Equine first aid

Question 1

equine lameness causes?

Answer 1

foot abscess 
synovial infection  
tendon or ligament injury 
fracture
lymphangitis

Question 2

non-weight bearing lameness?

Answer 2

requires immediate attention
- avoid moving horse - bring everything to them

investigations

• external observations - swelling or wound?
• x-rays
• ultrasound
• synoviocentesis
• surgery - flush joint

Question 3

clinical signs of foot abscess?

Answer 3

lameness
heat
strong pulse

Question 4

treatment for foot abscess?

Answer 4

hot bucket of water or hot poultice 
- draw puss out 
fluid bag 
- holds puss and softens area 
gently move around 
- pushed fluid out 
make sure keep clean 
- dressings

Question 5

solar penetration?

Answer 5

when a foreign body penetrates hoof and has reached its structures

Question 6

solar penetration diagnosis?

Answer 6

x-ray

contrast material

Question 7

solar penetration treatment?

Answer 7

leave in if safe - removal could cause more damage
add padding
if removed keep clean with dressing

Question 8

wound considerations/observations?

Answer 8

consider location 
- over joint = serious as chance of sepsis 
check for discharge 
- infection?
- joint fluid?
swelling
- ligament/tendon damage?
- infection?
lameness likely 

check up to date with tetanus - common in horses

Question 9

synovial infection?

Answer 9

a wound around joint, bursa or synovial area

- prone to joint sepsis

Question 10

synovial infection signs?

Answer 10

lameness
high temperature in area
swelling around joint/sheath
wound may not be obvious - eg puncture from thorn

Question 11

synovial infection treatment?

Answer 11

emergency

flushing - GA is gold standard but can be standing

Question 12

tendon strains and joint sepsis treatment?

Answer 12

require first aid treatment

• cold hose - reduce inflammation
• support bandage - in both limbs
• sole support on good limb as taking most weight
• minimise movement

long term treatment

• low blood flow so healing slow
• box rest - some careful walks over time
• NSAIDs
• protein rich platelets injections from own blood
• shock wave - pulse of energy to stimulate circulation

Question 13

tendon strains and joint sepsis diagnosis?

Answer 13

ultrasound

- black hole where tendon is damaged

Question 14

tendon ruptures?

Answer 14

very serious
extreme lameness

depends on location:
can lose sensory tendon at the front 
if flexor tendon nothing can be done 
- fetlock will sink to floor 
- euthanasia

Question 15

fractures treatment?

Answer 15

common

• need to protect and stop displacement
• avoid moving and keep bedding clean and soft

require robert jones bandage

• thick dressing to immobilise limb
• encapsulate fracture

splints

• stay on toe
• all weight off lower limbs
• quick way to immobalise

surgery
- fracture repair using metal pins

treatment

• cross tied - stop movement
• food and water head height
• but need time to have head down to drain nostrils and lungs

Question 16

lymphangitis causes and signs?

Answer 16

inflammation and infections of lymphatic system due to distal infection
- damages lymph vessels/nodes so will be susceptible

causes

• mud fever
• opening allows bacteria in

signs

• cut or wound
• swelling
• very painful - cant touch

Question 17

lymphangitis treatment?

Answer 17

antibiotics 
NSAIDs
check tetanus up to date 
walk gently 
massage 
stable bandage

Question 18

laminitis? treatment?

Answer 18

inflammation of laminae

• causes rotation of bone
• 7% of equine deaths - emergency
• very painful

treatment

• NSAIDs
• box rest and dietary changes - low sugar
• support bandages
• foot support/foot pads - putty around frog and sole
• thick/soft bedding - shaving or paper
• ice boots
• teramisin spray

Question 19

colic causes?

Answer 19

abdominal pain
can be:
- gastro-intestinal pain 
- urogentital tract pain 
- thoracic pain 

causes

• blockages
• impaction - coca-cola can break it down
• spasmotic colic - pass on own
• distention - displacement/impaction
• lipomas - fatty lumps strangulate

can be emergency
- obstruction of stomach can cause rupture and death

Question 20

colic diagnosis?

Answer 20

ultrasound 
abdominocentis - belly tap 
blood tests 
reflux tests 
- stirrup tube 
- close to rupturing

Question 21

colic observations?

Answer 21

TPR and MMS
temperature before rectalled 
degree of pain 
progression - any gut sounds?
faeces
abdominal distension 
reflux signs - close to rupturing 
external injury 
fluid build-up in stomach - belly tap - needle and sample

Question 22

colic treatment?

Answer 22

treatment - dependant on individual

• remove food and water
• pain relief and light sedation
• IVFT - rehydrate and losen impaction
• walking - good if displacement but could lie down causing injury
• liquid paraffin - stop impaction
• surgery to correct

Question 23

choke signs?

Answer 23

blockage in upper resp or digestive tract

signs

• food from nostrils
• gagging or retching
• stretching neck out

Question 24

choke treatment and after care?

Answer 24

treatment

• remove food and water
• keep head down
• massage neck
• endoscope - pick, pull and flush to dislodge

after care

• antibiotics
• NSAIDs
• soft food
• keep nostrils clean

Question 25

exertional rhabdomyolysis signs? diagnosis? treatment?

Answer 25

muscles cramp during physical activity

• dangerous disorder
• cant uncramp so musles dissolve
• can collapse

signs

• dark urine - broken down muscle fibres
• reluctant to move
• mild colic signs

Question 26

external rhabdomyolysis diagnosis?

Answer 26

physical exam
bloods
muscle biopsy

Question 27

external rhabdomyolysis treatment

Answer 27

don't move 
keep warm 
vet immediately 
fluids - replace electrolytes 
pain management 
muscle relaxants

Question 28

atypical myopathy signs?

Answer 28

seasonal pasture myopathy
- highly fatal muscle disease

caused by sycamore seeds
- toxic to horses

clinical signs

• muscular stiffness
• reluctant to move
• muscle tremors
• sweating
• depression
• high heart rate
• dark urine
• collapse

Question 29

atypical myopathy treatment?

Answer 29

IVFT to flush toxins
pain relief
Anderson sling to keep upright
don’t leave alone

Question 30

dystocia?

Answer 30

prolonged pr distressed labour
- over 20 mins
emergency as foal is stuck
- not likely to survive

require repositioning by vet

• hanging upside down and using gravity
• avoid full c-section
• but don’t have long for foal and mare to survive

be ready for surgery

Question 31

newborn foal not taking colostrum

treatment?

Answer 31

necessary passive immunity not being received

• absorbed through gut mucosa
• most absorbant 6-12 hours
• if no IgG then susceptible to disease and sepsis

treatment

• encourage to stand and suckle
• may need plasma transfusion
• don’t leave side
• turn regularly
• monitor fluid
• nasogastric feed
• have mare see and touch foal but separate - milk her

diagnosis
- take blood sample to check for IgG levels

Question 32

recumbency reasons?

Answer 32

old/arthritic
malnourished
colic
laminitis 
disease
injured
winded

Question 33

recumbency care?

Answer 33

not designed to lie down for a long time

• weight on muscles cause fibres to break down
• cause myopathy

turn every 2-4 hours but not viable

can use Anderson sling

• but need to take some weight themselves
• legs dangling causes damage to organs

not weight bearing = euthanise

Question 34

competition emergencies?

Answer 34

musculoskeletal distress
wounds
cardiovascular collapse
heat exhaustion
neurological trauma