Equine Emergency MedicineEquine Emergency Medicine

Dr. John HentonDr. John Henton

Equine First Aid KitAs Suggested

By Dr. John Henton

Equine First Aid KitAs Suggested

By Dr. John Henton

Bandage MaterialBandage Material• Telfa Pads (non-stick bandages like band-aids)

• 4x4 Gauze Pads

• Elasticon Bandage 3 inch (adhesive stretch bandage: expensive)

– Best available for may wounds and good for pressure over vessels

• Ace Bandage

• Clean leg wraps (Derby or Polo Wraps)

• Vet Wrap (only over adequate padding!!! NEVER DIRECTLY OVER LEG

• Telfa Pads (non-stick bandages like band-aids)

• 4x4 Gauze Pads

• Elasticon Bandage 3 inch (adhesive stretch bandage: expensive)

– Best available for may wounds and good for pressure over vessels

• Ace Bandage

• Clean leg wraps (Derby or Polo Wraps)

• Vet Wrap (only over adequate padding!!! NEVER DIRECTLY OVER LEG

• White tape (Many uses) 2-3" CAN MAKE 1-2" out of wider tape

• Sheet Cottons

• Clean leg quilts (Padding for wrapping legs over lacerations)

• Army Combine (Large clean bulky bandage)

• Roll gauze or Kling Wrap, (Hold bandages in place)

• Duct Tape (Bandage Foot, water proof leg bandages)

• White tape (Many uses) 2-3" CAN MAKE 1-2" out of wider tape

• Sheet Cottons

• Clean leg quilts (Padding for wrapping legs over lacerations)

• Army Combine (Large clean bulky bandage)

• Roll gauze or Kling Wrap, (Hold bandages in place)

• Duct Tape (Bandage Foot, water proof leg bandages)

First Aid KitFirst Aid Kit

MedicationsMedications• Disinfectant Soap (Chlorohexadine, Povidone

Iodine, etc.)• Water Soluble antibiotic ointment Silver

sulfadiazine• Antibiotic powder• Panalog Ointment (retards proud flesh)• KY Jelly (protects wound while shaving edges)• Eye Wash• Flouro-strips (used to determine if eye has corneal

ulcer)

• Disinfectant Soap (Chlorohexadine, Povidone Iodine, etc.)

• Water Soluble antibiotic ointment Silver sulfadiazine

• Antibiotic powder• Panalog Ointment (retards proud flesh)• KY Jelly (protects wound while shaving edges)• Eye Wash• Flouro-strips (used to determine if eye has corneal

ulcer)

• Non Steroid containing eye ointment

• Rompun* Pain relief for colic and tranquilizer for other times

• Banamine* Good injectable non-steroidal inflammatory agent, colic ??

• Bute Paste

• Epsom Salts

• Safety razor & or clippers

* only with veterinarians approval

• Non Steroid containing eye ointment

• Rompun* Pain relief for colic and tranquilizer for other times

• Banamine* Good injectable non-steroidal inflammatory agent, colic ??

• Bute Paste

• Epsom Salts

• Safety razor & or clippers

* only with veterinarians approval

MedicationsMedications

EquipmentEquipment• Digital thermometer (mercury type will break in

hot weather)

• Scissors

• Humane Twitch

• Splint for leg (Plastic PVC pipe cut in ½)14-16" long & 28" long)

• Medi boot for hoof (especially good for horses that pulled shoes)

• Digital thermometer (mercury type will break in hot weather)

• Scissors

• Humane Twitch

• Splint for leg (Plastic PVC pipe cut in ½)14-16" long & 28" long)

• Medi boot for hoof (especially good for horses that pulled shoes)

What is aTrue Emergency?

What is aTrue Emergency?

Definition:

Veterinary Medical Emergency

A medical condition which warrants

medical treatment immediately

Definition:

Veterinary Medical Emergency

A medical condition which warrants

medical treatment immediately

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

True EmergenciesTrue Emergencies• Dystocia

• Laceration with blood loss

• Colic

• Laminitis

• Choke

• Long bone fractures

• Dystocia

• Laceration with blood loss

• Colic

• Laminitis

• Choke

• Long bone fractures

DystociaDystocia

DystociaDystocia

• Determine presentation

• Correct presentation

• Immediate help is essential

• If can not correct position - walk to delay labor

• Determine presentation

• Correct presentation

• Immediate help is essential

• If can not correct position - walk to delay labor

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss• Apply pressure directly on wound

• Clean compress

• Elasticon, ace bandage, etc.

• Keep horse quiet until help arrivesdon't walk to barn, it will increase bleeding

• Do not apply ointments or powders

• Do not try to clean prior to bandage will increase bleeding

• Apply pressure directly on wound

• Clean compress

• Elasticon, ace bandage, etc.

• Keep horse quiet until help arrivesdon't walk to barn, it will increase bleeding

• Do not apply ointments or powders

• Do not try to clean prior to bandage will increase bleeding

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss• If bleeding continues, put more bandage on

top of first bandage

• Do not removethe first bandage!!

