Horse season is here in the midwest and an increase in emergencies is seen this time of year due to the increase in outdoor activities with horses. So it would be time to invest in an emergency kit for your horse.
I have found one at a reasonable cost and is pretty complete - The Trailering Kit small from Equimedic is an excellent choice for a first aid kit for horses. Here is a list of what you will find in this kit…
Small Trailering Soft Sided Bag
10 long handled cotton tipped swabs
8 medical towels
6 wood applicators
24 non-sterile gauze pads
6 sterile gauze pads
5 non-adherent gauze pads
3 3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape
1 one third pound roll of cotton
1 adhesive tape roll
10 alcohol wipes
10 hand sanitizing towelettes
4 povidone iodine swabsticks
1 four ounce eye wash
1 betadine surgical scrub
1 eight ounce hydrogen peroxide
8 iodine wipes
1 flashlight
6 exam gloves
1 hoof pick
1 tourniquet
1 bandage scissors
4 bandage pins
5 18 gauge by one inch needles
2 ten cc syringes
2 twenty cc syringes
1 thirty five cc syringe
1 stainless steel thumb forcep
1 wrap cutter
10 antibiotic foil pouches
6 three quarter inch adhesive bandages
6 one inch adhesive bandages
2 Electrolyte Gold packets
1 two ounce small antiseptic ointment
1 four and a half ounce small liniment
1 six ounce bloodstop
To this kit I would add a few more items -
1 pair of wire cutters
tools to remove shoes
1 roll of Duct Tape
A pair of EZ Boots (properly fit for your horse)
Then some emergency medicine that you can ask your vet about such as -
Banamine
SMZ-TMP 960mg tablets (Tribrissen tablets)
Acepromazine
Epinephrine
Remember the Boy Scout’s rule to always be prepared. So at this time of increased activity with your horse be prepared for emergencies with an Equine Emergency Kit. You can either build your own or purchase a First Aid kit for horses already prepared by Equimedic
emergencies, Equimedic, equine emergency kit, first aid kit
[…] By Daniel Beatty, DVM I had mentioned that it is important to have a pair of EasyBoots for your emergency kit. It is imperative that you have these fit to your horse before you ever have the need to use them. […]
Thanks for the comprehensive list of first aid items.
Some other items I keep in the tool box of my truck that work in a pinch if the “real deal” is missing or used up.
Newborn size disposable diapers
Maxi pads
vet wrap/duct tape
in a pinch a diaper has been used for joint wounds, it bends with the joint and eaiser to apply then gauze if the horse is having issues with standing still.
I have used maxi pads for everything from cuts and abrasions on humans and horses, and as an absorbent padding under a bandage, to stuffing them in hats and helmets so the youth can share the equipment (sounds gross but they work)
I also try to keep powdered gatoraide, to use in place of electrolytes for humans and horses. It can also encourage a horse to drink strange water if you find a flavor they like.