Snakebite Emergencies- What Equine Owners Should Do?

Articles on Emergencies | Topics: emergencies, emergency, disasters, disaster

by Harvey Olson

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, don't provoke or anger the snake. This could lead to you and your horse getting bit. You know that most cell phones don't work in the pasture, so you're probably really in a jam if you've both been bitten. If this should happen, remember to stay calm, and don't panic. This can cause the venom to travel faster through the horse's 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 it's going to be when they're grazing. The majority of snakebites occur on the horse's 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 horse's 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, don't 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 can't 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. Don't 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.

Historical Quote

When shall we see poets born? After a time of disasters and great misfortunes, when harrowed nations begin to breathe again. And then, shaken by the terror of such spectacles, imaginations will paint things entirely strange to those who have not witnessed them.

—Denis Diderot (1713–1784)

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 can't 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. You'll have to cut a small slip where the windpipe is and shove a tube through the windpipe. If you don't do this, your horse will suffocate to death.

After reading these you probably won't want to let your horse out of the corral during the summer, but don't worry. Usually the snake won't 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 don't 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 hasn't 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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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Snakebite Emergencies- What Equine Owners Should Do?" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by BellwetherPress.com.

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