b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRYthe magazine FIRST AID KITMike Barna Acouple of years of horse ownership makes most of us Publisher experienced at wrapping legs, hosing wounds, and ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com giving injections. Along the way, we tend to acquire cabinets full of stuff for treating minor crises. Yet, Erika Smith Royal with all the clutter, when we do need something specific for an emergency, we cant find it.Editorerika963realcountry@gmail.com Any good first-aid kit should include a card with emergency phone numbers for your veterinarian, your farrier, the closest veterinary and human Misty Voitovski hospital, a horse rescue or ambulance service, the Creative Director fire department, and the police. Its important to have an inventory, as well, that you can tape to the inside lid of your kit. Type a list of every item in Contributing Writers the kit, so youll be able to glance at it to see if itDrawing salve.contains what you need. When you use up an item,Wound treatment like Corona cream, Fura-Zone,Lee AndersonBob Boze Bell cross it off the list and then make sure to replace it,or Wonder Dust.Justin LeglerBetsy Lemaire otherwise, over time youll end up with a mostlyHydrogen peroxideits bubbling action isempty container that will do you no good at all.useful for cleaning dirt out of fresh wounds andNaomi LoomisDodge Marshall Remember, also, that many drugs and ointmentsfor dealing with thrush but dont use it routinelyhave expiration dates. Write those dates on youron a healing wound as it will inhibit theRandy MillerJim & Bobbi Jeen Olson inventory checklist to make sure youre not keepinghealing process.Bill RobertsAlan Rockman vials of useless medications. An antiseptic scrub such as Betadine, Nolvasan(chlorhexidine), or Vetericyn.Bob RoloffJohn Samsill You can buy a prepackaged first-aid kit designedA flashlight or headlamp.for horses, but that can be expensive, or you canA bottle of saline solutionuseful for cleaningCaroline WerkhovenMichele Wilson assemble one yourself. Store your kit in an airtight,out wounds in delicate places like aroundwaterproof container to keep the materials sterilethe eyes. and ready to use. A large tackle box with lots ofA roll of sterile cotton or gamgee.801 W. Wickenburg Way little compartments, a tight-sealing plastic tote, or aPre-moistened alcohol swabs (you can find theseWickenburg, AZ 85390 storage crate all work well.at your pharmacy, individually wrapped)goodfor cleaning small wounds or creating a cleaner(602) 254-6644 This can also be used as a stool, which helps if yousite for injections.have to wash and dress a wound around lower areasA bottle of rubbing alcohol forArizonaRealCountry.com such as the fetlocks. Once you have your containersterilizing instruments.write your horses name and your number onHemostats or tweezers for removing splinters.the top of it as well as the number for yourEpsom salts (magnesium sulfate)mix withveterinarian. You never know when your horse maywarm water to soak an abscessed foot.need it and if youre not around its always helpfulIodine shampoogood for various skinto have the important information very visible. conditions as directed by your vet.A quick-to-apply poultice such as AnimalintexFollow Arizona RealGet some bright red tape and mark the lid(which can be used hot or cold).with a cross that will let even a stranger Thick sanitary napkins or disposable diapers forCountry for news, events,in your barn know its contents, then stock applying direct pressure to a bleeding wound.it with: A hoof pick.giveaways and more! A rectal veterinary thermometerthe plastic A farriers rasp and nippers, for removing a shoedigital kind is safer around the barn. (String and if you need to (ask your farrier if he has cast-offa clothespin). ones he can donate to your cause).Arizona Real Country is owned andLatex or rubber gloves. A hoof knife.published by Barna BroadcastingA pair of safety scissors with rounded ends. Duct tapeuseful in an emergency andLLC. No person, organization or partyAnother pair of small sharp scissors for especially good for hoof wraps as its water- can copy or reproduce the contentsuture removal. resistant, moldable, and fairly durable.on our website and/or magazine orA stethoscope. Ace wraps in multiple sizes.any part of this publication withoutSelf-sticking bandages such as Vetrap Syringes in multiple sizes.a written consent from the editorsor Elastikon. Sharp pocket knife and wire cutters.Gauze squares at least three inches by A snake bite kit.panel and the author of the content, asthree inches. A wound cream with fly repellent properties,applicable. The publisher, authors andVaseline or another type of lubricating jelly. such as Swat.contributors reserve their rights withSports medicine tape like Equi-Tape. A tube of diaper rash cream, such as Desitin, toregards to copyright of their work. Gauze bandages such as Kling. protect heels from the moisture that can causeIce wrap or cold pack, although in a pinch you dew poisoning (a.k.a. scratches).can use a bag of frozen peas from your freezer. continued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com August 2022 5'