Education

Equine Emergency Preparation

Your veterinarian might ask questions regarding your horse’s vital signs when you call with an emergency situation. It is important to know normal ranges for your horse’s vitals, and it is equally important to know how to check a horse’s vital signs. Have your veterinarian show you the correct way to take vital signs.

Normal ranges for adult horses:

· Temperature: 99-101 F

· Heart Rate: 28-44 beats per minute

· Respiratory rate: 28-44 beats per minute

· Capillary refill time: 1-2 seconds

Normal ranges for suckling/weanling foals:

· Temperature: 99.5-101 F

· Heart rate: 40-60 beats per minute

· Respiratory rate: 12-24 breaths per minute

· Capillary refill time: 1-2 seconds

Normal ranges for foals less than 2 weeks old:

· Temperature: 99.5-101.6 F

· Heart Rate: 80-110 beats per minute

· Respiratory rate: 12-32 breaths per minute

· Capillary refill time: 1-2 seconds

There are many different kind of emergencies. Following are the most common kind of emergencies.

Choke involves an obstruction of the esophagus. Signs of chock include a green, frothy discharge from the nostrils, coughing, gagging, distress, and evidence of abdominal pain. Slowly walk horse.

Diarrhea can have many causes, and can be quite serious. It can develop into colitis (inflammation of the colon, which might lead to dehydration and toxic shock. Signs of colitis include fever, red to brown mucus membranes with prolonged capillary refill time, depression, colic, and increased output of watery, smelly diarrhea. If painful and not hot, walk horse.

Tying-up is a muscle disorder with many possible causes. Clinical signs include stiffness and muscle soreness. The muscles will feel firm to the touch, and the horses’ urine might appear brown. Place horse in stall.

Colic is abdominal pain gastrointestinal, as well as non-gastrointestinal causes. Signs vary but might include decreased appetite, depression, pawing, rolling down, kicking at the abdomen, decreased or absent manure output, distended abdomen, elevated heart and respiratory rate, and white, blue, purple, or red mucous membranes. Walk horse if restless and if not hot. Hose down if sweating.

Eye Injuries always require immediate attention from the veterinarian. Squinting, tearing, cloudy appearance of the cornea, narrowed pupil, and swelling are clinical signs that might be apparent in a horse with an eye injury. Keep flies away.

Fractures have sudden onset and non-weight bearing lameness. The limb is usually swollen unless the fractured bone is within the hoof.

Bowed tendons can occur during strenuous work, and the superficial digit flexor tendon is most commonly involved. Clinical signs include a warm, painful, swollen tendon with lameness. Ice leg. Try not to move, Support wrap.

Lacerations and puncture wounds are open wounds that generally constitute an emergency. Lacerations should be sutured within the first 6-8 hours in order to maximize the chances of successful suture placement, hasten healing, and minimize scars. Puncture wounds-penetration by nails or other foreign bodies-can be quite serious, especially if they penetrate the hoof or joint capsule. If bleeding use direct pressure with hand or wraps using non-stick material.

Laminitis or founder is the failure of the connective tissues within the hoof that suspend the coffin bone, which can result in rotation and/or sinking of the coffin bone to the bearing surface of the hoof. Many possible causes have been named; clinical signs are variable, but generally include sudden lameness in 1 to all 4 feet (usually the front feet), a reluctance to move or turn, an abnormal rocked back stance, and painful response to hoof testers in front of the frog. Do not move, no grain.

Neurological emergencies could be injury to the head, or spine, or might result from an infectious disease such as rhinopneumonitis. Horse might present with unsteady, wobbly gait; depression, circling, head pressing, weakness, or inability to rise. Put in unclosed area and get out.

Vaccine reactions can range from immediate hypersensitivities with respiratory distress, hives, edema, and shock to delayed effects such as stiff and sore muscles. Immediate reactions usually occur within 1 hour of vaccine administration. (Magdesian, G. and Roberts, L., The Horse, April 2002, P. 30)

Fever: >103.5. Hose until temperature drops below 102 then monitor.

Contusions: (bruises) Keep still and hose.

Hazards in the Home

National Animal Poison Center at the University of Illinois: 1-888-426-4435

The NAPCC's phones are answered by licensed veterinarians and board certified veterinary toxicologists. The NAPCC staff have a wide range of information specific to animal poisoning allowing them to make specific recommendations for animals, rather than generalized poison information provided by a human poison control center.

Cost: $65 per case- the NAPCC will do as many follow-up calls as necessary at no extra charge. If you have a credit card on file you recieve a $5 discount for each case.

If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to a poison, try and stay calm. Take 30-60 seconds to safely collect and have on hand the material involved.

If your animal is having a seizure, losing consciousness, unconscious or having difficulty breathing, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Be sure to remember to bring the product in a container if you go to the veterinarian office. Also, put any vomit or chewed parts in a zip-lock bag and bring that to.

When calling the NAPCC be ready to provide:

1. Your name, address, and phone number

2. Information concerning the exposure (the amount of agent, the time since exposure, etc.), and if the agent is part of the Animal Product Saftey Service, the consultation is free.

3. The species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of animals involved.

4. The product the animal(s) have been exposed to

5. The symptoms the animal is experiencing

The NAPCC agent will direct you as to what to do which may or may not include visiting your veterinarian.

Helpful Links

Here are some links to articles, organizations, and businesses to provide additional information on animals, our specialties, and other interests.

Dr. Dawn triage's all after hours emergency calls herself.

After hours small pet emergencies are best recommended to go to the several Emergency Animal Hospitals in the area for urgent care:

South Sarasota: 923-7260

Charlotte Co: 255-5222

Myakka River Animal Clinic * 3146 East Venice Avenue * Venice * FL * 34292

www.myakkariveranimalclinic.com

All Rights Reserved