• If bleeding continues, put more bandage on top of first bandage

• Do not removethe first bandage!!

Laceration with Blood LossLaceration with Blood Loss• Tourniquet

– Pressure on vessels above or below the wound

• Tourniquet

– Pressure on vessels above or below the wound

ColicColic

ColicColic• Prevent self injury

• Evaluate clinical signs

– Temperature

– Pulse

– Respiration

– Color of gums

• Prevent self injury

• Evaluate clinical signs

– Temperature

– Pulse

– Respiration

– Color of gums

• Remove all feed

• Walk if necessary, only to prevent rolling

• Administer drugs only after talking with your Veterinarian

– Rompun

– Banamine-may mask clinical signs

– Dipyrone

• Remove all feed

• Walk if necessary, only to prevent rolling

• Administer drugs only after talking with your Veterinarian

– Rompun

– Banamine-may mask clinical signs

– Dipyrone

ColicColic

Traditional ExaminationBy Veterinarian

Traditional ExaminationBy Veterinarian

• Determine P.R.

• Assess cardiovascular output

• Determine intestinal sounds

• Rectal examinations if possible

• Pass stomach tube

– Access gastric reflex

• Determine P.R.

• Assess cardiovascular output

• Determine intestinal sounds

• Rectal examinations if possible

• Pass stomach tube

– Access gastric reflex

Traditional TreatmentTraditional Treatment

• Mineral oil

–if no gastric reflex

• Analgesics

• IV fluids

• Surgical correction

• Mineral oil

–if no gastric reflex

• Analgesics

• IV fluids

• Surgical correction

LaminitisLaminitis

LaminitisLaminitis• Definition: An inflammatory

process of the laminae of the hoof. Many times caused by endotoxin, fever, trauma etc. Separation of bony structures from hoof may occur.

• Definition: An inflammatory process of the laminae of the hoof. Many times caused by endotoxin, fever, trauma etc. Separation of bony structures from hoof may occur.

Clinical SignsClinical Signs

• Reluctant to move, especially on turns

• Increased digital pulses

–May involve all four feet

• Reluctant to move, especially on turns

• Increased digital pulses

–May involve all four feet

Early TreatmentEarly Treatment

• Do not force exercise

• Apply frog pressure

• Apply support to sole

• Stand in sand

• Do not force exercise

• Apply frog pressure

• Apply support to sole

• Stand in sand

Veterinary TreatmentVeterinary Treatment• Frog pressure

• Mineral oil

• Anti-endotoxics

– Banamine

• Analgesics

– Bute

– Banamine

– DMSO

• Orally or IV

• Frog pressure

• Mineral oil

• Anti-endotoxics

– Banamine

• Analgesics

– Bute

– Banamine

– DMSO

• Orally or IV

Esophageal ChokeEsophageal Choke

Clinical SignsClinical Signs

• Nervous

• Retching

–Food material out of nose

• Nervous

• Retching

–Food material out of nose

Early TreatmentEarly Treatment• Keep head down

–Decreases aspiration

• Walk

• Keep head down

–Decreases aspiration

• Walk

Veterinary TherapyVeterinary Therapy• Tranquilize – Rompun

– Lowers head

• Pass stomach tube

– Flush out obstruction or move obstruction to stomach

• Muscle relaxants

• Antibiotics

– Treat possible aspiration pneumonia

• Tranquilize – Rompun

– Lowers head

• Pass stomach tube

– Flush out obstruction or move obstruction to stomach

• Muscle relaxants

• Antibiotics

– Treat possible aspiration pneumonia

Non Weight Bearing Lameness:

Longbone Fracture

Non Weight Bearing Lameness:

Longbone Fracture

Non Weight Bearing Lameness:Longbone Fracture

Non Weight Bearing Lameness:Longbone Fracture

• Do not move

• Stabilize

–Splint

–Robert Jones bandage

–Very large protective bandage

• Prevent bone fragments from penetrating skin

–Increases prognosis

–Greatly decreases infection

• Do not move

• Stabilize

–Splint

–Robert Jones bandage

–Very large protective bandage

• Prevent bone fragments from penetrating skin

–Increases prognosis

–Greatly decreases infection

Veterinary TherapyVeterinary Therapy

• Radiograph

• Determine blood supply of distal extremity

• Determine if fracture repair practical or possible

• Radiograph

• Determine blood supply of distal extremity

• Determine if fracture repair practical or possible

Problems That Are Not A Veterinary Medical Emergency,

But Do Require Veterinary Attention Within 2-4 Hours

Problems That Are Not A Veterinary Medical Emergency,

But Do Require Veterinary Attention Within 2-4 Hours

Problems That Require Veterinary Attention, But Are Not

Urgent Emergencies

Problems That Require Veterinary Attention, But Are Not

Urgent Emergencies• Laceration

– Not bleeding• Non weight bearing lameness• Eye problems• Retained placenta• Sick foals• Grain intoxication• High fever• Other

