First Aid Kit for Horses, What You Must Have

Everyone who has an equine buddy needs to have a first aid kit in case of emergencies. There are some essentials that absolutely need to be in there, and others you won't need unless you're an experienced horse owner or vet. If you run into a dire situation, please don't try to diagnose a problem yourself! Call your vet immediately!

Here are the top ten "must haves:"

1.Thermometer: Just like with a human, you will want to take your horse's temperature if he is looking a little down. Just a tip: Attach a string with a clip on the end to prevent it from getting lost. The normal temperature for a horse can run from 98.5 degrees to 101 degrees.

2.Antiseptic: Hibitane, Betadine or Novalsan are wound cleaners that are helpful for washing cuts and cleaning out puncture wounds.

3.Scissors: A sharp pair of scissors is an absolute must. If you have a wire fence, there is a chance your horse can get entangled. Also keep a pair of bolt cutters handy.

4.Clean wraps: Keep an extra set of leg wraps handy. You want them to be clean and ready to go if needed. A good idea would be to keep them in a Ziploc back to prevent dust and dirt from getting on them. Make sure they are not moist before you seal the bag, to prevent mold.

5.Gauze or cotton padding: You can also consider a cloth diaper, or any other kind of absorbent padding. Again, make sure these are clean and keep them in a Ziploc bag.

6.Bandages: A box of band-aids for you is a great thing to throw in, but in this case I'm specifically talking about a self-sticking bandage such as "Vet Wrap" that will help to keep a dressing on, or to secure any gauze or padding you might need to apply.

7.Zinc Oxide Cream: You can find this cream in the baby section of your favorite store, and it's great for minor cuts and nicks. It's also relatively inexpensive.

8.Epsom Salt: A good old-fashioned remedy for drawing out infection.

9.Antiseptic Cream: Or ointment. Good for small cuts and scrapes, it encourages the skin to stay moist and clean.

10.First Aid Book: It's good to have one of these on hand for simple problems that can be resolved without a need to call the vet. If you are unsure of what is wrong, don't hesitate to call if you need veterinarian assistance.

Make sure you keep your vet's phone number handy, in an easy place for all to see. While a good first aid kit is a must to have on hand, sometimes there will be emergencies that are too big for us "average" people to handle. Also keep a notebook on hand, to write down symptoms, problems, and temperatures. When the vet comes, you'll have to give a brief history. Hopefully, you will never need to use your first aid kit, but if that time comes, it will be there and ready to go!