184


EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / APRIL 2018


Fig 9: Case 2: 1 month after the fire: the mare was now moving freely except for a loss of range of motion from a penetrating carpal wound.


TABLE 1: The number of days and treatments required for the hospitalised horses in 2015–2016 Horse


Days hospitalised


126 226 3


134


427 5


40 27 Days needing


pain medication 20


19 38 16 40


64 4 7


84 2 10


Days on antibiotics


3 3


20 3 3 3


Days to resolution of corneal ulcers


8 8


3 7 4


Days on omeprazole


25 24


12† 665 3


16 3


22 37 4


22 4


* Horses were discharged and brought back to the clinic periodically to treat coronary band lesions. †A second course was given for the split skin. ‡ Sedation was used for occasionally bandaging.


TABLE 2: Lessons learned in an Australian bushfire


Surface thermal injuries covering a large percentage of the body were not predictive of prognosis, nor were coronary band effusion and separation


It took 2 weeks or more to visualise the full extent of the burn injuries Respiratory compromisemay not be a problemin range or bushfires Raw honey worked well in the early period Corneal ulcers tend to be transient Infection was not a significant factor except with penetrating wounds Lightweight bandages were superior and less expensive than bulky bandages Cotton fibre cloth can be used for bandages and mild detergents are helpful in daily cleaning of burns Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not result in obvious clinical signs of toxicity. The use of omeprazole may be warranted Continuous use of moisturisers on exposed skin was important to prevent the skin from splitting Evening ‘grazing’ helped with all the horses’ mental attitudes


such as woven cloth, cast padding and reusable stockings did seem to be endured better by the horses and was of significant benefit to the overall costings. Once the burns


© 2017 EVJ Ltd


started to heal, horses tolerated body compression suits and were observed trotting and cantering with the suits on. They did not sweat under the body suits, despite the high ambient


Days requiring sedation for bandage changes


21 11


17‡ 22 37 *


18 *


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