First Aid Kits for Horses

A first aid kit for your horse is essential to have if you go for a lot of rides in the woods or on trails. By keeping some basic supplies on hand and having some basic knowledge, you can give your horse the care it needs when it needs it. But remember, your veterinarian should always be consulted if your horse needs medical care.

There are many types of first aid kits on the market, but it is unlikely you'll find one specifically for horses, so you will likely have to modify one that you buy, or build your own from scratch. Either way, make sure it contains the basics and put it in a place that is easily seen.

First of all, it is important to have some antibiotic cream. Usually any triple antibiotic cream will work. Some horses tend to get scratched, especially on trail rides or walking next to fences. Obviously this antibiotic cream should only be applied to small scratches. Make sure you keep it away from your horse’s eyes. For larger scratches, a veterinarian will likely need to suture them closed and put the horse on injectable antibiotics.

You will also need bandaging equipment. Vetwrap, tefla pads and medical porous tape are a good start. Make sure you buy the largest tefla pads you can find. These might be hard to find, but an army supply store usually has large field bandages that are a good size for a horse. Also, you'll need scissors to cut these bandages.

Antiseptic ointments or creams are also another must for a basic kit. It is always best to clean and apply antiseptic to wounds prior to applying antibiotic cream and bandaging them. Your veterinarian can advise you about the best ones to buy.

For long trail rides, it is usually good to prepare for occasional bee stings. Usually your veterinarian will provide you with some antihistamine if your horse is allergic to bee stings.

To round out your emergency kit, it is also a good idea to have towels, hoof trimmers, a hoof pick and a knife. A wire cutter is also a must in case your horse gets tangled in a fence.

By keeping some basic emergency supplies in a first aid kit, you can rapidly attend to your horse’s needs. Contact your veterinarian and he or she might be able to give you specific medication for your horse. For example if your horse is prone to allergies he can give you the medication to keep with you on trail rides.

Put all of your supplies in a plastic box or rucksack and remember to keep it in a highly visible place. Before starting out on your trail ride, transfer your supplies to your saddle bags so that you can take them with you. You don't want to be in an emergency and not know where your emergency kit is, the one you put all your hard work into creating.

Until next time,

Teia

Ear Infections in Dogs

Yes it's a picture of me, and yes, it's bigger than all the other blog pictures. But hey, what's the point of having your own blog if you can't use it to show how pretty you are?

Ear infections are something that I am familiar with as I have a lot of problems with my ears. Because mom and dad check them regularly, I don't have near as many infections as I used to have, thank goodness. They're pretty painful and they make you feel yucky.

Dog ear infections are also commonly called Otitis Externa. It is an infection of the outer ear canal. There are three parts to the ear, the outer, the middle, and the inner ear. Ninety percent of infections occur in the outer ear, the part of the ear that you can see.

Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in there to drain out, like water, ear wax or bits of debris.

Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, whining and scratching at the ear(s), yellow to dark brown exudate in the ears, or a yeast like smell. Additional signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common causes of ear infections are allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others. Therefore, they get more ear infections.

Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. Also included here is over enthusiastic baths. In each of these cases, the dogs get water inside their ears and because of their anatomy, the water in the ears cannot drain out. This provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommenced that if you let your dog play in the water, you dry your dog's ears thoroughly afterward. Similarly, after a bath, you should check the inside of your dog's ears for moisture. If you detect any, thoroughly dry the inside of the ear.

If your dog does have an ear infection, it is important to properly clean your dog's ears before applying any medication.

To clean your dog's ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser, available at veterinarian's offices and most pet stores, into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in there. Then use a cloth, cotton swab, or cotton gauze to wipe the dirt out. (Use of Q-tips is not recommended as you could pack the wax or debris more tightly into the ear with them)

After your dog's ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian's advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually one or more drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections they prescribe an antifungal medication and for bacterial infections they will prescribe an antibiotic. Normally treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means you have to give your dog pills orally.

In some dogs with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain more easily.

Dogs that are prone to ear infections include all breeds with large ears that flop over the ear canal and breeds of dogs that have a very small ear canal. By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early when treatment is easier, less painful for your dog and less expensive for you.

Until next time,

Teia