Management of Equine Burn Patients

PANEL DISCUSSION DESCRIPTION

Panelists:

Elizabeth Herbert BVSc, DVM - Horse Doctor Press, USA
Patrick Pollock BVMS, PhD, CertES(Soft Tissue), DECVS, FHEA, FRCVS - Royal School of Vet. Studies, Edinburgh, UK
Monica Aleman DACVIM- University of California, Davis, USA

Moderator:

Derek KnottenbeltOBE, BVM&S, DVM&S, DECEIM, DACVIM, MRCVS – Consultant, UK

The international panel of highly experienced and world-renowned equine veterinarians will discuss the challenges of the equine burn patient. Fortunately burns are rare in horses in most parts of the world, but when they do occur, they often affect multiple horses and invariably create an extensive mix of external, internal, local, systemic, medical and surgical clinical challenges, frequently with immediate life-threatening consequences.

Using actual examples of horses subjected to bush fires, stable fires and blast burns from explosives and petrol incendiary devices, the panel will be discussing the pathophysiology of burns including the less obvious types of thermal injury (e.g. rope burns) and which body parts are most frequently affected. Burn management in the human field remains a major challenge to our medical colleagues, but there are important lessons we can learn from their extensive experience.

The panel will devote significant time sharing insights on how to triage and prioritize patients, administering first aid. From their wide experience with equine burns they will furthermore discuss the immediate needs of patients, short-term burn treatments and medium- and long-term management of skin and organ compromise. A burn on a horse is always a critical matter and remains life-threatening, either directly or indirectly. Join this exchange and find out how to improve your management and prognosis of burn patients, so that you are ready for your next equine burn emergency!