What to Do Until the Vet Arrives: Emergency Care for Horses

The horse owner's go-to guide in an emergency, when you need information and guidance you can trust.

Most horse owners know that injury and illness can be part of life with an equine in your care. Veterinarians, farriers, and urgent care clinics are usually on speed dial--just in case. But there may come a time when you're faced with an emergency health crisis when professional care is difficult to access. When that happens, what should you do for your horse while you're both waiting for help to arrive?

The internet is full of information, but in the immediate time surrounding an emergency and while awaiting professional veterinary help, you want a source you can absolutely trust. That's why highly regarded veterinarian Dr. Nancy Loving has brought together specific strategies you can use in health care emergencies in this illustrated guidebook. Her strategically organized, practical, and verified advice gives you what you need to both help your horse right now while also improving the outcome once the problem has been addressed by a professional.

In this book, readers learn:

• What constitutes an equine emergency.


• Safe places to treat and safe ways to restrain a horse who may be in pain.


• What to have in a first aid kit.


• How to administer emergency medication.


• How to take vital signs.

In addition, Dr. Loving highlights many common emergencies that horse owners face. You'll find specific steps you can take to help your horse through:

• Intestinal Issues, including diarrhea and colic


• Choke


• Fever


• Dehydration or shock


• Heat stress


• Tying Up or myositis


• Respiratory concerns


• Eye injuries


• Allergic reactions


• Insect and spider bites and stings


• Wound trauma


• Hematoma/seroma and firm swellings


• Snake bite


• Poisoning


• Acute lameness


• Stone bruise or foot abscess


• Laminitis


• Tendon or ligament injury


• Serious limb injury or fracture


• The cast or trapped horse


• Neurologic abnormalities

As a responsible horse owner, you always want to do what's best for your horse. This is the book we all need to ensure we can do just that.

Dr. Nancy Loving's intense
interest in horses began at an early age and continues to figure prominently in
both her professional and personal life. She has ridden dressage and evented,
and she discovered the unique challenges of distance riding in 1983. After
graduating from Colorado State University Veterinary School in 1985, Dr. Loving
practiced equine medicine and surgery at her own Loving Equine Clinic in
Boulder, Colorado. She has been involved in the endurance world as an
FEI-sanctioned veterinarian and as team vet for the USEF national endurance
squad, bringing to these pursuits her knowledge gleaned from many miles and
years spent in the saddle training and competing her own endurance horses. She
is also the author of All Horse Systems Go and Go the
Distance.