Medicine Chest Must-Haves
All of your veterinary products must be kept dry and clean. Sterile dressings kept in a clean box or plastic bag. Keep your cotton wool in a separate bag already torn into an assortment of pieces. Try and get traditional cotton wool and not the synthetic type. Make sure they are locked away from small fingers.
And I cannot stress how important it is to keep an up to date kit, pet care in horses is paramount as they are very vulnerable to field injuries and mishaps. Always use a new cotton wool to clean a wound and when soiled throw it away, do not re-use it. If you are dealing with an infection or just cleaning a wound only dip clean cotton wool into the water, never contaminate the water with soiled cotton wool. Make sure all of your first aid kit is only used for that purpose. Make sure you have your vet and Farrier's telephone numbers to hand at all time, even when out riding. If your horse is suffering from shook we recommend using
Bachs Flower Rescue Remedy orally, it can reduce shock rapidly.
Recommended Contents
- Antiseptic cream, wound powder and gentian violet spray (Suducrem is invaluable)
- Cotton wool try and get a roll rather than swabs, they can be used for a multitude of things, also make sure it is real cotton and not the synthetic type.
- Clean sponge and bucket
- Salt for cleaning wounds, don't use too much it can burn and bottled water.
- Disposable latex gloves
- Good pair of blunt ended scissors
- Towel
- Petroleum jelly ( for slapping on wounds to protect them from flies)
- Animalintex impregnated poultice dressing
- Gamgee ( for padding under bandages)
- Vet wrap ( self sticking bandage)
- Stable bandages
- Thermometer
- Epsom Salts
- Crepe bandages
- Gauze or non sticking dressing
- Hydrogen Peroxide (20% vol)
- Kaolin paste for poulticing
- Stockholm Tar
- Surgical Spirit
- Surgical Tape
- TCP
- Vapour Rub
- Witch hazel
- Arnica Cream for bruising (do not put on broken skin)
If you are travelling to a show always take the basics with you.
- Wound dressing powder
- Gamgee
- Bandages
- Surgical Tape
- Animalintex poultice
- Scissors ( blunt ended)
- Cotton Wool
- TCP
- Vaseline
