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 Snakebite Emergencies- What Equine Owners Should Do?
One of the worst things for a horse in the summertime is snakebite, especially if you live in an area where snakes are present. When riding through the pasture, keep a lookout for snakes. If you see one, stay clear of it. If your horse spooks, dont provoke or anger the snake. This could lead to you and your horse getting bit. You know that most cell phones dont work in the pasture, so youre probably really in a jam if youve both been bitten. If this should happen, remember to stay calm, and dont panic. This can cause the venom to travel faster through the horses blood stream and he may be dead before the vet arrives. Call a vet immediately; they will want to treat the horse as soon as possible. If not, you may be horseless. A horse can run into a snake anywhere, but most
generally its going to be when theyre grazing. The majority of snakebites occur on the horses face or muzzle. When and if your horse gets bit, this is an emergency. Take your horse to the vet. When a horse becomes excited or goes into shock, this can cause the hemo-toxic and cardio-toxic venom of the snake to travel faster through the horses lymphatic system.
When your horse is bitten you need to stay calm, but you also need to keep your horse calm and avoid unnecessary movements. Time is critical, so you need to contact a vet immediately. The calmer you keep your horse, the slower the venom will travel.
The two main factors in a horse when being bitten by a snake are the location of the bite and the amount of venom that protruded the skin. The bite area tends to swell, turn black and blue, and is very painful. The swelling is usually around the mouth and nostril area.
When treating the bitten area, dont cut or suction the bite. A vet will want to reestablish airway function, limit necrosis, decrease the swelling, and limit the cardiac or long-term affects of venom. The vet will prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and tetanus protection. Below are four tips if you find your horse has been bitten and you cant get a hold of the vet.
Stay safe: some horses may become upset and violent. Stay clear of the animal if they become this way. Dont get in the way; stay clear and as far back as possible. You could get kicked, trampled, and very seriously hurt. Then both of you would be going to seek emergency help.
Try to keep the horse still and calm. Everything you can do to keep the horse stable and calm is recommended. Talk to your horse let him know your there, a calm, gentle voice will soothe him.
If you have any kind of anti-inflammatory drugs for horses, administer them. They will help with the swelling.
If the horse cant breathe, grab a small tube and open the nostrils. This may save the horse sometime if you help it breathe. If worse comes to worse, you may have to perform an emergency tracheotomy. Youll have to cut a small slip where the windpipe is and shove a tube through the windpipe. If you dont do this, your horse will suffocate to death.
After reading these you probably wont want to let your horse out of the corral during the summer, but dont worry. Usually the snake wont bother the horse unless provoked. If the horse steps on the snake then he is probably going to get bit. Most rattlesnakes bask in the sun and are not looking for trouble. Having your horse bit by a rattlesnake is very low, especially if you dont even have snakes around.
If your horse does get bit just remember to, keep them calm, comfortable, call a vet immediately, and stay calm. There is nothing worse than to panic. If you panic, the horse can sense it and will fall off the deep end, too. More than likely, if your horse hasnt been bitten too badly, he will survive. If you wait too long to contact the vet, he may not. Take immediate action when dealing with snakebites. They can be deadly to any kind of animal.
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