Sumptoms:

Increased tearing

Discharge from eyes – white, yellow, green

Holding eyelid partially to fully closed

Swollen eye lids

Reddened conjunctiva

Cloudiness of the eye ball - hazy blue, white

First Aid:

Move horse out of bright light – bring into barn, stall look at eye with flashlight and assess problem - eye lid laceration, corneal problem, foreign body on or in eye

Call Veterinarian:

Any time there is an eye problem, anterior uveitis (moon blindness) and corneal ulcers need quick attention in order to achieve the best results. Eyelid lacerations should always be sutured because leaving even the smallest defect in the eyelid can result in problems latter in life (dry eye, recurring corneal ulcers).

Symptoms:

feel warm to touch

depression

decreased appetite

may be secondary to an infection or heat exhaustion

First Aid:

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

attempt to identify and address cause if apparent

*infected wound – clean with betadine, apply ointment and wrap if possible

*heat exhaustion – offer water with electrolytes, sponge down and hose legs give bute or banamine after veterinary recommendation

Call Veterinarian:

To help determine source of fever and institute proper therapy

Symptoms:

decreased or no appetite

depression or anxiety

pawing at ground

looking at sides

straining to urinate or defecate

lying down at irregular times of the day

excessive rolling

no manure for over 12 hours

First Aid:

TAKE ALL FEED AWAY

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

look at gum

Call Veterinarian:

if heat rate, respiratory rate or temperature are above normal

if there has not been any manure passed in12 hours

if there are no gut sounds and horse looks bloated

if signs worsen or do not improve

*Once you call the veterinarian stay by the phone and stay off the line!

Be able to tell the Veterinarian:

assessment of pain/attitude/appetite

amount of manure passed in12 hours and consistency

water consumption in last 12 hours

heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

any recent changes in feed, exercise, housing

any recent deworming

Possible Complications:

colic

bloat

laminates

First Aid:

assess heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature

take away all available grain

do no let gorge on water – offer small amounts at a time

dose orally with mineral oil – as much as possible

feel feet for heat and digital pulses

walk if colicky

Call Veterinarian

if colic signs occur

if feet are warm and/or there are bounding digital pulses

Be able to tell the veterinarian how much gain was ingested and in what time frame it occurred.

Symptoms:

sudden loss of appetite

extension of head and neck while attempting to swallow

increased salivation

feed and/or fluid coming out of the nostrils

deep cough

depression or anxiety

First Aid:

take all food away

dose orally with warm water

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

encourage to swallow by gently massaging neck

Call Veterinarian

if unfamiliar with choke

if horse is very anxious

if unable to relieve choke

Symptons:

non weight bearing lame

swelling in the lower limb

heat in the hoof

increased digital pulse

First Aid:

Examine leg and hoof to determine cause of pain/swelling if there is a foreign body do not pull it out, unless there is a possibility there will be deeper penetration into the hoof. This will allow the veterinarian to take radiographs of the hoof and be able to clearly see how deep and what structure may be affected by the foreign body. If the foreign body has fallen out or already been removed, clean out the hoof, scrub the bottom of the sole with betadine, and soak hoof in warm water with betadine and Epsom salts for a half an hour, then wrap the hoof.

Call Veterinarian:

if there is any foreign body in the hoof of unknown length and destination that Is causing the horse to be lame

If the foreign body is removed or fell out there was blood from the hole

Symptons:

Reluctance to move

“saw horse” stance trying to keep weight back off of front feet

Heat in hooves

Increased digital pulses

May appear lame in 1 – 4 legs

First Aid:

Assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

Feel hooves for heat

Assess digital pulses

Put horse in heavily bedded stall

Do not walk further than necessary, the laminae are fragile and any movement may enhance the amount of damage, i.e. rotation, that results

Do not feed any grain

Give bute after veterinary recommendation

Give acepromazine/promazine granules after veterinary recommendation

Call Veterinarian:

It is important to call as soon as signs present, prognosis can be greatly influenced by speed of treatment.

