06/05/2026
EQUINE HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Brian S. Burks, DVM
Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners®
394 Fox Road
Apollo, PA 15613
(724) 727-3481
www.foxrunequine.com
Like humans, horses have emergencies. If you own horses long enough, you will experience an emergency. These include lacerations, colic, foaling, and neonatal abnormalities; ophthalmic (eye) injuries and trailer accidents. All that time that you spend with your horse, getting to know your horse’s normal personality will help you recognize when something is amiss. These are things that only you can tell your veterinarian, and you should. Trailer accidents provide an entirely different challenge that can be overwhelming emotionally and potentially life-threatening to both you and your horse friend.
Preparation and prevention of further injury are vital when confronted with a medical emergency. After knowing what the normal mental attitude is for your horse, you should learn how to take vital signs, and their normal values. A TPR (Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration) is a good place to start. Knowing what is normal for your horse can be very helpful in an emergency. Even better, have your veterinarian examine your horse at least twice per year to ensure that small things may be identified early, and an emergency avoided. Having a veterinary-client-patient relationship prior to an emergency will help ensure that your horse will be seen more quickly during an emergency; if the only time you call a veterinarian is for an emergency, he or she will most likely see a regular patient first. Also, regular care, including vaccination and de-worming, by your veterinarian will make him or her more familiar with your horse.
Temperature: taken with a digital or glass re**al thermometer, normally 99 to 100.50F.
Pulse (heart rate): listen to the heart on the left side of the chest, just above the elbow, or feel under the bottom jaw for the facial artery. Count the number of beats that occur in one minute. The heart rate is normally 28-40 beats per minute.
Respiratory rate: count the number of breaths that occur in one minute, this is normally 10-20 breaths per minute. You should also notice if the breathing pattern appears normal or abnormal.
Exercise will increase all the above in proportion to your horse's level of fitness and the weather conditions, so keep this in mind when taking measurements. Some horses' resting heart rates tend to stay in the 30's, others in the low 40's - this information is good to know at the time of an emergency.
Mucous membrane color and capillary refill time (CRT) can help determine the severity of some problems (e.g., colic, hemorrhage). These signs are also used to monitor the response to therapy. Normal oral mucous membranes in the horse are pale pink to pink, and should be moist to the touch. CRT refers to the length of time it takes the membranes to become pink again when they are pressed firmly but quickly with one finger. Normal CRT is up to 2 seconds. Prolongation of the CRT occurs with changes in blood flow to tissues which is seen with shock, severe hemorrhage, etc. A change in color of the mucous membranes will also occur with conditions causing decreased blood flow and/or changes in oxygenation of the tissues (severe colic, severe pneumonia, etc.).
So, to evaluate the above, one needs the following as part of an equine first aid kit:
• Re**al thermometer
• Watch with a second hand
• Stethoscope or practice palpating peripheral pulse to measure accurate heart rates; when listening, remember there are usually 2 heart sounds for each beat. Take time to practice when everything is calm and quiet.
Prior training of the horse to allow elevation of the upper lip to examine the mm and CRT is also quite helpful when an emergency arises.
Other characteristics of your horse should be familiar to an observant horse owner and barn manager.
Feed and water intake - does he/she eat slowly or quickly, does he/she often have hay left over or is it usually all gone? Normal water intake for horses varies with the season but is usually at least 20 - 25 liters (5-6 gallons) per day.
Manure production - how much is usually seen overnight (i.e., how much is there to clean up in the AM)? Are the f***l balls usually well formed, slightly moist, slightly dry? Variations from the norm in this area can be a sign of impending colic or other problems.
Attitude and behavior - usually perky and happy to see you or normally somewhat cranky, especially in the stall? Pain or discomfort caused by many different problems will often present initially as a change in behavior or attitude
You may also want to note intestinal sounds, swellings, defecation, urination, and the condition of your horse’s surroundings. An accurate history is important to help your veterinarian arrive at a diagnosis and proper treatment. These include vaccinations, historical surgeries or injuries, and other medical problems such as laminitis, colic, or pneumonia. Age of the patient is also important, as some disorders are more likely in young versus adult horses.
Mild colic may resolve with time and minimal treatment. Some walking and small doses of analgesics frequently result in a quick resolution of discomfort. The horse should not be fed again till he/she has been comfortable for several hours, has passed f***s, and any analgesics given have worn off. Medications should only be used with the advice of a veterinarian. All medication can have side effects and may do more harm than good. If the horse becomes painful again, call your vet immediately.
Unfortunately, horses being horses, some of the above problems may occur at least once or more during your time as a horse owner. Hopefully, they will be mild and/or easily treated; however, if your horse develops any of the problems discussed above, call your veterinarian for advice.
