Editor’s note: The following has been reprinted with permission from the AAEP Foundation, Inc.
According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the following situations are serious enough that a veterinarian should be called immediately:
•Any uncontrolled bleeding
•Foreign objects protruding from the body (don’t remove
them!)
•Lacerations
•Injury to the eye or eyelids
•Aggressive or unusual behavior
•Neurological signs (tripping, walking into objects)
•Lameness
•Mares which are actively in labor for more than 20 minutes
without progress
•Difficultly breathing
•Multiple animals getting sick at once
•Off feed
•Signs of abdominal discomfort (colic)
When in doubt, call the veterinarian! Keep your veterinarian’s phone number and your first aid kit handy. In an emergency, time is critical. By acting quickly and promptly, you can minimize the consequences of an injury or illness. Your horse’s health and well-being depend on it.