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WOUND MANAGEMENT
3
EQUINE MATTERS
Veterinary Surgeon
Julia James
XLVets Practice
Larkmead Veterinary
Group, Oxfordshire
W
ounds are something that all horse owners will have to deal with at
some stage with their horse. Horses by their very nature can be flighty
and excitable, they can kick each other, and they can injure themselves
whilst out hacking or competing, or just hurt themselves in their stable or
field. Some horses also seem to be more accident prone than others!
First Aid
Treatment
of Wounds
Julia James MA VetMB MRCVS
Larkmead Veterinary Group
As vets, wound management is one of the
common problems we deal with in an
emergency situation. Before we arrive
appropriate first aid given by owners can
be of great benefit and can affect the
management and outcome of the wound.
However distressing it may be to see your
horse injured it is important to remain calm,
to stay safe yourself, (injured horses may
behave unpredictably) and to think clearly
before tackling the problem. Never hesitate
to contact your vet, preferably sooner rather
than later, to assess whether a visit is needed.
Call the vet if the wound is:
Or if the horse is not up to date
with Tetanus vaccinations
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bleeding profusely
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through the full thickness of the skin
as it may need to be stitched
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near a joint or tendon
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contaminated with dirt
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causing the horse lameness,
especially if the wound is small
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a puncture wound - although they
look small they can be very serious
Always remember
to contact your vet if
you are unsure about your horse's tetanus
cover. Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease
so if there is any doubt about vaccine
status tetanus antitoxin will need to
be given.
The aim of any first aid is to:
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protect the horse from further injury
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to control any bleeding
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to minimise contamination of
the wound