Stable pharmacy
A thick leg, an itchy or inflamed insect bite, a small wound: as a horse owner, you are familiar with such incidents, which can occur as a result of romping or wrestling in the paddock or after riding. Wound care for minor injuries is usually not a problem if you have a well-stocked stable first-aid kit. This should always be right on hand and stocked with the necessary items. You can find out more about these items here.
CHECKLIST
Checklist for the stable pharmacy
- First-aid kit (wound disinfectant, wound ointment, bandage scissors and bandage material such as padding or bandage cotton, gauze bandages, self-adhesive bandages, sterile gauze compresses, etc.).
- Traumeel ad us. vet.
- Spray plaster (well suited for smaller wounds to provide a transparent and flexible wound cover and prevent the penetration of bacteria or dirt)
- Fabric adhesive tape (for fixing dressings)
- Clinical thermometer with flexible tip (preferably digital for quick measurements)
- Bandage scissors, tweezers (for removing foreign bodies such as stones), tick forceps
- Emergency remedy for colicky abdominal pain (to bridge the gap until the vet arrives)
- Disposable gloves
- Disposable syringes (without cannula) are well suited for administering medication directly into the mouth. Disposable syringes in sterile packaging can also be used to rinse small wounds.
- Cream or gel for chapped, irritated skin or superficial wounds.
If you and other people present in the stable are unable to assess whether your horse needs veterinary care, it is better to call your vet for clarification.
Good to know
Would you like to be even better prepared for an emergency? Many vets offer first aid courses to train pet owners in dealing with minor emergencies or wounds. There you will learn, for example, how to apply bandages correctly or what you need to bear in mind when treating wounds.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Helpful tips for you as a horse owner
Here are a few practical tips that can be helpful for first aid:
- To protect injuries to the hoof or fetlock joint from moisture and dirt, you can simply wrap plastic or garbage bags around the hoof and leg.
- Bandages can be easily secured with plaster or wide adhesive tape.
- Some injuries can only be recognized and assessed with sufficient light: a flashlight in the stable kit is therefore useful.
- You can use rounded scissors (so that your horse cannot injure itself with sudden movements) to remove longer hair from the edges of the wound in order to treat the injury.
- If you and other people present in the stable are unable to assess how serious an injury is, it is better to call your vet for clarification. Wounds sometimes appear small from the outside, but can go deep or affect joints and must then be treated by a vet.
All important telephone numbers (vet, veterinary clinic, emergency contact) and information on regularly administered medication or allergies should also be kept in the stable pharmacy or clearly displayed in the stable for everyone who feeds or supervises the horse.
