First Aid Kit Accessories: Thermometers, scissors and treatment boots
With the right tools in your first aid kit, you are well equipped for everyday checks and care. Here you will find practical accessories for the job.
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Kerbl topTemp Digital Fever Thermometer for Animals, Rectal
Content: 0.5 Litre (€63.92 / 1 Litre)
Sale price: €31.96 Regular price: €33.99 (5.97% saved)
Kerbl Fetlock Scissors Stainless Steel, Curved Blade, approx. 20 cm
Regular price: €9.35
Waldhausen Twitch White - Adjustable Cord with Plastic Handle for Horses
Regular price: €10.44
NEW
Kerbl poultice boot for horses and cattle in canvas, one size fits all
Regular price: €8.79
First Aid Kit Accessories: the little helpers
Besides ointments, sprays and dressings, every equine first aid kit needs a few tools that have to be to hand quickly in an emergency. Under first aid kit accessories you will find digital and waterproof thermometers, stainless steel fetlock scissors and bandage scissors, a canvas treatment boot for hooves and claws, and a twitch for short procedures.
Checking and recording
Body temperature is one of the most important readings when your horse seems unwell. A digital thermometer measures quickly and shows the reading clearly. Take your horse's temperature now and then when it is healthy too, so you know its normal value. Write down readings with the time when you call the vet. This helps them assess the situation over the phone.
Cutting, protecting, treating
Curved fetlock scissors are ideal for trimming hair around a wound, while bandage scissors with a rounded tip cut dressings open safely. The treatment boot protects a hoof dressing from wet and dirt. A twitch is only used briefly, by experienced people or the vet, when a horse needs to stand still for a procedure. Clean all tools after use and store them dry.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal temperature for a horse?
In an adult horse at rest, the temperature is usually between about 37.5 and 38.0 degrees Celsius. Foals run slightly higher. Clearly higher readings, or a raised temperature combined with loss of appetite and dullness, are a reason to call the vet.
How do I take my horse's temperature?
The temperature is taken rectally. Stand to the side of the hindquarters, not directly behind, lift the tail and insert the thermometer carefully. A dab of petroleum jelly makes it more comfortable, and a string with a clip on the thermometer stops it getting lost.
What belongs in a good equine first aid kit?
The basics include a thermometer, bandaging material, scissors, wound cleanser, wound spray, cooling boots and your vet's phone number. Add to the kit after talking to your vet and check use-by dates regularly.
Practical accessories for your first aid kit
A first aid kit is only as good as the tools inside it. A reliable thermometer quickly tells you whether your horse has a temperature, and that reading is important information every time you call the vet. Fetlock scissors and bandage scissors made of rust-free stainless steel help you expose wounds and open dressings. A canvas treatment boot protects a hoof dressing so your horse can keep moving. The twitch belongs in experienced hands and is only used briefly. Keep everything clean, dry and in a fixed, easy-to-reach place so you do not have to search for long in an emergency. It is a good idea to check the thermometer battery at the same time whenever you go through your first aid kit, so it never lets you down when you need it.