Uh oh, horse been in a fight.... & medi kit advice

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Kub

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Just got a call from a lady at my yard, looks like Harry has been in a fight and has some pretty nasty cuts
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They said not to worry, it's not really bad, just looks very sore. So trying not to worry but I can't get over there until my work lunchtime at 1, which is really annoying coz I just want to make sure he's ok! Especially since this is the first time he's got hurt since I've had him, so all a bit unknown territory
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I'm thinking of bringing him in and popping him in his stable this afternoon, is that a good idea? Friend says I can use her antibiotic cream to put on the cuts and *hopefully* it'll all be fine.

This has made me think though, that I don't really have a medical kit for him... So, lovely knowledge people of HH, what do you think should be in a medical kit for a horse? All the essentials please. Thanks *sigh*
 
Hope Harry is OK!

Depends on the cuts really. If it's superficial cuts, then cleaning them and putting cream on should be sufficient (if your fields are very muddy and the cuts are likely to get dirty you may want to keep cleaning them 3 times a day for the next day or so and keep an eye on them). If they are more significant cuts, either deep or large requiring stitches, or if you are worried that underlying structures are damages (e.g. tendons), or if they become infected you need to call a vet.

A first aid kit is a very useful thing to have. Most tack shops sell ready made ones, but you can also put your own together. Off the top of my head I have in mine:

- Hibiscrub
- sudocream
- bandages
- sterile pads
- gamgee
- duct tape
- purple spray or similar
- antibiotic cream
- cotton wool
- ice pack

...I am sure I am forgeting something!
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Its important that everyone has there own first aid kit and thatlivery yards have one everyone can access in case ofan emergancy, if they need to treat someones horse in the owners absance and not having to search though tackrooms and grooming boxes to see what they can scrape up.

You can buy first aid kits with the basics in, or you can make up your own, there are lots of websites...simply google horse first aid kit and you will find lots of information on what you need to have in your kit.

People also sometimes forget to put useful contact numbers in like the owners vet/farrier/family/work/doctor/horse disposal etc

Wire cutters are also a good thing to have handy too.
 
Antiseptic cream like sudocrem is fine for minor grazes but do not use it on anything more than a graze, as it will seal in dirt and bacteria and actually can cause infection.

Last Christmas, my horse was kicked in the field (in the head) and ended up with a deep wound down to the bone. The YO a) did not tell me about it the night it happened, so we were unable to have the horse's wound sutured (a wound needs to be stitched within hours of it happening); b) slapped half a tub of sudocrem on it. We went up the next day and it was a right mess. We called the vet out who had to sedate him to clean the extent of the dirt and the sudocrem out as it went so deep, he's a big horse and just wouldn't let us near. She cleaned it out with a weak hibbiscrub solution, first flushing it with syringes full of the stuff and then wiping it out. Then she covered the wound with a hydrogel which keeps dirt out and helps hold the wound together while it heals.

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You can still see the sudocrem around it, but the wound looks clean and almost healthy in an odd way. That was after the vet had been that afternoon and used the hydrogel. You will notice that he has a couple of bits of hay on the wound - if he'd had sudocrem on still then this would have worked its way in and been sealed in, but because of the hydrogel, it just stuck to the outside! They are quite inexpensive to buy and I always have several in my first aid box.
 
Ouch, that looks really nasty! Poor thing, and can't believe YO didn't tell you straight away.

Well I'm hoping they're not too deep, I think they lady who saw him this morning and checked him over would have said straight away if they needed stitches or anything, I think it's just more that it seems very sore and he didn't want her touching them, which is understandable. I'm pretty sure he was only out with one other horse who has shoes on, which is probably what's caused the damage.

Once I've taken a look at him, is it better to put him back out in the field or would be ok to leave him in his stable this afternoon?
 
I think you will know when you see him. If the field is muddy & there are a lot of grazes i would be inclinded to leave him in until they scab over a bit, unless he is a horse that frets being in.
Hydrogel is fab stuff. i also get Melonin dressings from Boots - they are burn dressings & do don't stick to open wound.
Aloe Vera gel is great to have on stand by too.
 
It's quite muddy out and it's raining here too so think in may be better. He's fine stabled so hopefully give him lots of hay and he can just have a chilled out afternoon.

Aloe vera gel is the only thing I have so far, and has been all I've needed, didn't really think about anything else mainly because nothing's happened before lol. Silly horses
 
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It's quite muddy out and it's raining here too so think in may be better. He's fine stabled so hopefully give him lots of hay and he can just have a chilled out afternoon.

Aloe vera gel is the only thing I have so far, and has been all I've needed, didn't really think about anything else mainly because nothing's happened before lol. Silly horses

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As you say, we don't know how deep the cuts are, and they're probably not as deep as Lanky's was, but he had to be stabled for a week and then put on one of the summer starvy paddocks (in WINTER) to lessen the likelihood of the mud getting in, the scab being knocked off etc.
 
Update: Been to see Harry, looks like someone tried to eat him
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Big bite marks down his right hand side, hair hanging off, looking pretty sore poor thing.

Luckily only superficial though, had started healing over already and gave them a quick clean and then put some anti-bacteral salve on, so hopefully should be fine. He was happy enough in himself, which is the most important thing, and was ok with me tending to his wounds, I really thinK he's starting to feel like my horse
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He's now tucked up in his stable with loads of hay, lots of stuff to lick and the radio on hehe. I know what I'll be doing this weekend.... First aid kit shopping
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