by the application of cortisone-like drugs. Until an accurate diagnosis can be obtained, a ophthalmic antibiotic ointment may be applied (i.e., Bemacol, Chloramphenicol, Vetropolycin). Banamine is the preferred anti-inflammatory medication.

ACUTE LAMENESS

• Nail Punctures. Nail punctures are the most common cause of non-weight bearing lameness. The nail may or may not be present upon inspection. Remember or diagram the site of the nail puncture. If the nail puncture is in the middle third of the frog, there is a possibility that the navicular bursa has been penetrated, which is frequently a disaster. After removal of the nail, the hole should be enlarged, to assure drainage, and then packed with cotton soaked with 7% iodine (strong iodine, tincture of iodine). The horse must be kept out of mud, urine, feces, etc. A rubber boot may be used if the patient is confined.

• Musculoskeletal Injury: If a bone, ligament or tendon injury is suspected, do not force the horse to move. A swelling of acute onset should be iced or cold hosed.

• Diagnosis of Lameness: A lame horse will carry his weight (head, neck, shoulders, or hips) higher over the lame limb, and drop it onto the sound (or less lame) limb. The diagonal limb may seem affected. If severe enough, a right hind lameness seems to cause the horse to avoid full weight bearing on the left fore limb. Support and immobilization is essential in limiting further damage, particularly in the case of fracture, where associated soft tissue injury may make repair impossible. Robert Jones type bandage: place a pillow around the limb, tightly wrap with gauze, Ace bandage, tape, including sections of a broom handle for support.

• Myositis (Tying Up): Muscle "cramps" are due to lactic acid accumulations secondary to anaerobic glycolsis. Cramped muscles further restrict blood flow, thus reducing oxygen delivery. If this problem is allowed to continue, the eventual outcome is muscle cell damage, myoglobin release, and if severe enough, renal failure due to myoglobin obstruction of renal tubules.

  This problem may develop with very short or extended periods of exercise, and will frequently resemble colic, though usually these horses will still have some appetite. Severely affected horses should not be forced to move; mildly affected horses may be walked slowly. Mild tranquilization may be helpful.

  *Sunday-Monday disease: A fit horse worked following a day off on full feed, tying up in 10 minutes, this is due to an overstorage of glycogen.