The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has published new guides to benefit equine veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.
Launched as part of its BEVA Congress, the resources are designed to provide information for professionals about splinting and supporting horses with confinement.
The organisation’s new
Splinting Guide is said to provide practical fracture stabilisation advice for first-aid situation. BEVA says that users will be able to make informed decisions about external support when treating an acute injury in the field.
The guide takes consideration of what bandaging and splinting materials might be available, and what veterinary surgeons can do without standard equipment.
Among the advice in the Splinting Guide is a step-by-step guide on bandaging and splint application, how to make splints without standard equipment and how to approach an undiagnosed fracture. It also includes a qualitative classification of fracture incidence to support contextualised care.
Ian Beamish, a BEVA council member who led on the guide’s production, said: “Whether you’re facing an emergency in the field or simply want to brush up on your coaptation skills before an event, this resource brings everything together in the palm of your hand.”
This online toolkit is set to address the behavioural and welfare challenges relating to periods of confinement. It is intended to advise professionals to support horse welfare during box rest, treatment and rehabilitation.
BEVA says that confinement, in the context of box rest and restricted grazing, can be essential in equine care. However, its impact on behaviour, stress levels and overall welfare has been described as ‘challenging’.
With its new toolkit, BEVA hopes to provide structured, evidence-based guidance for vets and vet nurses.
New BEVA president Imogen Burrows, who led the toolkit’s development, said: “As our understanding of equine behavioural needs evolves, there is an opportunity to improve how we manage confinement to reduce stress, support recovery and ultimately improve patient welfare.
“Our Coping with Confinement toolkit provides the practical information and guidance veterinary professionals need to make these potentially physically and mentally challenging situations more manageable and bearable for both horses and the people caring for them.”
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