Wound first aid wrapped up

Horse emergencies needing speedy first aid come in many forms but finding your horse with a bleeding, gaping wound has to be up there at the top of the list of horrors.

Unfortunately, horses are accident prone and appear to be irresistibly drawn towards that one low branch in the paddock or the only broken piece of fencing. They may catch themselves on a sharp flint when rolling, tread on a rogue nail or failing that may be bitten or kicked by an opinionated field companion.

Assess the damage

Identifying and assessing the type of wound and taking the most effective first aid action while you wait for your vet to arrive can make all the difference to successful treatment, repair and recovery. A major puncture wound may look minor on first glance while a superficial cut, flowing with blood may look life-threatening.

Initially you will need to stop the bleeding and carefully clean the wound to assess the full extent of the damage.

Clean the wound

Swabbing

Use water, mild antiseptic and cotton wool gamgee swabs to clean the wound in the first instance. Remember to use a fresh swab each time you gently dab the wound and mop the blood to help prevent infection.

Cold hosing

Hosing can be helpful to clean the wound so that you can take a clearer look at the injury. Make sure you apply the stream of water across the wound rather than directly into the damaged tissue to prevent any foreign bodies being washed deeper into the cut. Gently hosing for around 15 minutes can help to reduce swelling too.

Assess the type of wound

Puncture wounds

The innocuous look of a small puncture wound can belie the danger it may pose. Nails, thorns and other piercing objects can cause deep puncture wounds and the risk of infection can be very high. It’s vital to call your vet as soon as possible. If the foreign body is still in place it is usually best to leave it there until the vet arrives, as long as doing so doesn’t cause it to embed further. Leaving the object in situ will enable the vet to more accurately assess which structures may be damaged and also attend to any excessive bleeding on removal.

Clean-cut wounds

Usually caused by something sharp, a clean-cut wound will often bleed heavily and look horrific. The edges will be neat, but the wound may be deep. It’s important to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible by using a sterile dressing and applying pressure while waiting for your vet to