If you own a horse it’s essential to have a sufficiently stocked First Aid Kit. Start by getting a 19″ plastic toolbox from your local hardware store that has a lid to place all of the first aid supplies in the tightly sealed container. You can also use a similar sized nylon tote bag if your prefer.

The following are some of necessary supples needed for a properly stocked First Aid Kit.

Non-Sterile Cotton Tipped Swabs:
Six inch long wooden handles, with ample soft cotton tips; use for cleaning around eyes, ears, nostrils, and mucous membrane areas; for cleaning wound areas & applying medications; keep your expensive medications contamination free by using an applicator rather than your dirty fingers and hands.

Non-Sterile Gauze:
Use these 4″ X 4″, 12 ply gauze pads for a multitude of uses in many medical needs; cleansing wound areas; wound and bleeding packing; dressings; application of medications & more.

Sterile Gauze:
4″ X 4″ sterile gauze pads; packaged individually, for your sterile needs in attending to wounds, sores, cuts, lacerations, abrasions and punctures; use for dressings and for topical applications. For human first aid use also; use when an assured sterile dressing is in order to prevent contamination and infection potential.

3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape:
The superior elastic bandage that adheres to itself, not to skin or hair; porous, soft, lightweight, comfortable; easily removed; the original leg wrap for equine; the standard and desired leg wrap of all caring equine provider.

Cotton Roll:
Tightly rolled cotton padding; useful in many areas of your health & injury care regime; wound packing; dressings; leg support; poultice action; topical application; bandaging; your cotton roll will become a dependable product in your emergency care kit.

Sanitizing Towelettes:
When water and antiseptic cleaner are not available on the site of emergency or medical need, get your hands and the area ready to deal with the medical emergency. Your hands are the first place to start with cleanliness and sanitation, to be sure to not spread germs and infection to your injured or wounded horse.

Hydrogen Peroxide:
Economical topical antiseptic used to treat minor wounds & abrasions; irrigate & clean wounds; useful in washing away damaged & dying tissue particles during early healing process; a standard over the years in first aid treatment of wounds and injuries.

Eye Wash:
Protect your horse’s eyes from dirt, dust, wind and sun; used in treatment of eye infections; used as an eye wash and irrigant in case of dirt, dust, insects, feed, seed, any kind of irritant.

Alcohol:
The classic first aid treatment for minor cuts, wounds and abrasions; cleans and helps protect area from infection; use for cleaning surrounding area, needles, forceps, etc.

Latex Gloves:
Medium size; for your protection in treating injuries and applying medications; and for the sanitary protection of your horse as well; keeps medications safe from infectious and cross contamination; give your horse’s wound the best possible chance for quick recovery when handled in a safe, germ and infection free manner.

Syringes:
20cc and 35cc sizes. Besides being used for giving shots, they are also useful for flushing out wounds, eyes, ears, etc.

Skin Stapler:
A wide skin stapler for those of you who find yourself in situations where you must close a wound on your own. This item is particularly offered for the back country trail riders and packers who must deal with all levels of injuries to their horses on their own. Heavy duty and wide enough for use on tough horse hide, this method of securing cuts, tears, and ripped hide will be safer for the handler than stitching, and offer a possible alternative to those who must deal with these types of injuries when a veterinarian can not be accessed in a timely fashion because of location.

Staple Remover:
Stainless Steel staple remover to be used in the retrieval of skin staples used to mend skin cuts and tears. Designed to quickly and painlessly remove each and every staple from tender healing wounds. Ergonomically configured for comfort grasp, this piece of equipment is carefully packed in a sterile presentation for ready clean use around those nasty dirty barns and stables.

Digital Thermometer:
Veterinary Eco-Fast digital thermometer; battery (included) operated; safe, fast, easy to read liquid crystal display; water and break resistant; sound signal peak temperature; many states no longer allow the sale of the old mercury glass thermometers.

Antibiotic Ointment:
Neosporin or Nolvasan are topical antiseptic ointments that fight bacteria and promote healing.

Electrolytes:
For use if dehydration is suspected, essential to avoiding dehydration, colic, and other system stresses. This can be obtained in paste form, some popular brands are “Electroplex Paste”, “Vita Flex AccuLytes Paste”, “Stress-Pak Powerlytes Electrolyte Equine Supplement”. Also can be obtained in a mixture form, such as “Electrolytes Gold”, individually packed in a foil pouch; mix with feed or water; quality electrolyte & vitamin source in a glucose amino acid base; won’t turn to liquid in hot weather like pastes; essential to your horses fluid needs.

Epsom Salt:
Magnesium Sulfate packaged in a re-close able container; for external use only; use as a soaking aid for minor sprains & bruises; draws infections out of wounds; use as a topical or poultice.

Gentle Iodine:
Used as a topical antiseptic spray before surgical procedures; when cleaning a wound and changing dressings; use for ringworm, sores, minor cuts & abrasions; one of the standard first aid products.

Bloodstop:
A First Aid essential to aid in controlling excessive bleeding from wounds and punctures; aids in granulation & scab formation; don’t be caught without it!

Wonder Dust:
A Farnam Product; caustic drying agent for slow heeling wounds, sores and infections; activated carbon for treatment & prevention of proud flesh; also a reliable blood clotter.

Wound Kote:
A Farnam Product; antiseptic dressing spray, quick drying; for surface wounds, minor cuts & abrasions; disinfects, aids early scab formation; aids against bacterial infections; stays in place.

Disposable Diapers
Ideal for profuse bleeding or dressing large wounds.

Mat or Carpet Knife:
Useful for cutting rope and bandages, etc.

Stethoscope:
Useful for checking and measuring heart rate and gut sounds.

Twitch:
For distracting and restraining if necessary.

Duct Tape:
One of the most useful products ever made, great for hard to stick areas such as the hoof.

Lubricant:
Such as Vaseline or KY Jelly to aid in thermometer insertion. Also useful for preventing scalding below a discharging wound.

Blunt End Bandage Scissors:
For removing old bandages without risks of stabbing or puncturing your horse.

Large Tweezers:
Multiple uses including removing splinters.

A good portion of these items can be purchased at your local department store or pharmacy at a very reasonable cost. Specialty items can be purchased online at www.equimedic.com, they also offer complete kits if you’d rather go that route. If you found this article helpful you can find other tips such as this at the Hitching Post, a site for Single Cowboys and country folks in general.

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