This document discusses equine emergencies related to wounds and lacerations. It provides details on assessing wound severity, factors in wound history like time since injury and contamination, cleaning and treating wounds, and wound closure options like primary closure for fresh wounds or secondary closure for large wounds in high motion areas. The goal is returning the horse to function while minimizing cosmetic effects.

1. Equine Emergencies
Part 2
Ernie Martinez II DVM

2. MAP
Intro Prep Normal Eyes
Wounds Lame! Colic Foals & Foaling
YOU
ARE
HERE
GRAPHIC
IMAGES
READY!!!

3. WOUNDS & LACERATIONS
• Tend to be on lower limbs, head
• Scrapes to full thickness wounds
• Assess Severity - SAFETY & GLOVES
• How deep?
• Joint or Tendon involved?
• Foreign Body? - DO NOT REMOVE
• Bleeding - Slow drip vs. Spraying

4. WOUND HISTORY
• How long since injury?
• ~6-8hrs ok to suture
• Factors
• Type of injury - Mechanism
• Location - Blood Supply/Movement
• Patient
• Contamination

5. “DOC, MY HORSE CUT HIS LEG!”
• Secure animal - lead rope, stall,
pen
• Sedate animal if fractious
• Safely and gently clean with
Povidone-Iodine Scrub
• Assess involvement of tendons
and joints ---Referral Clinic
• Apply pressure if profuse bleeding
• Stay calm 6-8hr window

6. WOUND OPTIONS
• Goal - Return to function with minimal cosmetic affect
• Primary Closure- Fresh, minimal contamination, non vital tissues
• Delayed Primary- Severe contamination, swollen
• Secondary Closure- Large wounds, high motion
• Skin grafting & Reconstructive Sx