A few serious signs of injury to report to your veterinarian include a hunched-up stance, dangling a limb, sunken or dull eyes, lowered head, a stiff, grinning face, and rolling. Additionally, profuse sweating, swelling of the lips or muzzle, and blood from the nostrils or ears are indications of trouble. Having these values and clinical signs available when you call your veterinarian may help to triage emergencies and may prepare you for referral to an equine hospital. Additionally, you should follow these simple guidelines:
1. Keep your veterinarian’s phone number available- by the telephone or on the stall door. If you are traveling, call 911 and tell the operator that you are faced with an equine emergency.
2. Consult with your regular veterinarian regarding the nearest referral center’s phone number.
3. Know the most direct route to the nearest equine hospital and know where to get a trailer quickly. Waiting too long for a trailer may result in increased severity or may even be fatal. This means that your horse should be familiar with loading prior to any emergency.
4. Post the names of others that can be contacted if you are not available. It is also a good idea to have a written plan for when you are out of town; for example, would you have colic surgery performed, if necessary. This plan should be on file with your veterinarian, and accessible in the barn.
5. Prepare a first aid kit, and store it in a clean, dry, accessible area. You may want a smaller version to take on the trail.
First aid kits should include the following:
• Cotton roll
• Gauze roll
• Gauze pads
• Antibiotic wound ointment, such as Silvadene
• Standing wraps or quilts
• Bandage scissors
• Re**al thermometer
• Surgical scrub and antiseptic solution
• Stethoscope
• Clippers
• Latex gloves
• Disposable diapers or sanitary napkins to cover large wounds, absorb blood and exudate.
• Vet-wrap- but never use without padding
Never administer medications without consulting your veterinarian first. Medications can have devastating effects if used improperly. Tranquilizers or sedatives should not be part of your kit because of the dangers to yourself and others around you; they may be fatal if injected into a person. Only an experienced veterinarian should administer sedatives. Also, remember that despite any information you provide on the telephone, your veterinarian cannot provide a diagnosis without seeing your horse.
Emergencies include the following: lacerations and puncture wounds; anything involving the eyes; acute, non-weight bearing lameness, dystocia or difficult birth, severe or uncontrolled bleeding, severe esophageal obstruction, abdominal pain (colic) and trailer accidents. If you think it is something that cannot wait until the following day, tell your veterinarian- if you think it is an emergency, it is one until proven otherwise. If your regular veterinarian cannot reach you for several hours, then you may want to consider calling the nearest referral center.
Know the safety zones to stand in while helping your horse. DO NOT stand directly in front or behind the horse. Horses can kick with their hind limbs up to five feet behind and to the sides. When the horse is down, stay on the BACK side, not on the feet side. Horses rise by swinging their head and neck up, then bringing the front limbs forward. He then luges forward and pushes up with the hind limbs. Never put yourself in danger; do not get into pools or deep mud; trained rescue personnel are required for these situations.
If possible, prevent further injury by confinement or restraint. A horse that is thrashing may calm down if you talk to him in a low, steady voice. Pulling the head above the withers when on the ground and then sitting with your knees on his neck will help to prevent continued movement and injury. Pull the nose up and back, if necessary. Stay on the ‘top’ side of the horse, away from the feet. You may want to pad the down eye to prevent injury. Fractures, lacerations, ophthalmic injuries, are better off confined until help arrives, or you can load him on a trailer for transport to an equine referral center.
With trailer accidents, do not enter the trailer until trained help has arrived. STOP and evaluate the situation, as improper extraction may cause more harm to you and your horse. Call 911 first, and alert them that you have an equine emergency. You will want both fireman/CART team experienced in equine emergencies and a veterinarian with experience to handle trailer accidents. The veterinarian is important to evaluate the health status of your horse or horses PRIOR to extraction, and again after your horse has been removed. He or she may also be the most qualified person to direct your horse’s extraction.
Safety is paramount for you, your horse, and for emergency responders. Stay away from the back legs, and work from outside the trailer as much as possible. Remain as calm as possible; if you cannot, let someone else work with your horse. Improper use of tranquilizers may cause more harm than good to your horse. Even when sedated, horses can, and do, wake up very quickly and violently. Their first thought is to flee from danger. Proper extraction techniques should also be used, to minimize further injury to your horse; improper use of ropes and mechanized vehicles can result in tail luxation, suffocation, and/or fractures to the limbs.
Remember to evaluate your horse’s surroundings and remove potential hazards; this will help to avoid emergencies. Check your truck and trailer before embarking on a trip with your horse. Remember, in an emergency, time is critical. If your horse is showing signs of severe abdominal pain, you only have a matter of hours before bowel begins to die, and toxins are released into the blood, making matters much worse. Lacerations become more severely infected when there is a delay, and vision can be lost if an ophthalmic condition is not treated expediently.
Dr. Brian Burks is the directing veterinarian and owner of Fox Run Equine Center, a 24-hour medical-surgical center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Burks was an intern and then a resident in equine internal medicine. He is the only board-certified equine practitioner in western Pennsylvania. Many emergency cases are seen in the hospital setting, and on the farm, including colic, lacerations, lameness, dystocia, and eye injuries.
Fox Run Equine Center
www.foxrunequine.com
(724) 727-3481
