When To Call The Vet: What To Do When The Worst Happens

Your horse is down in his stall and won’t get up. You find your horse with blood oozing from a deep wound or find them limping out in the pasture. These things are every horse owner's worst nightmare. The dreaded moments when you believe your horse is in grave danger. These things are much more common than we’d like them to be; and as horse caretakers, we are almost guaranteed to experience some of these situations at some point in our equine journey. I’ve been tremendously blessed that I’ve only had a few emergencies like this in my years with horses. But part of owning horses is being aware of what could happen, so that we can be prepared when something actually happens.

Last month we talked about the first aid we need to care for our horses at home. Today, let’s look at how to know when you need a veterinarian’s attention.

Warning: Some of these are not pleasant to read about and can be very serious.

Symptoms to Never Ignore

Horses are extremely good at getting themselves hurt, so scraps and bruises are no stranger to the horse owner. But certain things will set off alarm bells in our heads. Here we will put a spotlight on some of the top symptoms and conditions.

    Colic, a word that strikes fear in every horse lover’s heart. It refers to a horse’s abdominal pain with many different types and causes. It can be gas in the intestines, to the more severe cases of impacted or even twisted intestines. This can quickly become a life-threatening condition that can require surgery and can often be fatal. Sign of colic include elevated respiratory rate, a change in the degree of gut sounds, pawing, increased attention toward the abdomen, like turning their head to look at their stomach and/or hind quarters, nipping, biting, or kicking, repeatedly lying down and rising (which may become violent when the colic is severe), when they roll often even becoming more violent when the colic is severe (thrashing on the ground). A lot of these symptoms are not exclusive to colic, but anytime your horse is showing these is a cause for alarm. There are mild colics that can go away in a few hours with a little treatment. A typical rule of thumb is that if there are only mild symptoms, wait one hour. If their condition in any way worsens, it’s time to talk to your vet.

   Lameness is a broad term that refers to any condition that involves an abnormal gait or stance in a horse. These generally occur because of injury, though it can have many causes such as arthritis or even a neurological condition. The symptoms can be stumbling, favoring a leg, or the inability to bear weight on a limb. Most lameness can be treated with icing/hosing down the affected limb, along with lots of rest. But when lameness and swelling are both present, it can be a sign of serious injury and most likely will require a vet’s opinion at least.

Scraps and scratches are a pretty common occurrence with horses. But if there is any severe gash on a horse, get your vet on the phone. This can affect their muscles and tendons and cause permanent damage and/or need stitches. My Dolly was injured on her face - and it required 27 sutures! Signs to make that call to your veterinarian will be any cut that is deep, especially if it’s over four inches long, being unable to stop the bleeding, swelling around the wound, or seeing that your horse is in a lot of pain. Even if it was an injury that didn’t seem serious but has become swollen or obviously infected in the following hours or days, you need to talk to a vet.  

Eye injuries are another serious thing to watch out for in our horses. Normal discharge from the eye, or even a little runny eye (if it doesn’t last too long) are okay. Smaller things like eye irritants and even slight pink eye can usually be cared for at home. But any damage to the actual eye needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. The symptoms of eye injury are redness, continuous squinting, swelling of the eyelid, unnatural discharge, bleeding from the nose, and a bulging look to the eye.

Any time a horse is not eating, or ‘off their feed’ as we say, it needs to be watched closely. If it’s only for a day or even two, it could just be that they are picky eaters and weren’t happy with their food. See if they are still interested in healthy treats and their favorite feeds. Often they will be back to normal by the next day. But if this lasts more than that (or if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms)  it could be serious. Lack of appetite can be a sign of pain, from ulcers, the beginning of some colics, dental problems, and more. If your horse is clearly in pain while going off their feed, don’t wait and see if it’ll get better on its own. Get in contact with your veterinarian.

Making the Call

Always have your veterinarian’s phone number easily available. You may know the number by heart, or have it saved on your phone, but if you may have to ask someone else to call while you are with your horse. Make sure it's accessible for everyone. And have the number of a back-up vet office listed as well. 

It’s important to stay calm with your horse and on the call. Immediately start by telling the most important symptom. If you already know exactly what’s going on, ask for an emergency visit. If they aren’t able to get to you (as has happened to me), ask to speak to the vet that’s there. Describe exactly what is going on. Don’t be afraid to state again that this is an emergency. Ask if they believe it would be safe for you to trailer your horse to them. If moving your horse isn’t an option and your usual vet isn’t available, call your back-up vet. 

When you have a vet on the way and know how long it will be until they can get there (or for you to get to them if trailering), ask what you can be doing right now while you wait or travel. Write down their instructions if possible, because it’s easy to forget some details when you’re upset at this time.

While You Wait

Now it’s time to follow your vet’s directions. Do everything you can for your horse that has been approved by your veterinarian. Continue to do what you can to stop any bleeding. If it’s at all possible, try to get your horse to a safe, clean space. Closely monitor your horse and take note of any changes or new symptoms to tell your vet when they arrive. It is crucial for you to stay calm, to breathe and work quietly. I know it’s hard while dealing with the emotions, but this is the best thing you can do for your horse at this time. He or she needs you to be strong, to give peace and love. That is a powerful thing for them and for you.

While I hope this blog will help you get an idea of when it’s time to call the vet, you know your horse best. You know what’s normal for them. You know how they act on a daily basis. So even if it doesn’t look too bad, if your instincts are telling you to get a vet, do it. You won’t regret calling too soon, but you will if you call too late. Trust that feeling when it says it’s time!

The more time and years you spend with horses, the better your instincts will get. 

If your heart says call, call. 

We don’t like to think about the bad things that can happen. But knowledge and preparation can help you catch these things before they get too serious. And that’s the best thing we can do!