Robinson Animal Healthcare
Wound Care Guide
When you consider the health of a horse and treatment required, there is so much to learn
it may seem impossible to remember it all. In this issue Robinson Animal Healthcare provide
valuable advice on wound care.
I
t is thought that by reducing the
level of infection and establishing
a clean wound environment,
owners can help speed up the rate
of healing in horses suffering from
open or infected wounds.
Knowing what to do for best can
often be quite daunting, especially as
when an injury occurs you need to
think on your feet! What you do in the
first instance can have a knock on effect
on the speed of the healing process.
Without doubt any serious injuries
should always be attended by a
veterinary surgeon as soon as possible.
If you are in any doubt at all of the
severity of the wound or with what to
do for the best, always contact your vet.
First Aid Kit
A fully stocked first aid kit is a must for
any yard for both human and horse!
Essential items for the horses first aid
kit include;
• Thermometer
• Latex gloves
• Self Adhesive bandages (Equiwrap)
• Antibacterial wash/Saline liquid/
salt (salt to add to boiling water)
• Sterile syringe
• Gamgee/absorbant padding
• Antiseptic cream
• First Aid cleansing wipes
• Animalintex Poultice and Wound
Dressing
• Vetalintex 15g Tube
• Tough Cut Scissors
• Clean bowl
Other items may include
• Vaseline
• Duck tape
• Purple Spray
• Cotton Wool
For a full first aid kit please visit
www.robinsonhealthcare.com
46
When to call the vet
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wound is spurting blood (arterial bleeding).
Wound requires stitching – is the wound deep or longer
than 2.5cm?
Wound has foreign bodies embedded in it.
There is excessive swelling.
Horse’s temperature rises above 38.9°C (102°F).
Horse has not been vaccinated against tetanus.
Bleeding Wounds
Cleaning Wounds
Wounds
Cleaning
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Minor wounds will usually stop
bleeding within a few minutes
and if treated appropriatel y
should not cause undue
concern.
More serious arterial bleeding
will require emergency
attention and pressure should
be applied instantly to stop the
bleeding.
Apply pressure by holding a
pad of non-woven Veterinary
Gamgee® over the wound and
applying pressure for at least
ten minutes. If blood begins to
seep through place another pad
on top.
Never remove the first pad
as this will disrupt the clot
formation and bleeding will
continue.
Once the bleeding has started
to slow down the pads should
be securely bandaged in place.
•
•
•
•
Clean all open wounds as
soon as possible (even minor
wounds) with a saline solution
or a level teaspoon of salt per
pint of previously boiled water.
If necessary clip the coat and
clean around the wound area.
Avoid spraying water directly
onto the wound as this can
force any contamination
further inside.
Assess the wound and if
unknown try to discover the
cause as there may be foreign
bodies hidden below the
wound surface.
Do not poke about in the
wound as this will cause
infection.
Flush the wound with saline
solution before covering the
affected area with a nonadherent dressing if necessary.
Keep the horse in a clean, dry
environment.
Average
Temperature
Adult Horse
37.2-38.3°C
Everything Horse Magazine • Issue 26• November 2015