• Laceration– Not bleeding

• Non weight bearing lameness• Eye problems• Retained placenta• Sick foals• Grain intoxication• High fever• Other

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss

Lacerations Without Significant Blood Loss

• Clean area with mild soap

• Run cold water on wound

• Apply bandage if possible

–Clean compress

–NO ointments or lotions

• Wounds on legs need immediate care & bandage to allow potential suturing of the laceration

–Swelling will occur quickly

• Clean area with mild soap

• Run cold water on wound

• Apply bandage if possible

–Clean compress

–NO ointments or lotions

• Wounds on legs need immediate care & bandage to allow potential suturing of the laceration

–Swelling will occur quickly

Non Weight Bearing Lameness

Non Weight Bearing Lameness

Non Weight Bearing Lameness

Non Weight Bearing Lameness

• Usually involves one foot/ leg

• Most likely cause is subsolar abscess

• Usually involves one foot/ leg

• Most likely cause is subsolar abscess

Subsolar AbscessClinical Signs

Subsolar AbscessClinical Signs

• Increased digital pulse

• Area of sensitivity in sole

• Check coronary band for lesion

• Increased digital pulse

• Area of sensitivity in sole

• Check coronary band for lesion

TreatmentTreatment• Establish drainage• Draw out infection• Soak in Epsom salt water• Drawing agents

–Magnapaste–Ichthammol

• Keep Clean• Bandage until defect closed

• Establish drainage• Draw out infection• Soak in Epsom salt water• Drawing agents

–Magnapaste–Ichthammol

• Keep Clean• Bandage until defect closed

Subsolar AbscessSubsolar Abscess• Drawing agents

– Soaking in Epsom Salts

• Drawing agents

– Soaking in Epsom Salts

Subsolar AbscessSubsolar Abscess• Bandage with drawing agents

– Magna paste

– Icthamol

• Bandage with drawing agents

– Magna paste

– Icthamol

Subsolar AbscessSubsolar Abscess

• Quittor Bandage

• Wheat bran/ Epsom Salt

• Poultice

• Quittor Bandage

• Wheat bran/ Epsom Salt

• Poultice

Subsolar AbscessSubsolar Abscess

• Keep foot covered until defect is closed

• Keep foot covered until defect is closed

Eye ProblemsEye Problems

Clinical SignsClinical Signs

• Squinting

• Tearing

• Swelling

• Squinting

• Tearing

• Swelling

Corneal Laceration/ Ulceration

Corneal Laceration/ Ulceration

• Painful

• Sensitive

• Graying of the cornea

• Painful

• Sensitive

• Graying of the cornea

Stain with FluoresceinStain with Fluorescein• Area of cornea injured will retain green

stain• Area of cornea injured will retain green

stain

TreatmentTreatment• Early treatment essential

• Flush

• Antibiotic ointment

• No steroids

– Retards healing

– Increase possibility of fungal infections

• Early treatment essential

• Flush

• Antibiotic ointment

• No steroids

– Retards healing

– Increase possibility of fungal infections

Recurrent Uveitis(Moon Blindness)Recurrent Uveitis(Moon Blindness)

• Painful eye

• Small pupil

• Eye may become swollen

• Painful eye

• Small pupil

• Eye may become swollen

Retained PlacentaRetained Placenta

Retained PlacentaRetained Placenta• Should be passed in 3

hours if retained greater then 3 hours call Veterinarian DAY OR NIGHT

• Treatment oxytocin

– IM or as IV drip

• Uterine treatment

• Laminitis prevention

• Should be passed in 3 hours if retained greater then 3 hours call Veterinarian DAY OR NIGHT

• Treatment oxytocin

– IM or as IV drip

• Uterine treatment

• Laminitis prevention

Sick FoalsSick Foals

Sick FoalsSick Foals• Look at mare's udder

– If foal off feed, mare will drip milk & have enlarged udder

• Normal temperature 100-102.5°F

• Swollen joints

–Early - septicemia

• Diarrhea

–Foal heat diarrhea is normal

• Rotavirus

• Status of foal may change quickly

• Look at mare's udder

– If foal off feed, mare will drip milk & have enlarged udder

• Normal temperature 100-102.5°F

• Swollen joints

–Early - septicemia

• Diarrhea

–Foal heat diarrhea is normal

• Rotavirus

• Status of foal may change quickly

High FeverHigh Fever

High FeverHigh Fever• Infection

• Need to determine cause

• May lead to laminitis

• Antipyretic drugs

– Bute

– Dipyrone

– Banamine

• Infection

• Need to determine cause

• May lead to laminitis

• Antipyretic drugs

– Bute

– Dipyrone

– Banamine

Grain OverloadGrain Overload

Grain OverloadGrain Overload

• Needs treatment soon

• Mineral oil

• Laminitis protection

• Anti-endotoxic drugs

• Colic - soon

• Laminitis - 1-3 days

• Needs treatment soon

• Mineral oil

• Laminitis protection

• Anti-endotoxic drugs

• Colic - soon

• Laminitis - 1-3 days

Injection SitesInjection Sites