Veterinary First Aid - horses and livestock

Question 1

What are the aims of first aid?

Answer 1

1. Preservation of life
2. Prevent deterioration of the presentation
3. Relief of pain
4. Help with recovery

Question 2

Feral livestock animal first aid?

Answer 2

• There is a duty of care that extends to these animals
• There is a feral livestock code
• Pigs, horses, cattle, goats, deer, donkeys, camels

Question 3

Clinical presentation livestock first aid considerations:

Answer 3

• Location (Private property OR public area)
• Farm or bushland
• Triage – big range
• Nonemergency + individual animal
• Emergency + large number of animals

Question 4

What are first principles in horse and livestock first aid?

Answer 4

• Extent of emergency
• Permission
• Safety
• Limitations

Question 5

Wounds and cuts (livestock and horses)

Answer 5

• Clean the area
• Protect the area and apply pressure (first aid kit)
• Nonstick dressing and bandaging (Cutilin, Vetrap, Elastoplast)
• Other dressings
• Determined by structures involved
• If it needs surgery
• Are medications required?
• Pain relief
• Antibiotics
• Vaccinations

Question 6

Gastrointestinal presentations requiring first aid (livestock and horses)

Answer 6

• Colic
• Bloat (cattle)

Question 7

How does colic present/treatment?

Answer 7

• Abdominal pain – it is not a diagnosis
• Can involve a number of body systems
• Call vet with history and basic clinical exam parameters (HR, temp, MM colour)
• Safety considerations
• Do not treat with phenylbutazone or other medications

Question 8

How does bloat in cattle present?

Answer 8

• Build up of gas in the rumen
• Different stages
• Will determine intervention
• Pass a stomach tube – trocar

Question 9

Prolapse

Answer 9

In Bovine, Ovine, Caprine (Ruminant)
* Vaginal (call vet)
* Uterine (emergency – call vet ASAP)
In Pig:
* EMERGENCY CALL VET
Equine:
* EMERGENCY CALL VET

Question 10

Prolapse intervention:

Answer 10

• First principles
• Keep the structure clean and moist
• Protect the area from damage
• Interventions ruminant – vaginal only
• Can elevate prolapse
• Sugar
• Replace
• Medications
• Know limitations
• Call vet

Question 11

Dystocia (and what to do)

Answer 11

Difficult birth
- If Ruminant - call vet
- If Equine - EMERGENCY CALL VET

• Assess the clinical presentation
• First principles
• Assess stage of labour
• Clean and palpate
• Is the neonate alive?

Question 12

Udder, milk vein and teat lascerations:

Answer 12

• Udder - Most presentations are emergencies!! Pressure and call vet ASAP
• Milk Vein - Emergency!!! Pressure ASAP
• Teats - Depending on the depth of the laceration
• Call vet. Will need surgery within 4-6hrs to improve success