AUGUST 2004 RECREATIONAL / TRAIL RIDING ISSUE
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AUGUST 2004 RECREATIONAL / TRAIL RIDING ISSUE |
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CONTENTS Trail Riding with Backcountry Horsemen
UPCOMING
ISSUES |
First Aid Tip - Medication
Administration By Emmy Widman Sometimes horses need medical attention, whether the situation is a medical emergency or not. In emergencies, call your veterinarian and be prepared to give him or her detailed information about your horse’s problems and discuss a plan on how best to deal with it. In any medical situation, you should keep your horse calm, observe the horse’s behavior, and move him or her to a safe location. If you know how, take the horse’s vital signs, such as temperature, heart rate and breaths per minute. That information is generally very useful for your veterinarian. If a wound is discovered, evaluate the severity and be prepared to describe it accurately. “Listen to and follow your veterinarian’s advice and do not administer any drugs unless specifically instructed to do so,” said Dr. Tamara Swor, a clinical instructor of equine surgery and head of emergency services at WSU. “You may need to wait for your veterinarian to arrive to assist you.” Having a first-aid kit on hand is also a good idea. For tips on creating a first-aid kit and the essential materials that should be included in one, check the Summer 2004 Equine News edition online at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine Web site (www.vetmed.wsu.edu). If the horse’s problem is not an emergency, consult your veterinarian about prescriptions and materials you may need to treat your horse. Common problems include mild lameness, stiffness after exercise, degenerative joint disease, hives, small amounts of nasal discharge, low fever, and many others. “It is important to consult your veterinarian, as some of these problems may be more serious than they appear, or may progress to a more severe and costly problem,” Dr. Swor said. Medications can be administered a number of ways, including orally, through intramuscular injection, or through a vein called intravenous injection. Before administering any medication, be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations on which one to use and how, and use only those administration methods you feel comfortable with and qualified to use. Oral medications include pastes, tablets and liquids. Common oral medications include anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. If the oral medication is liquid, it usually can be mixed with a small amount of grain and fed to the horse. Likewise, if it comes in tablet form, consider crushing and mixing the medication with a small amount of corn syrup or molasses, and then stir it with feed. Some oral medications can also be administered through a syringe into the mouth, or through a paste tube. If this is the case, restrain your horse’s head, gently place the syringe in the corner of your horse’s mouth on top of the tongue, and inject slowly making sure he or she swallows. If you accidentally administer too much oral medication, contact your veterinarian immediately. “Depending on what medication you are administering, it may require immediate veterinary treatment, or just that you keep a close watch on your horse or decrease that amount of medication given for the following dose,” Dr. Swor said. Intramuscular medications include antibiotics, sedatives and anti-inflammatories, and should be administered only on the recommendation of your veterinarian. To administer intramuscular medication, get specific instructions from your veterinarian. Be sure you know where to properly administer the drug in the horse, such as the neck or hindquarter. Intramuscular medications involve the use of a syringe and needle, so sterility and safety is vital. Use a new syringe and needle for each injection, and clean the skin around the site prior to the injection. Injections may cause an adverse reaction in a horse, so individuals using a needle and syringe must take care for their safety, anyone assisting them, and the horse. Once the needle is properly placed in the muscle of the injection site, pull back on the syringe to make sure blood does not flow back into the syringe. This ensures the drug is not injected into the bloodstream. If no blood is seen, inject the medication. If a large volume of medication (more than 10-15cc) is needed at one time, more than one injection site may be needed for better absorption. Injection sites should be changed each time so the horse does not get too sore in one area, and to reduce the risk of an injection site infection. “If your horse gets sore or swollen at an injection site, call your veterinarian immediately as a local infection may need immediate veterinary treatment,” Dr. Swor said. “You should also call immediately if your horse shows signs of agitation, shivering, shaking, or abnormal behavior following your injection. Such signs may indicate an adverse drug reaction.” Intravenous medications also include antibiotics, sedatives and anti-inflammatories. Administering medications this way requires specific skills and are associated with considerable risks for injury to the horse if performed improperly. Horsemen should receive specific instructions from their veterinarian on how to administer an intravenous injection. Most intravenous medications are injected into the jugular vein. Again sterility is vital in this case, and a new syringe and needle must be used for each injection. A good site preparation technique should be used, which your veterinarian can demonstrate. To inject an intravenous drug, insert the needle into the horse’s vein, and observe dark-colored venous blood running from the needle. Attach the syringe and pull back on it to make sure blood does flow back into the needle. Inject the drug carefully and slowly to ensure all drugs are injected into the vein. “Drugs injected outside the vein in this case can cause severe problems, including infection and tissue loss in that area,” Dr. Swor said. “If this happens, call your veterinarian immediately so that he or she can treat the area locally. You may have to place hot compresses on the area and monitor swelling for several days.” The internal carotid artery that lies beneath the jugular vein must also be avoided when applying an injection. “An injection into an artery rather that the vein will make the horse extremely agitated and is often a life threatening complication because the drug travels to the brain, instead of diluting in the venous blood and then circulating through the body,” she said. Intra-arterial injections can cause horses to collapse and exhibit seizures, or rear over backwards. Owners can medicate their horses, but proper selection of medication and administration should be done with a veterinarian’s help. Most drugs require a prescription, and clients are best served by obtaining medication from their veterinarian directly so that they can receive appropriate client education regarding the proper use and precautions for each medication they may need to give their horse. For more information about medication administration, contact your local veterinarian or the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 509-335-0711. |
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