Symptoms:

Mild to non weight bearing lame

Pointing forward or holding up lame leg when standing

Reluctant to move

Obvious displacement of limb

Pain to touch or manipulation

Heat and swelling in area of problem

Increased heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

Decreased appetite

Depression or anxiety

Sweating

First Aid:

DO NOT MOVE if non weight bearing lame

if there is an obvious displacement

if there is a fracture

confine to stall

Call Veterinarian:

for any acute lameness

Be able to tell the veterinarian:

the complete history of onset of injury

which leg and how lame

location and amount of swelling or heat

if there is an open wound or bone exposed

if there is bleeding, how much blood loss

Symptoms:

swelling

First Aid:

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

locate are of swelling – over bone, tendon, joint or muscle

look for wound – scrape, laceration, puncture

cold hose

apply DMSO gel after veterinary

give bute after veterinary recommendation

if lower leg – poultice if there is heat

sweat if there is no heat

*do not put the poltice or the sweat directly on any wounds

Call Veterinarian:

if there is any doubt over assessment of area

if there is a laceration or puncture, pronounced lameness

Symptoms:

usually after increased exertion of energy or exercise

increased stiffness

reluctance to move

hard, sore muscles

may be localized or general

increased heart rate, respiratory rate

sweating

anxiety

dark urine (red/brown)

First Aid:

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

do not force to move, may cause more damage to muscles

offer small amounts of water with electrolytes

give bute after veterinary recommendation

give acepromazine/promazine granules after veterinary recommendation

Call Veterinarian:

if mild symptoms, to do blood work to confirm diagnosis

if severe symptoms

if there is dark urine – it is important to run fluids to dilute the urine to reduce incidence of renal damage

SYMPTONS:

bleeding

pus

swelling

pain, lameness

First Aid:

if excessive bleeding, apply pressure to stop

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

asses lameness, soreness, swelling, discharge

note location, size and depth

clip wound to fully visualize wound (apply sterile KY jelly to exposed tissues to prevent hair from sticking to the wound

gently hose and scrub with betadine, rinse well and dry area

apply antibiotic ointment or spray to scrapes or abrasions

if on the lower leg, wrap with clean quilts or sheet cotton to keep the dirt out

Call Veterinarian

if there is a puncture through the skin over joints, tendons sheaths and bone

if the skin edges of the would can be separated

if there is bone, muscle, tendon, joint capsule or tendon sheath exposed

if there is any fresh or old wound with pronounced lameness, swelling or fever

if there is any doubt over the assessment of the wound

* a would that appears small on the surface of the skin could be just the opening to a very deep, long puncture wound

Symptoms:

a continuous flow of blood

First Aid

apply pressure

if attempting to bandage a lower leg, do not apply too tight, make sure bandage is well padded so as not to injure tendons

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

try to keep horse calm

Call Veterinarian:

if wound continues to bleed

if wound needs suturing

Symptoms:

raised welts

itching

First Aid:

assess vital signs

bathe with gentle shampoo to remove possible irritants

bring into barn to get away from flies

give bute or banamine after veterinary recommendation

give antihistamines after veterinary recommendations

give steroids after veterinary recommendation

Call Veterinarian:

if signs of distress, i.e. increased respiratory rate, or difficulty breathing

if bumps are not regressing or increasing in size

Symptoms:

increased difficulty breathing

flared nostrils

increased respiratory rate

abdominal effort in breathing

extended neck

anxious

First Aid:

if inside, bring out into the fresh air

if outside, bring in to a cool, well ventilated area

in summer, cool down with a sponge bath

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

give antihistamines after veterinary recommendation

give steroids after veterinary recommendation

Call Veterinarian:

At the appearance of clinical signs

Symptoms:

second state labor (delivery of foal) over 15 minutes

First Aid:

if fetal membranes appear first, tear them open so that the foal can be seen

if you see two legs and a nose, you can apply gentle traction to the legs

Call Veterinarian:

if in labor over 15 minutes

if you see just one leg

two legs without a nose

a nose without any legs

one leg and a nose

Symptoms:

unpassed fetal membranes (third stage labor) over 3 hours

First Aid:

take whatever tissues are exposed and tie them in a know if it hangs below the hocks so it will not be torn

assess heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

walk slowly jog the mare

Call Veterinarian:

if the placenta is still retained after a total of 3 hours

if the mare’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature are elevated

if the mucous membranes are not normal pink

if placenta tears or does not come out complete