| ur horse is in the field, and it suffers a severe cut, you | | | | All first aid kits should have a flashlight, in case you |
| will want to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. You | | | | have an emergency in the dark. You will also want to |
| will need to make a call to your vet, and there are | | | | have electrolytes in case the horse becomes |
| steps you also need to take in order to provide first | | | | dehydrated. Warming up water and adding a small |
| aid to your horse as soon as possible. You will want to | | | | teaspoon of electrolytes can encourage water |
| stabilize the horse prior to the arrival of the vet. | | | | consumption by your horse. The first aid kit should also |
| The first thing you want to do is make sure you have | | | | have neosporin, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide. Avoid |
| a first aid kit available for the horse in advance. The | | | | using the hydrogen peroxide on wounds as it will |
| first aid kit should have all the important constituents | | | | destroy benign tissue. |
| necessary for emergencies and small cuts. You | | | | You will also want to have wire cutters handy in the |
| always want to make sure that you have first aid | | | | event the horse gets stuck in a gate or wire. You will |
| readily available. You will want to make sure you have | | | | also want to use a twitch which can calm your horse |
| all the important tools you need, and you will want to | | | | and keep him controlled in situations where it will be in |
| know how to use them. | | | | great pain. You will also want to make sure you have |
| A commercially available first aid kit for horses will cost | | | | a knife cutting bandages and other materials. You will |
| between $39 and $80. You will want to make sure the | | | | want to make sure you don't injure your horse when |
| kit has a thermometer so that you can check the | | | | handling the knife. |
| temperature of the horse. All horses should have a | | | | You will want to use the iodine solution to clean out |
| standard temperature of 99 to 115 degrees. The first | | | | any thick wounds. Any wounds which will be treated |
| aid kit should also come with a stethoscope so that | | | | by a veterinarian within a hours of the injury should not |
| you can monitor the heart rate of the horse. You can | | | | have medications applied, and should only be flushed |
| listen clearly to the heartbeat just under the elbow on | | | | with iodine or clean water to prevent them from drying. |
| the left side of the horse. | | | | |