If you own and work with horses for long enough, you will eventually come by an equine emergency. Although they have the potential to be very stressful situations, there are things you can do ahead of time to make things move smoothly when an emergency happens.
What’s Normal?
A big contributor in the successful outcome of an emergency is often dependent on catching the problem early. Discrete changes in a horse’s vitals can often be the first clue that there is a problem. So knowing what “normal” is, is the first step at catching and treating your horse.
Normal vital signs of an adult resting horse:
Heart Rate: 30-42 beats per minute. You can take your horses heart rate by listening with a stethoscope on the left side of the chest, just behind the elbow. Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply this number by 4.
Respiratory Rate: 12-24 breaths per minute. It is best to count breaths over a 15 second period of the horse standing still, and multiply by 4. Be sure that the horse is not sniffing things, as it will be difficult to count breaths that are interrupted by the horse sniffing. Always note the horse’s effort while breathing - is their chest moving dramatically while they inhale or exhale? Are their nostrils flaring? Is there an audible sound when the horse breaths?
Rectal Temperature: 99.5F-101.5F. When taking a horses rectal temperature, always have a person handling the horse’s head, and stand at the side of the horse while you take the temperature. It is best to use a fast reading, soft/flexible tipped thermometer. There are large animal thermometers on the market that are intended for cattle - they have a long, rigid metal probe - it is NOT recommended that these be used in horses.
First Aid Kit
Stethoscope - to listen to heart rate and gut sounds
Digital thermometer and vaseline for lubricant
Flashlight with extra batteries
Cotton rolls for leg wraps
Vetrap
Standing wraps (not polo wraps)
Duct tape
Sharp pocket knife
Bandage scissors
Non-latex or latex gloves
Assorted bandage dressings - variety of sizes and types
Emergency Contact Information - include the phone numbers of everyone you would include in the emergency support system of your horse. This includes but is not limited to: your veterinarian, the referral centers in your area, farrier, neighbors/friends you would contact if more people were needed to help with manual labor, and if you do not have your own truck/trailer - the number of an individual who could ship your horse if hospitalization was necessary.
NSAIDs (such as bute or banamine) from previous visits
Action Plan
In the face of the emergency, it is important to act quickly, efficiently, and calmly. Having a plan ahead of time, will help keep you calm and get the care your horse needs.
Upon recognizing an emergency:
Call us at (608) 291-0505. If you are calling after hours, you will be directed to the answering service. They will take down important information regarding your name and contact information, the location of your horse, and the nature of the emergency. The answering service will relay this information to the on-call doctor, and we will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
While you wait - There are things you can do to help make the emergencies go smoothly.
Take pictures - if you feel there will be something difficult to describe over the phone, or if it would be best understood with a picture or video (such as lacerations, eyes, lameness/gait abnormalities, etc) - take them now. When we call, we can give you a phone number to send them to, and we can begin to develop a plan for your horse while we are on our way.
Rinse wounds - if the horse has a laceration or wound, rinsing with cold hose water will: rinse the wound free of debris and bacteria, reduce bleeding with vasoconstriction, and reduce swelling and inflammation of the tissue. When rinsing - cold water from the hose is adequate. Do NOT use any soaps, creams or pressurized water (this pushes debris and bacteria into the wound, rather than washing it off)
Pressure bandage - Wounds that are bleeding severely can have pressure applied to them to help reduce bleeding. For wounds on the legs, the best way to do this is using leg cottons and vetrap to place a standard leg bandage. Do NOT apply a tourniquet.
Walk your colicky horse - If your horse is acting colicky and wants to roll, safely get him/her up, and keep him walking. Never walk your horse to the point of exhaustion, and never make them trot/canter. If they are content to stand or lay down quietly, then you can leave them to rest.
Create a workspace - Think ahead at what things we may need once we arrive. In general, a dry, flat, and well lit space is always preferred. In the winter, we may request warm water, or to be in an area of the barn that is warmest and free from wind.
Take a deep breath - in an emergency, what your horse needs most is for the people caring for him or her to think clearly and act effectively. But, in some situations, it can be hard not to let your nerves get the best of you. In situations where you can feel your anxiety rising, take a moment to breathe and ground yourself, even if it mean having someone else step into your place while you refocus.
STAY SAFE - in some emergency situations, it can be tempting to put yourself in a dangerous position. Remember, that if a human emergency were to take place while caring for an equine emergency, all efforts would be diverted away from the horse to ensure the well-being of the injured human. The safest thing for your horse is to keep yourself safe first and foremost.
When we arrive - be ready to assist in ways you are able and comfortable. Be open and honest about your comfort level and ability to help. We will walk you through the rest!