In emergencies we are there for our patients around the clock! You can reach us at the following phone number: 04106 799 660

Emergency service

Outside our regular opening hours, your call will automatically be forwarded to the veterinarian on duty at the Bilsen Equine Clinic emergency service. We would like to point out that a corresponding emergency service fee will be charged.

What can you do until the vet arrives?
While you are waiting for the vet to arrive, you should move your horse to a quiet and safe place. Of course, this does not apply if your horse is not fit for transport! If possible, this place should be bright and easily accessible. The equine passport (horse passport) should be kept ready so that the veterinarian can check your horse’s vaccinations (tetanus), among other things. In principle, you should not administer any medication to your horse without prior consultation with the veterinarian, as this may alter your horse’s symptoms and thus possibly complicate a diagnosis.

How do I give first aid?

Colic

In the time until the veterinarian is on site, the horse should be led at a walk and should not be given any further food. If rolling of the horse cannot be prevented, this should be done on a suitable surface.

Injuries

Please do not touch wounds with your bare hands (put on gloves). Cover the wounds as germ-free as possible (sterile dressing material from the first aid kit or – if not available – clean, non-fluffy cloths). The wound should not be washed out or sprayed with spray. Penetrated foreign bodies should – if possible – not be removed.

In case of heavy bleeding, you should apply a pressure dressing. The wound is first covered with a sterile wound dressing. This is followed by a pressure pad consisting of rolled-up gauze bandages (if not available, tissue packs can also be used if necessary).
Next, apply a layer of dressing cotton and fix everything with an elastic bandage (wrap from bottom to top). If the bandage bleeds through, you should not remove it, but apply a second bandage over the first.

Lumbargo

Cross saddle is a muscular disease of the horse that is manifested by brown urine, trembling, profuse sweating, and stiff gait and highly painful croup and back muscles. You should move your horse as little as possible and keep it warmly covered until the veterinarian arrives.

Gullet blockage

When food gets stuck in the esophagus on its way to the stomach, it is called a pharyngeal obstruction. This condition is very painful for the horse, causing spasms of the pharynx and anxiety. Salivation and nasal discharge are common. Until the veterinarian arrives, the horse should be kept in a low head position and calmed. It should not be given any further feed.

Poisoning

If you suspect that your horse has poisoned itself, you should (if possible) keep the poisonous substance / poisonous plant and have it ready. This will help the veterinarian in the treatment. Please do not let your horse eat any more.

Nail kick

The term nail kick refers to a foreign body that has entered the hoof. If possible, the foreign body should not be removed, as this makes further diagnostics by the veterinarian more difficult (which structures in the hoof has the foreign body injured, if any?). However, if there is a risk that the foreign body could penetrate further (e.g., nail still protruding halfway out of the hoof), it can be carefully shortened, but ideally not completely removed. Note the entry point and angle, ideally take photos/video.

Accidents in water or slurry

In case of accidents in water or slurry, the horse’s head must be held up so that the horse can breathe. The fire department (112) should be alerted as soon as possible so that they can help with special equipment to rescue the horse.

Acute laminitis

If acute laminitis is suspected, the horse should be stalled softly and the hooves cooled (e.g. cold compresses or placing the hoof in a bucket of water). No further feed should be given.