COLIC:

• Clinical Signs

  • Rolling, pawing, yawning, stretching, flank-watching, kicking at abdomen, lethargy, poor to no appetite, lack of manure production or diarrhea, sweating, flehman response (flip up the upper lip into the air). 

• What To Do

  • Take a heart rate, prevent horse from rolling, walk if safe, and call the vet immediately. 

  • Do NOT feed the horse, DO take any food away

  • Only give medication if instructed to do so by veterinarian

  • While the colic may resolve on its own, it is better to alert the vet to the situation and keep in communication about the situation

CHOKE:

• Clinical Signs

  • Excess salivation, retching, coughing, nasal discharge with food material. 

• What To Do

  • Call the veterinarian immediately, remove all feed and water from the stall. 

  • Do not administer any medication unless instructed to do so by the veterinarian.

LACERATIONS:

• What To Do

  • If Bleeding:

    • Apply a pressure bandage to stop bleeding, do NOT remove if bleeding soaks through, just apply more layers.

    • Call the veterinarian

  • If Not Bleeding:

    • Clean wound with antiseptic and wrap to clean wound

    • Call your veterinarian. Sometimes small and seemingly simple wounds can be located over vital anatomical structures and may cause more severe problems, such as joint or tendon sheath infections. While the horse may or may not need to be seen, a phone call is a simple way to help determine the severity of the wound.

TYING-UP:

• Clinical Signs:

  • Stiff gait, reluctance to walk, muscle tremors, diffuse/ severe sweating, dark urine. 

• What To Do:

  • Call the veterinarian. Walk if symptoms seem mild and horse is willing. Offer SMALL amounts of water, and give oral electrolytes. If horse is hot, cool SLOWLY (i.e. cold hose from the fetlocks down on all 4 feet). If horse seems cold then apply a blanket (unless horse is not comfortable wearing one).