Knowledge
Vet Insight
Connie Bowkett-Pritchard BVSc PGCert (VetMed) MRCVS graduated from the University of Liverpool. She then completed an internship in an East Midlands referral hospital alongside a post graduate certificate with the University of Nottingham. She works at Field Equine Vets, a busy equine practice in Worcestershire and is currently studying for a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, focusing on lameness
Injuries in the Field Wounds, hoof penetration & fractures Field injuries are unfortunately a common part of equine emergency practice. A study1 investigating equine traumatic injuries found that 62 percent of horses were injured in the field; interestingly, cob and pony breeds suffered a lower incidence of injury compared to other breeds and competition horses had a higher injury risk. This article will discuss common field injuries, give advice on what to do while waiting for the vet to arrive and provide information regarding veterinary procedures that your horse may require.
Wounds
Wounds are commonly due to kicks from other horses but can result from tangling in fencing and hedgerows. Not all require veterinary intervention but ones that do include: • Full skin thickness wounds (which may need sutures) – wounds can just penetrate the skin or go deeper exposing muscle (which appears a dark pink colour) and bone
• Wounds near to a joint or tendon sheath • Profuse haemorrhage – if a wound has punctured an artery, the bleeding will be pulsatile and appear bright red • Limb wounds where the horse is markedly lame Puncture wounds should not be underestimated as they can penetrate much deeper than suspected. If you are unsure, it is best to discuss the injury with your vet and sending photos can be very useful. When calling the vet, useful information to provide includes the horse’s tetanus vaccination status, the location of the wound (be as specific as you can), if bone or muscle is visible, the amount of bleeding, whether the horse is lame and the degree of lameness. While waiting for the vet, cleaning the wound is a useful step to take. This can be accomplished using tap water; a hosepipe is useful to provide enough pressure to remove any dirt. Application of creams and sprays is not recommended – this hinders examination of the wound and can delay wound healing. If the wound is bleeding profusely, applying
pressure is important – this can be achieved with a cotton wool bandage. A severely lame horse should not be moved unless it is unsafe for the horse or handlers to remain in the present location. On arrival, the vet will check the horse’s vaccination status – tetanus vaccination is essential. This involves two primary vaccinations four to six weeks apart, followed by a booster 12 months later; subsequently vaccinations are given every two years. If a horse is not vaccinated, the vet will administer tetanus antitoxin which provides short-term protection but does not act as a vaccine. Cleaning the wound is important for a thorough examination; this is usually achieved with sterile saline. The vet may use a probe to determine the depth of the wound and which structures are affected. Ultrasound and X-ray may also be needed. With limb wounds, it is very important to ascertain whether the wound has penetrated a synovial structure which include joints and tendon sheaths. Synovial sepsis (infection) is a serious condition with
This youngster sustained a large laceration to the shoulder which was full skin thickness and also affected the muscle. The wound was lavaged extensively with sterile saline and then sutured. The horse fully recovered with no complications
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Polo Times, November 2020
www.polotimes.co.uk
