Horsey Boo Boos...

From Jim: If you've spent any time around horses, you know they can cut themselves on a marble, pull up sore from yawn, and get lumps and bruises in a rubber stall. They're big, powerful, robust animals, but can be very fragile. Some of them seem really accident prone. Your equine vet is always your first line of defense when something looks bad to you. Expensive, yep! Sometimes a little first-aid and home care can work out OK, but the animal's welfare and health is the primary issue. You need to have a few items on hand to make your efforts easier and more effective. We offer suggestions, not endorsements. Vet wrap-the stuff that sticks to itself, feminine napkins-Kotex, baby diapers, topical wound treatment-we like Vetricin or Accelerator, benedine, plain old bleach, epsom salts, ichthamol, duct tape, and assorted guasses, wraps, and cotton padding make up a short list. Tools include a good hoof pick-a hoof tester if you're up to it, a stethoscope, thermometer-rectal-yeh, I know, with a lanyard, clippers, and a good bright flashlight. You might add other tools as you skills and confidence grow. We give a lot of injections at Home At Last. We do this with the advise of our vet and under his informed supervision. If your vet is willing to take the time to teach the proper and safe techniques, being able to give a shot to a horse is a great skill to have. The wait for a ranch call can be more comfortable if your critter has some banimine on board. Follow ups on antibiotics or steroids and so on will be a lot easier and less expensive. The treatment you provide should never become do-it-yourself vet care. Experience will help you to identify severe emergencies from the regular stuff that horses do to themselves or have happen to them. Colic, surging blood loss, eye injuries, nasty nasal discharge, high fevers, choke, gaping wounds, respiratory distress, fractures, and anything you're really unsure about always need the vet's attention. One last word on this, if you have a really good vet, he or she will want to see your animal. Phone conversations are not enough to accurately prescribe a course of treatment. As Clint Eastwood said so eloquently, "A man's got to know his limitations". Oh, and go love on your horse, it's good for both of you!