Caring For Your Horse or Donkey After A Bushfire

By: Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA

Horses, ponies and donkeys become extremely distressed and can be injured by fences or other accidents trying to escape the inferno of a bushfire. They can also inhale smoke and ash particles, which irritate their upper and lower airways. Stress related colic is also a high risk, as is stress-induced laminitis. Hot ground and rock areas can damage the hooves. Often the pasture is completely burnt leaving a black, sooty ground cover for weeks after a fire has passed through a paddock. Stables and shelters can be burnt out, leaving little protection, feed bins destroyed, creek and dam water contaminated and there is also a danger of falling trees.

Immediate Needs after a Bushfire
The most immediate need is to check for burns or other secondary injuries such as lacerations, ‘cooked feet’, tendon injuries and eye damage. Often horses which have been hot and excited, become dehydrated and access to clean uncontaminated water is essential.

Lacerations
Lacerations on the lower limbs from sticks or even fences in the attempt to escape the fire, should be quickly evaluated. Skin wounds and blood vessel lacerations which are bleeding may require bandaging to stem blood loss or urgent veterinary attention. Apply a compression bandage of cotton-wool overwrapped with kitchen film or an elastic bandage to help slow blood loss. Large wounds should be squirted with a syringe containing warm saline (1 teaspoonsful {5g} plain, fine salt in 600mL boiled, and then cooled, water) to remove debris and contamination and then covered until veterinary help is available. Stitching large wounds will minimise scarring.

Burns
If a horse or pony has run through the fire to escape, the hair and skin of the lower limbs can be burnt and begin exuding serum. A wash in warm normal saline (as recommended under lacerations) to remove debris, then wrap over with kitchen film and an ice-pack applied will help to soothe burns until veterinary help is available. Do not smear on oils or butter as they retain heat and prolong the healing of burns. Burn treatment and nursing may be required for an extended time. Ensure that fly strike does not occur to open wounds or burns.

Separation Anxiety
Many horses and donkeys may be separated from their companions by a bushfire. It is important to find a companion animal, even a sheep, alpaca or goat to settle them down. A double daily dose of Kohnke’s Own® Mag-E® is helpful for 5-7 days to help minimise separation anxiety.

Gastric Ulcers
Horses which are severely stressed may develop gastric ulcers if their feed supply is interrupted. This will reduce the appetite and cause discomfort. A course of an anti-ulcer medication prescribed by your vet may be required in severe cases. A daily dose of Kohnke’s Own® Gastro-Coat® in 5 litres of lucerne chaff, or over the tongue as a paste twice daily (mixed with 40 mL vegetable oil or Kohnke’s Own® Energy-Gold™) for 7-10 days, has a role in maintaining the appetite. Lucerne hay is also recommended as a natural gastric buffer in severe cases.

Eye Injuries
Eye injuries due to heat radiation from the flames and damage to the sensitive corneal cell layers, as well as soot and other particles which irritate the eyes, are of immediate concern. If black soot and burnt grass particles are adhering to the cornea, seek veterinary advice immediately. Some horses may allow the eyes to be flushed with saline solution, but most will require sedation to avoid injury to themselves or handlers.

Stress Colic

‘Colicky’ signs can develop in a horse due to extreme excitement and anxiety caused by reduced gut perfusion and dehydration. Veterinary advice should be sought immediately and the horse walked on a loose lead for 10-15 minutes to help calm it down. A companion horse will often help settle anxiety. Offering a warm ‘isotonic’ saline drink will help maintain hydration and gut movement. IV fluids may need to be administered by a veterinarian, as well as gut relaxing agents, such as Buscopan®, under veterinary supervision.

Stress Founder
It is possible that a highly distressed horse which is running around frantically due to fear of the fire, can develop a secondary stress-induced laminitis. Cortisone released due to stress can induce a laminitic episode within 12-24 hours. Do not administer left-over cortisone injections in the belief that they will minimise stress effects as laminitis is a high risk in fat horses and donkeys. Laminitis can also be induced by ground contact with hot soil/rocks within the short time after a fire if horses/donkeys are not confined to prevent them running around on the hot ground surface. If stress laminitis, or ‘cooked feet’ are a risk, confine the animal and apply bags of ice to its feet. If the coronary band is burnt or singed, wrap the hooves and pasterns in 2-3 layers of kitchen film to keep them dry and then apply the ice packs or ice bath. Consult your vet as anti-inflammatory support therapy, such as ‘bute’, may be indicated.

Hyperlipaemia
Hyperlipaemia is not uncommon following a bushfire where paddock feed is destroyed. Fat horses, ponies and donkeys, especially heavily pregnant mares and jennies, are particularly prone to hyperlipaemia if their food supply ceases for 12-24 hours following a bushfire, flood, a heavy snowfall and long distance transport. Horses and donkeys must be provided with a continuous supply of hay at least to avoid mobilisation of fat stores into the blood and liver which can trigger hyperlipaemia. A separate fact sheet on Managing Hyperlipaemia is available from the website www.kohnkesown.com.

Burnt out trees are likely to split and fall. Horses should be moved to open spaces or yards away from the risk of falling branches or burnt tree bases. Horses should not be confined to areas where trees are harbouring fruit bats if Hendra virus is a high risk. Consult your vet for advice regarding vaccination for Hendra Virus in non-vaccinated horses.

Check Water Troughs/Creek Water/Dam Water etc.
After a bushfire, water troughs and surface water storage may be contaminated with ash and smoke residues. Ensure all troughs are cleaned before horses are returned to a burnt-out area.

Smoke Inhalation

Inhaled smoke can cause acute respiratory irritation and coughing. To avoid an allergic reaction and provide a particle and smoke ‘filter’, place a wet panty hose foot and lower leg section over the horse’s mouth and nostrils. Alternatively, hang a dampened ‘flap’ of wet muslin gauze to the nose band to allow it to hang down over the horses nostrils. Feed the horse in a bin at ground level to facilitate airway drainage. Consult your vet for advice.

Poisonous Plant Regrowth
Precaution should be taken to remove horses from burnt out areas infested with Patterson’s Curse or bracken. After a fire and rain, re-growth of plants and fronds can occur in 10-14 days leading to liver toxicity (Patterson’s Curse) and neurological conditions (antithiaminase in Bracken fronds) if hungry horses nibble the new shoots. Consult your own vet for advice.

Supplementary Feed
Ensure that horses are provided with adequate hay. One biscuit of lucerne hay (for protein and calcium) and 2-3 biscuits of grassy hay, will maintain a 450-500 kg resting horse. A daily supplement of 20g Kohnke’s Own® Cell-Vital® or 30g Cell-Provide® will help make up any shortfalls of trace-minerals and vitamins in the diet. A supplement of 20-40g daily of salt is also recommended.

Thank you to Dr John Kohnke for sharing this important article with us.

Please visit the website www.kohnkesown.com for more information and to source the products mentioned above.

Disclaimer: The information and recommendations in this newsletter have been presented as a guideline based on the veterinary experience and knowledge of the author, Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA. Whilst all care, diligence and years of practical experience have been combined to produce this information, the author/editor, Dr John Kohnke, accepts no responsibility or liability for unforeseen consequences resulting from the hints and advice given in this information sheet. The information supplied or part thereof, is copyright. We encourage its use in newsletters and other horse/pony club or associated bulletins, provided that permission is sought from the author by emailing info@kohnkesown.com prior to publication. ©Copyright 2015