Mount Ida College veterinary technology students recently learned about equine emergencies and how to operate an equine ambulance by participating in a training session at the Massachusetts SPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA. The training session was conducted by Roger Lauze, Coordinator of Rescue and Training at the MSPCA who helped develop Nevins’ Equine Ambulance Program.
Equine ambulance services have recently been labeled as a breakthrough in large animal medicine. They are available throughout the United States, as well as in the UK and Australia. Most services operate 24 hours a day, at the request of a veterinarian, providing much needed aid to those who need to transport a critically ill or downed animal to a veterinary medical facility. When a horse becomes sick or injured to the point where it is unable to walk on its own or get up, it is impossible for the owner to move it to receive medical treatment. The ambulance provides the capability for the horse to be treated enroute to a facility where it will receive veterinary care.
During the training session, the students learned how to place a horse safely onto a sling that will allow the horse to be moved into the equine ambulance. Great care is given to secure the animal to the sling. Eye covers are placed over the horse’s eyes and their legs are secured in place. The students were also given instruction in how to care for a downed animal and provide basic first aid. In many cases, this type of service has saved the horse’s life.
The Mount Ida College Student Chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America is sponsoring a fundraiser to help purchase a new articulated equine training model for Nevins Farm to use in their training sessions.
For more information on Equine Ambulatory Services
www.mspca.org.
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