1st aid kits

[nrly]

Can any one put together a list of things I need to have on hand for foaling, I want to put together a kit of these things and have no clue what I might need.
nola

[Michelle Clarke]

Here is what I keep ready....

• Clean, fresh baby towels
  
• Vetwrap (many uses!)
  
• Gentle Iodine (even this I mix half w/water to treat the navel)
  
• Deep supplement scoop (which is what I put the iodine in and wait until the foal is nursing after awhile to dip the navel in - that way I don't have to hold them)
  
• Plastic garbage bag for the placenta
  
• Thermometer & vasline
  
• Gloves (non-latex)
  
• Scissors
  
• Sharp knife
  
• Natural baby wipes
  
• Enema (have only had to use this once, but glad I had it)
  
• Bottled water for the enema/iodine
  
• FreChoice natural pain reliver for the mares cramping or other issues (used to use banamine)
  
• KLPP (major pro/prebiotic for the foal to help prevent the scours, plus for colicky mare)
  
• Digestive enzymes to mix in with the KLPP
  
• Rescue Remedy (in case any of us need it!)
  
• Tetnus toxoid w/small needle and syringe (just in case)
  

We also try to get some clean placenta to cut into strips and save to use on injuries. So freezer paper and freezer lock baggies.

Plus milk the mare a few times within the first 48 hours to keep some colosterum on hand in case we need it later in the season.

[angelsdream]

Thats a good list. Michelle, how do you use clean placenta for injuries? That's interesting

[nrly]

thank you for the list, will get it put together.

[kimk]

Michelle,
I treat navels with tea tree oil. Have you ever tried this? It works wonderfully and I have not ever found it to be irritating to the foal.
Kim

[Michelle Clarke]

THANKS KIM! I will switch immediately based on your recomendation! Hate the iodine, but wanted to be careful about an alternative. Do you use it neat or with a dilution oil?

The placenta is made up of all this good stuff that is just waiting for a job to do. We cut it in strips and use it for an injury that you can wrap - great for legs. All those super cells heal things fast! You can use smaller pieces under cut skin or in cuts the first few days...helps to granulate things with healthy tissue.

[nightangel]

Wow I never would guessed. Thats really neat!

[kimk]

Michelle,
I use it staight up, but there's no reason you couldn't use it with a dilution oil. Of course I use dynamite's Tea Tree oil as I believe it to be the purest on the market, but if you have a source you trust I'm sure there are good ones out there.

I hadn't heard of the placenta being used like that either, but I like the idea. I get so few injuries here ( knock on wood )how long can you keep it frozen in strips?
Kim

[nrly]

should each strip be frozen separate, and in individual baggies. am also getting my kit together, and will add Tea Tree Oil. I bought benidine instead of Iodine is that ok. bought the shot, it is in the refrigerator out at the stables, with out name on the sack that it is in. I looked through Flashy s shot record and she had her fall immunization, but I am not sure if she had her tetanus. So when the baby is born do I get it to him since he or she will have an open spot, I am new at this and haven't a clue.

[Michelle Clarke]

Nola, I put freezer paper between the pieces so I can just take what I need. If you are going to use the Tea Tree oil, then you won't need the betadine or iodine....use the tea tree for the umbilical stump. The tetnus toxiod is only good for about five days after you give the shot. It is for an emergency for imediate protection, only if the foal gets a deep wound or puncture.

I do not know what your vet gives, but usually the tetnus comes bundled in Eastern/Western/Tetnus (EWT) or other vacs. Your mare should be fine if she has had the shot in the last few years. In people they say now tetnus vac will last 10 years in your body, so it seems silly to give it to your horse every year. What many holistic vets recommend is giving tetnus once a year for 2-3 years, then not again until they are 10 years old or so. But still....this is why I keep the tetnus toxiod on hand (though there are oils that will kill tetnus also). If I had a very deep puncture I would give the shot to make sure because I would not know if the flesh could have covered some of the interior hole and the oil may not get to it.

You know me, I do not vaccinate but the tetnus would make sense to me because it enters the body like the bacteria does - a puncture. Like giving a shot for respitory issues make NO sense, but giving the nasal protection does (even though I still won't do that...!).

[lindad]

Michelle,
Can you use the placenta on any horse's wound or can it only be used on the original mare or foal if they are injured?
Linda D

[Michelle Clarke]

You can use it for any wound on any horse...

[fantasykiger]

This is a link that has a very good article on using placenta for wounds, it show the benefits and progress of one such wound and explains how the placenta was prepared and frozen on page 2.
www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/illnesses_injuries/eqamnion03/
The major benefit I notice is the reduction of proud flesh, you get a handle on that nasty stuff and wounds will heal so much faster and cleaner with less scaring.
I use a differant method, but like the results from using the placenta as well.

[DianneC]

Tiffany, is that the sugar and iodine method?

[Michelle Clarke]

Tiffany, thanks for finding that article! This method was suggested to me years ago by a holistic vet..