Snake in the Grass!

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What should I do if my horse is bitten by a snake?

Snake in the Grass!

While venomous snakebites rarely kill horses (the lethalness of the venom depends on body weight) they can be dangerous and lead to the loss of limbs or even lameness. Bites on the head and areas of high blood supply are more serious than those on other parts of the body because these areas can lead to fatalities.

It is best to stock up on horse medical supply items to keep on hand in case of emergencies like snakebites. You should have a tourniquet to wrap around the area of the horse a few inches above the bite. The tourniquet shouldn't be too tight—only tight enough to cause compression to the lymphatic vessels and veins, NOT the arteries. Be sure to release and reapply the tourniquet every fifteen minutes to avoid tissue damage. Your main objective is to localize the venom until you can get the animal medical assistance.

*If your horse suffers from a severe snakebite, you will notice difficulty breathing and possible swelling. To enable breath more easily, cut two six-inch pieces of hose (like that of a garden hose), lubricate them, and place one in each nostril.

   

Comments

5/16/2007 8:24:43 AM
martha said:

this only covers the odvous i need info on a bite on a mares sake and she is pregnent and need to know the side affects and how to fix it




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