First Aid Kit - what do you have in yours?

[Kay Emerton]

Hello All

I would like some advice on what to have in a First Aid Kit for horses. I have an extensive list of products however i would be interested in finding out from people what has worked for you, what you store your kit in etc. I don't see the point in breaking the bank but would like to have the essentials

Thanks

K

[Bebe]

I have all the usual recommended stuff, animalintex, vetwrap, liniment, etc but the most used things seem to be:

Lincoln green antiseptic gel (also repels flys)
Salt and water (saline solution)
Nappy cream (sudacreme or zinc & castor oil is the same stuff)
Arnica cream/tablets
human plasters (used on humans)
hibiscrub
Electical tape (to fasten bandages)
tea towels (make good temporary dressings in summer when you don't want flies to get onto wounds that can't be properly dressed until the vet turns up. Wash two together and fold one inside the other, always use the inside one).
Sponges

I've also been told that sanitary towels make a cheap & good alternative to animalintex and baby nappies are good for hoof poultices.

Amanda

[Piaffe]

I keep most of what Bebe has, plus I found some excellent antiseptic wipes - ideal for shows etc when you can't get easy access to water!

I also use vetpowder - antiseptic wound powder, and purple spray.

Robinsons do an excellent starter kit and it's not too expensive - I started with this and have built my kit up over the years.

[ally]

Hi,
A godsend if you have access to a freezer or fridge with a freezer compartment is a packet of frozen vegetables ..ie..like peas or sweetcorn.
If you ever need to reduce heat in the leg , or over a joint this is great!!
Always remember though to place a dry dressing on first to stop ice burns ok, as you dont want to make matters worse.
I use a clean dry face flannel or tea towel.
Then use a stable bandage to hold it in place. The vegetables can be re frozen and used again but dont eat them ok (yuck )

Love Ally.

[happyhorse]

i have all the same stuff as you, except i have a kool pack and i was told to throw vet powder away as it can do more harm than good!

[Kay Emerton]

Happy Horse why is wound powder harmful??

K

[happyhorse]

not harmful as such, but i was told that wound powder can cause more harm than good as it can stop the air getting to the wound and bacteria then breeds underneath. my vet told me to use purple spray and chuck my vet powder.

[Piaffe]

Strange about the vet powder! I used to use it on my dog as well, as recommended by my vet!!

I would have thought that being a powder it WOULD allow the wound to breathe? I have to say I only use the powder after using purple/yellow antiseptic spray, mostly in summer to keep off the flies.

[happyhorse]

my youngster i owned last year ( that i later sold) hurt his left back leg quite seriously. He had a massive hole in it and i had to treat it as he wouldn't allow a vet near without heavy sedation and we couldn't sedate him every day. i was told by my vet then that i should get rid of wound powder as it can hinder healing rather than promote it.


pony vet any ideas ??

[Duchess]

My vet also told my not to use wound powder, his exact words were "cheap and useless and prevents the air getting through".

One of my favourites is sudo creme.

[Kay Emerton]

So do you use Zinc and Castor Oil cream, or Sudocreme for wounds? What about BR cream for horses is that the same thing or can it be used for other things? Same gos for Purple spray/ green spray/cream whats the difference?!!

So many potions its confusing!

Kay

[myEllie]

Here is what I have in mine, at least what I can remember.

vetrap
sheet cotton
gauze
bandaging tape
scissors
ice packs (in the freezer)
epsom salt
poultice
wonder dust
blue kote
some tea tree gel stuff (sorry don't know name)
liniment
rubbing alcohol
peroxide
bute
rompum (sp?)
sponges
clean towels
furazol (sp?)
cut-heal
Swat

That is all I can think of for now. I'm going out to the barn after class, so I will make a list and post it later.

[happyhorse]

i use sudo cream rather than zinc and castor oil, although they are generally the same i prefer sudo cream. Couldn't have a first aid kit without it!