Emergencies - Knowing when to call in the vet
All horse owners should know how to recognise emergencies and serious problems in their horse/s and respond promptly and appropriately.
This sounds simpler in theory than it actually is in practical terms in many cases, particularly if the owner is not familiar with the norm or with the horse in question.
Therefore, it is important that the owner/handler knows the horse’s normal vital signs, including temperature and respiration, as well as its own individual normal behavioural patterns, in order to readily recognise emergency problems that require immediate veterinary attention. Where a horse is cut or bleeding, it is obvious that there is a problem. But in cases of colic, some illnesses or a more subtle injury, it may not be as apparent. Taking appropriate immediate action while awaiting the arrival of the vet is a further critical aspect of emergency response. Looking for answers to such problems elsewhere e.g. online, can be misleading and cause misdiagnosis, resulting in further problems and also costing considerably more in the long run.A practical veterinary-based approach is ultimately the key to a better outcome in these cases.What are the most commonly seen emergency problems in horses?
The most common emergencies that horse owners have to contend with are:
Cuts and lacerations Severe lameness and injuriesColicHow does an owner or handler know or identify the emergency signs indicating when a vet is urgently needed?
There are many types of emergencies that need prompt attention and for those owners who may be uncertain when to call the vet, the following list may help as a basic guide. The list outlines, in alphabetical order and not in priority of the actual problems, the types of signs and symptoms that warrant a horse owner’s prompt attention to seek veterinary treatment.The cases on the list outline where the vet should be called, and are under three headings, depending on urgency of signs shown by the horse.1) Immediately
2) On same day
3) After 24 hours
1. Cases where the vet should be called immediately – emergency cases:
Allergy: Severe allergy with swollen head. The horse’s tongue is blue or cyanosed from lack of oxygen. This can occur with allergy and swelling of the head and throat region. Breathing difficulty: e.g. gasping, distressed breathing, blue tongue. It can occur with allergy, (as described above) and also within 12 hours in a horse with strangles where the swollen glands block the airways. Choke: Horse appears distressed, extends head and neck, salivates, coughs, grunts, strikes ground, food and saliva may be regurgitated through the nostrils. It is caused by a blockage in the oesophagus, which is the tubular passageway between the horse’s throat and stomach. Common causes of choke include apples, potatoes, unsoaked beet pulp, horse bolting or gulping its feed.Colic/Pain: Severe pain continuous or spasmodic pain, e.g. colic. Immediate action here – horse should be gently walked for 10-15 minutes while waiting for the vet.Collapse or loss of balance: Over- reaction to external stimuli, depression, staggering, knuckling over, walking in circles, unable to get up, general muscle tremor, rigidity, paddling movements of legs, coma.Diarrhoea: Putrid, fluid diarrhoea, with or without blood or abdominal pain.Foaling difficulty: If no foal appears after approximately 25 minutes of obvious straining, or the mare gives up after 20 minutes of straining or part of the foal appears e.g. a leg, but nothing else appears after 20 minutes of straining.Haemorrhage: Profuse bleeding, from any part of the body, that will not stop. Apply pressure to stop the bleeding. (pressure bandage, tournequet etc, and already covered in previous article).Injury: Severe continuous pain, severe lameness, cut with bone exposed, puncture wound especially on chest cavity or up into the abdomen.Poisoning: Chemical or plant. (Try to retain sample for vet to identify type of poisoning). For example, a horse that has eaten a small amount of yew tree is an emergency.Puncture wound: Penetrating wound into a joint with severe lamenessTying Up: Severe Tying Up - where a horse is unable to move and is distressed. A horse showing these signs should not be forced to exercise – some handlers tend to do so to “loosen out” the stiffness problem, but this should be avoided as it causes worsening of the condition.Straining continuously. Attempting to pass faeces or urine with no result.2. Cases where the vet should be called on the same day of appearance of signs and symptoms:
Listed in alphabetical order:
Abortion: Expulsion of foetus prematurely.Afterbirth retained: If retained for eight hours. Over two hours is abnormal.Appetite loss: Not eating and depressed, in conjunction with other signs such as rapid painful breathing, diarrhoea, lying down, pain, sweating.Breathing difficulty: Laboured breathing (heaving) rapid and shallow breathing with or without cough.Blood in urine: When horse passes urine, there is visible blood in it.Diarrhoea: Soft or watery faeces usually accompanied by increased defecation frequency and volume of faeces.Eye problems: Tears streaming down cheeks, eyelids partially or completely closed; cornea (surface of eye) hazy, opaque or bluish white in colour.Foreign body swallowed: Best to call in vet to assess early rather than wait until a possible life threatening situation develops.Separation: Horse separating itself away from remainder of comrades at pasture – indicates that all is not well with that horse.Injuries: Not immediately urgent but liable to become infected; a cut through full thickness of skin needing stitching; puncture wound of foot.Incoordination: Horse incoordinated or wobbly on its feet.Itching: Self mutilation, irritated or damaged skin; bleeding sores.Lameness: Swelling hot, hard, painful or discharging.Sore feet: horse tender on all four feet, check for possible early laminitis.Stiffness: sudden acute lameness. Stiffness may also be caused by an elevated temperature.Temperature elevated: Infections – usually caused by viruses and bacteria.3. Cases where the vet should be called if signs and symptoms persist after 24 hours:
Appetite loss: Not eating, no other symptom. For example a horse that is normally a good eater and finishes its feed readily, leaves feed in the trough – this indicates that the horse is unwell. Diarrhoea: Cow-like appearance of faeces; no indication of abdominal pain; no sign of blood; no straining.Itching: Moderate, no body damage by self mutilation.Lameness: Horse can bear weight on leg; not affecting eating or other functions.Lethargy: Horse depressed and generally ‘off form’.Rapid weight loss: Horse losing significant weight over a very short space of time.Thirst: Excessive drinking, often paired with excessive urination.