- This forum is empty.
- Oh, bother! No topics were found here.
- You must be logged in to create new topics.
First Aid for Snake Bites
First Aid for Snake Bites in Horses
by Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Introduction
We received this request from a member: Dr O-A friend I use the term loosly just came back from a pack trip with a horrible story... to make it short, one of his horses while up in a back country meadow was bit by a rattle snake in the rear lower leg. The leg swelled so baldly that the skin split from the heel up past the hock and then a large strip skin and meat fell off exposing the bone and tendons. My husband and I pack in the same area and just now realized that we would not know what to do. Obviously keeping the horse quiet, but no matter how you cut it you've got a very long trek to get to a vet, sometimes several days... What, if anything could have helped mitigate the damaged caused by the swelling? What would be an apprpriate first aid response to this?
Thanks -Emily
PS - The horse is still alive, although his owner and I have a serious diffrence of opinion when it comes to medical care levels... I am trying to get him to let me tend to the horse while he recovers... but thats another post.
This article consists of the reply to Emily's question.
To read more on this topic become a member of Horseadvice.com! Your membership gets you instant access to this and over 600 equine articles on our site. Other benefits of your membership include participation in our discussion boards and access to our one button PubMed search tool for each topic.
Horseadvice.com educates you to be a more knowledgeable horse owner which leads to healthier horses and save you money, we guarantee it. Come Join Us!