Volume1: Issue 2

THE WOUND DILEMMA

When To Call The Vet - When To Treat It Yourself

After hosing the wound off, indecision hits.  Should you call your Veterinarian or is this a wound you can handle yourself?  If you decide to handle it yourself, which ointments, powders and treatments are appropriate to ensure proper healing? In this article, I will provide a step-by-step approach for assessing an injury along with advice for first aid kit supplies that you should always have on hand.

So Let’s begin with Wound Basics

Below are five rules to follow when assessing an injury to your horse.  This will also be helpful information to provide your Vet, if you do need to call him out.
    
1) Examine your whole horse. When you discover your horse is injured, you will be tempted to focus on the first wound you see, which could cause you to miss another major problem.  Take a moment to step back and perform the following evaluation:

> Is he showing signs of shock? A rapid heartbeat (greater than 80 beats per minute), respiratory rate (over 30 breaths per minute), sweating or cold ears and lower legs
>Examine your horse from head to toe. Is he suffering from more than one wound?  If so, evaluate each one using the flow chart I will be providing in next week's article.  
> Could colic have caused him to injure himself? Observe your horse's behavior for signs of discomfort, breaking out in patchy sweat, looking at his belly, trying to lie down or trying to roll.

2) Evaluate the bleeding. Your horse may bleed a lot---but how much is too much?  While in most cases, the bleeding you see won't be life-threatening, excessive bleeding can be.  Here's how to determine what is excessive and what to do until the Vet arrives.

> If bleeding is profuse, bright red, or pulsating, he could have severed an artery and could bleed to death.  Apply a direct pressure wrap over the wound opening with anything you have at hand to stop the flow of blood---and have someone call your vet immediately.
> If the blood is dark red, your horse is bleeding from a vein, which is slower, and responds well to direct pressure. Your horse is less likely to bleed to death.  However, if bleeding is profuse, call your Vet immediately.

3) Protect against tetanus.  Because the tetanus bacterium is everywhere, be sure to keep your horse's vaccinations up to date.  Know your horse’s vaccination status. If he's never been vaccinated (or not in the last three months) he will need a tetanus booster vaccine, which will give him enough protection to get him through the healing process.  
 
4) Avoid overkill.  If you determine that this is a wound for veterinarian attention, avoid applying any ointments, sprays or powders, which could impede suturing efforts.  Instead, hose the wound with a gentle spray of cold water.  This will reduce inflammation, clean the wound, and not damage sensitive tissues. If you can manage the wound yourself, avoid any preparations labelled as "caustic wound dressings", as they can be quite damaging to healthy tissue.

5) A stitch in time… You should call your vet immediately for any fresh wound you believe needs suturing.  An appropriately treated wound up to several weeks old can still be sutured successfully but keep in mind the sooner, the better.  The longer you wait, the more you run the risk of having secondary issues to deal with, including infection, which will need to be treated with antibiotics before suturing can take place.

                                       WOUND FIRST-AID KIT

> Betadine (in a clean container, mix one part Betadine with twenty parts water for an antiseptic flushing solution)
>Large needless syringe (30 or 60 cc)
> A long blunt ended needle with which to probe wounds, and to attach to a syringe for flushing injury site “a teat canula”
> Triple-antibiotic ointment
>Non-steroidal eye ointment
>Furacine, or providone-iodine-based ointment
>Pressure wrap materials
> Phenylbutazone ("bute") powder or paste
>Keep your first-aid kit up-to-date at all times, and make sure you keep it in an easily accessible place

In the next section, I will divide wounds into five categories; Puncture, Foot, Lower-Leg, Upper-Body and Head Wound. Please note that puncture wounds are the only category based on type and merits it's own section, because treatment is universal regardless of puncture location; the other categories focus on wound location because each requires unique treatment.

Each category has it's own flow chart, asking you specific questions regarding your horse's wound.  Your "yes" or "no" answers will tell you whether or not to call your Vet.  If the injury meets the criteria for "home treatment", I'll outline the steps you need to take. If veterinary attention is indicated, I'll tell you what to expect when your vet arrives.

ALWAYS REMEMBER…WHEN IN DOUBT….CALL YOUR VET

© Wendy Teddiman, Trainer (wen-dacres@cox.net)   (http://Wen-D-Acres.com)  (http://shop.wen-d-acres.com) 949-357-8040