Nursing Skills

1. EQUINE MEDICINE
Nursing Skills

2. ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATIONS
• Intramuscular
• Common sites
• Neck
• Pectorals
• Semimembranosus/tendinosus
• Common needle
• Adult-18/20g 1 ½”
• Foal-20/25g 1”
• Technique
• Common reactions
• At injection site:
• Heat
• Pain
• Swelling

3. ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATIONS
• Subcutaneous
• Not commonly used
• Allergy shot
• Common needle
• 20/25g ½-1”
• Technique
• Needle at base of tent of skin
• Common reactions
• Injection site
• Heat
• Pain
• Swelling

4. ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATIONS
• Intravenous-Jugular
• Common needle
• Any size
• Technique
• Common reactions
• Heat
• Pain
• Swelling
• Thrombosis of vein

5. ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATIONS
• Oral Medications
• Common
• Paste in tube or syringe
• Technique

6. ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATIONS
• Ophthalmic Medications
• Common form:
• Ointment, drops
• Technique
• Subpalpebral Lavage
• Frequent meds
• Difficult horses

7. BLOOD COLLECTION
• Most often from jugular
• Other sites
• Cephalic
• Medial Saphenous
• Lateral Thoracic
• Transverse Facial Venous Sinus
• Method
• Vacutainer
• Needle & syringe
• Common needle
• 20 g 1-1 ½” needle
• Technique
• Common complications
• Heat
• Pain
• Swelling
• Vein thrombosis

8. INTRAVENOUS CATHETERS
• Determination of type:
• Location
• Jugular most common
• Length needed
• Silicone/Polyurethane-long term
• Volume of administration
• Adult-14 gauge
• Foal-14-16 gauge
• Catheter length
• Short-less reactive
• Adult-5” most common
• Foal-2 ½-3”
• Types
• Over the needle
• Over the wire

9. INTRAVENOUS CATHETERS
• Placement-Jugular
• Aseptic technique
• Lidocaine local block
• Catheter insertion
• Similar to IV injections, bevel
towards the heart
• Securing the catheter
• Sutured to skin at hub
• Monitoring & Maintenance
• Flush every 6 hr

10. FLUID ADMINISTRATION
• Fluid Therapy Plan
• Maintenance Requirements
• Adult-50 ml/kg/day
• Foal-75-100 ml/kg/day
• Calculation of Deficit
• BW (kg) x % dehydration=TFD
• Ongoing Losses Estimate

11. FLUID ADMINISTRATION
• Method of Administration
• Oral
• Cost effective
• Limited volume for treatment
• Intravenous
• Rapid
• 30-50L bolus in first 24 hr
• ½ in first 1-2 hr

12. RECUMBENT HORSE CARE
• Requires intense nursing care
• Turn every 6-8 hr
• Must be sternal to eat & drink
• Urinary catheter
• Manual evacuation
• May use sling
• Weak but able to stand
• Compatible horse

13. TRANSPORTATION
• Considerations:
• Long distance
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Respiratory tract problems
• Dehydration
• Sick/Injured
• Don’t tie colics
• Separate foal from mare
• Neurologic horses need support
• Fractures travel better confined

14. TRANSPORTATION
• Loading/Unloading
• Area-dirt if possible
• Equipment:
• Loading ramp
• Halter/Lead
• Butt rope
• Stud chain
• Whip/broom/rake
• Food
• Sedation
You are there to assist/not train the horse!!