Treating Horse Wounds

1. Treating Horse Wounds By Me!!

2. How They Happen • Horse wounds often happen when • Riding • With fences or cross country • Traveling • In a trailer • With other horses, if fighting

3. What You Should Do • First, let’s call our horse Billy. Billy will get wounded from time to time, but can you treat that wound yourself? Some you can, some you can’t. The minor wounds you should be able to do with a first aid kit, but the bigger ones you should take to the vet. • If you see anything wrong, like blood, stay calm. If Billy is calm, eating, drinking, he should be fine. If he isn’t, call a vet. While the vet, George, perhaps, is coming, keep Billy quiet, and try to stop him from hurting himself or yourself.

4. Scrapes • You shouldn’t be worried if you see a scrape. It shouldn’t get infected since it’s just a skin wound. You can deal with it two ways: You can clean it and rub ointment on it; clean it then let it heal by itself. If it is in the Girth, Saddle, or Harnessarea or is swelling and red, it is best to let it heal a bit before you use the horse.

5. Minor Cuts • Minor cuts are different. They can cut through the top skin or they can go deeper. Both will stop bleeding quickly. Cleaning the cut and putting ointment on it will help, but it might need stitches. Call George if Billy needs stitching, and if Billy won’t let you touch the area, wait for George.

6. Deeper cuts • If you have held a cloth to Billy’s deep cut, and it won’t stop bleeding, if the skin is pulled back, or if it is on a tender spot like the eyelid, call George to give you advice. But first clean it, if Billy will let you, if not, call George to come over. Antibiotics and stitching may be needed. If you see a growth, proud flesh, call George. With the right dealings, it can be shrunk if already started, or prevented.

7. Punctures • They can come anywhere, and escape your view. Don’t ignore it because of its size, it can get infected and can be really deep. Clean the wound out with saline solution and insert a antibacterial ointment. If that does not work, get George. Even though you might not think so, punctures are serious, exceptionally in the chest or the stomach, so are ones that are continuously bleeding. If they also are punctured by a nail or wire… or something like that, it is best to leave it to George. The worst thing you can do is leave it to heal on it’s own, proper treatment is needed for it to be able to heal on the inside before healing on the outside.

8. Preventing • You should check the fences, trailers, etc. for things that could cause Billy to get hurt. Fix it immediately. • If you see Billy fighting with another horse, separate them.

9. When to Get your Vet • Get your vet when Billy has a wound that needs antibiotics or a shot, stitching, or careful observation. Call George also when Billy won’t let you touch his injury. Also call George if you don’t know what to do and you need help.

10. Doctor in the House • You can treat some yourself: • If you have a kit, you should be able to treat all scrapes. • Some minor cuts you can do too, but leave the major ones. • Bruising you will be able to do. Most of it will heal on its own, but holding a cold compressor on it will help.

11. Cleansing Products • Most common • Iodine-based • Chlorhexidine-based • Used with clean tap water, clean cotton or gauze sponges • Saline Solution is also popular • DO NOT USE: • Witch hazel • Full strength alcohol • Or hydrogen peroxide