Follow-up Care Critical For Horses In Trailering Accidents
Horses facing a traumatic incident like a trailering accident have a “Golden Time” of two to six weeks after the incident where they can be most helped by veterinary care and physical therapy, says Dr. Emma Punt.
Because of this, Dr. Punt believes that many vets should rethink how they approach post-traumatic care, especially after trailering accidents. Punt presented her findings at the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) conference at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, reports HorseTalk.
Dr. Punt reported that many horses involved in transportation accidents have musculoskeletal issues and that the Golden Time is the ideal time to improve equine outcome as well as manage owner and rider expectations.
BARTA has a mission “to advise, direct and train personnel involved in fire and rescue situations, to safeguard public and emergency responders and to improve the welfare and viability of animals in emergency situations.”
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Dr. Punt reported on preliminary results from a survey completed at Nottingham Trent University. At the scene of an accident, a horse may be considered “viable,” she said, but that horse may have egregious enough injuries that he never returns to work, may have to be retired from competition or that he may be euthanized at a later date.
She wanted to remind those caring for an animal at the scene that a horse in an accident has scores of adrenaline and stress hormones coursing through its body and that it has most likely been sedated. Because of this, there is no way to get a fair assessment on whether or not the horse is truly sound; the extent of his injuries may not be seen right away.
Dr. Punt suggests that assessing the viability of the horse, specifically in finding any musculoskeletal injuries, should be done in the weeks after the accident; this s continued follow-up care for six weeks would ensure that more horses involved in accidents can return to work.
Read more at HorseTalk.
