How To Care For An Injured Horse

Anyone who cares for horses will, at some point, have to care for a horse with a cut or wound. Large cuts and lacerations should be seen by the vet, and if you are unsure of its severity it is better to be safe than sorry. It is not uncommon for horses to graze themselves for time to time and it is important to be able to provide your horse with the first aid it needs, whether treating it yourself or waiting for the vet to arrive. Sterile saline solution is best for cleaning open, ‘clean’ cuts or wounds, if there is none of this available the hose can be used to trickle water from above the wound (not directly on the wound in case the water pressure deepens any debris into the cut). The aim is to rid the wound of any bacteria before a dressing is applied. Assess the situation quickly and thoroughly before any action is taken, is there any dirt in the wound? Are there any punctures, lacerations or broken bones? Is it near a joint? If the wound is small and no other problems are present an abrasion or small cut can be treated by you, gently remove any dirt by flushing with saline solution, disinfect the area then, if necessary, dress with the most suitable bandage or dressing.

Puncture wounds are more serious, size, location; depth and origin are all factors that affect the severity. Use your common sense in these situations; punctures to the chest or belly for example are likely to be more severe that punctures to fleshy muscular areas. Vets should be called immediately should you fear the horse has a severe puncture wound, or if any debris is still stuck in the wound. Less deep, ‘clean’ puncture wounds can be treated and dressed by you. After bleeding has been stemmed, usually with the use of a sterile pad or clean cloth, the wound should be flushed out using saline then, depending on the area; the most suitable dressing can be applied using a poiltice dressing to assist in the drawing out of any foreign bodies.