Equine first-aid kit essentials

Create and keep an equine first-aid kit on hand in case of an emergency.

Your Appaloosa cut his leg and blood is pumping out of the wound. What do you do? If you’re prepared, you call your vet as you get out your first-aid kit and start treating the wound.

If you’re not prepared, you could lose valuable time searching for medical supplies scattered throughout your barn, home and horse trailer. Taking the time to get organized now could save your horse’s life if and when an emergency situation arises.

You can buy pre-made equine first-aid kits at your local feed or tack store or through many equine catalogs and Web sites. Or, gather supplies yourself and make your own first-aid kit. Here’s what you need to get started:

1. STORAGE BOX
A plastic tote is inexpensive and will keep all your first-aid supplies clean, dry and in one easy-to-find place. Label the box “Equine first aid kit” and list its contents for easy reference in case of emergency.

2. TOOLS
• Bandage scissors
• Duct tape (handy for taping hooves, but never use around the leg to secure bandages)
• Hoof knife
• Latex gloves
• Livestock chalk (to mark your horses in case of natural disaster)
• Rectal thermometer
• Stethoscope (for listening to heart rate and checking gut sounds)
• Syringe (use to clean out puncture wounds)
• Tweezers or forceps (to remove splinters)
• Twitch

3. BANDAGING SUPPLIES
• Cotton pads (Helpful hint: Feminine pads and baby diapers make excellent emergency bandaging supplies. Pads fit well against the leg and the sticky back adheres to bandages, keeping the dressing firmly in place. Diapers absorb large amounts of blood or can be duct taped directly to the hoof.)
• Cotton roll
• Elastikon (elastic tape)
• Polo wraps
• Vetrap or Co-Flex (flexible, self-adhesive wrap)

4. OINTMENTS, SOLUTIONS, MEDICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES
• Antibiotic ointment
• Betadine (povidone-iodine solution, an antiseptic microbicide used to clean fresh wounds and disinfect tools)
• Electrolytes
• Epsom salt (for soaking hooves)
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Petroleum jelly or water-based lubricant (to lubricate rectal thermometer)
• Saline solution (for flushing eyes)
• Wound powder (to stop blood)

Editor’s note: Feel free to print the following forms for each horse you own.

		Emergency Equine Information — keep this information handy in your first-aid kit and on your horse’s stall front in case of an emergency. Includes listings for horse, owner, veterinarian and insurance information. Emergency Equine Information

		Emergency Reference — tape this to your first-aid kit and on your horse’s stall front. Includes listing of normal equine vital signs. Emergency Reference

STORY AND PHOTO BY MICHELLE ANDERSON

Printed in the January 2006 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

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