Ask The Vet: Disaster Preparedness - June 08

I think that your questions are extremely valid. I would also comment that even the most seasoned horse owner would have just as little knowledge regarding fire and smoke related injuries, unless they have directly experienced such an incident.

In order to understand what damage occurs from this type of incident, we have to understand the basic physiology of the respiratory tract, in particular, the lungs.

Within the depths of the lungs of all mammals are air sacs called alveoli. These alveoli consist of a thin membrane that is extremely effective at exchanging gases between the air and the blood stream. It is the alveoli’s responsibility to introduce oxygen into the blood stream for cellular metabolism while simultaneously removing the cellular byproduct, carbon dioxide, during the breath of exhalation. The alveoli are extremely delicate and can be damaged rather easily. In situations of fire, the direct heat generated as well as the extremely hot fumes that are carried in the air, directly burn the cells of the respiratory tract from the nasal passage all the down to the alveoli of the lungs. The burn has the potential to temporarily inflame the cells of the respiratory track and lungs or irreversibly kill them. This damage to the cells significantly hampers the body’s defense system and thus increases the risk of infection and subsequent septicemia (bacteria within the bloodstream). When the cells are damaged severely enough, the body responds to the insult by attempting to replace the cells with permanent scar tissue. Unfortunately, scar tissue within the lungs does not have the ability to allow the normal physiological exchange of gases within the lungs.

In the case of smoke, one has to appreciate that this “floating cloud” is filled with extremely small foreign particles of soot and debris as well as noxious chemicals. The respiratory track attempts to prevent these particles from coating the inner linings of the alveoli by a series of protective factors such as a cough reflex, hairs in the nasal passages to act as a filter and microscopic hairs on the respiratory tract lining that push debris and mucus up the trachea away from the lungs. Even with these protective measures, foreign materials often reach the alveoli and inhibit the exchange of gases while promoting the potential for infection within the lungs.

Patients who experience fire and/or smoke related injuries are highly susceptible to infection, decreased oxygen levels within the blood, increased carbon dioxide within the blood, increased fluid accumulations within the respiratory tract, and multiple organ failure. While some of these injuries are temporary, many can cause permanent scarring of the lungs or even acute death.

As far as how to handle these situations with your horse, I would encourage evacuation of all horses from these smoke and fire infested situations when possible. Please be aware that most first call responders are tasked with the goal of evacuating and saving human lives rather than animals. Therefore, I am not surprised that you were told that the horses would be fine. A horse is just as susceptible to the risk factors as a human. If evacuation was not a possibility for the animals, my suggestion would be to minimizing the exposure to the smoke by maintaining the animals in a contained, covered and enclosed environment. Obviously, this is a temporary solution and clean and uncontaminated ventilation is ideal. There are some individuals who are considering protective masks fitted for horses to restrict exposure of these fine particles.

Part of the importance with disaster preparedness is creating a plan for such incidents. Being aware of flood zone regions is imperative when developing this plan. Not knowing your specific situation, the potential for future floods must be considered when choosing this barn to house animals. In the event of a flood, evacuation is ideal when it is logistically feasible. Unfortunately, the evacuation of stallions, mares and geldings simultaneously poses an additional dilemma. When considering this situation, transporting stallions individually is probably the safest solution. Multiple trailers or sectioned trailers can also be considered if possible. In addition, the prioritization of animals by the owner is encouraged since the restricted access of roadways may preclude re-entry to the flooded facility.

When evacuation is not a possibility and flood waters start rising, the question of keeping the horses stabled versus setting them loose remains the million dollar question. When attempting to answer this question, please take into account the water currents, speed and strength. In addition, most people don’t consider the extensive debris that lies below the water’s surface in flood waters making ambulation and movement rather dangerous.

With respect to your question regarding keeping the horses in stalls while the flood waters rise, there are several recommendations. The first thing is dangerous debris around the facility should either be removed or contained so that it will not impact the animals. Items to consider are pitch forks, tractor equipment, shovels, buckets, tools, nails, boards, ropes, baling twine, etc. In essence, any item that could directly injure or tangle a horse must be considered a possible threat to the horse’s overall health. Don’t assume that because the item is outside the stall before the flood starts that it will remain outside the stall when the water levels rise. Feeding horses off the ground is ideal. However, when the water levels rise high enough, items such as hay nets pose the potential risk for tangling the horse. When the water levels rise above such items as hooks, screw eyes, and salt block holders, these items pose some risk of injury to the horse.

Getting water to horse(s) is another considerable dilemma in flood situations, which is rather ironic. Providing potable water to the horses for their consumption is essential. Please be aware that the flood waters are contaminated and not ideal for drinking. Obviously, a horse standing in water for an extended period of time creates a multitude of different health risks to the animal, while standing in contaminated (bacteria, petroleum-based products, chemical agents, etc.) waters pose even further risks. When a horse is removed from these disaster situations, decontamination procedures and the appropriate treatment for immersion injuries are paramount. While there are no defined time limits of horses in water, there are a multitude of situations when horses remained immersed in water for several days and survived.

When generating a disaster plan, there is no set protocol. Each farm, facility and location has their own extenuating circumstances, which must be taken into account individually. The plan should be designed to take some of the guess work out in the excitement and stresses of an emergency situation. Once the plan is drafted, then it should be tested and practiced for proficiency and logistical abilities. While the plan should dictate which actions to take in the event of a disaster, most individuals who have experienced an actual disaster have found that deviations from the plan are quite common. Therefore, alternative scenarios must be considered for each incident. Once completed, having your plan evaluated by local fire officials and offices of emergency management is also encouraged.

Unfortunately, there are no easy tips on loading a difficult horse on a trailer at the time of the emergency evacuation. The foundation for how a human or animal will perform in a disaster is based upon their preparation and practice of that incident. One recommendation would be to ameliorating the horse’s apprehensions and fears with the trailer ahead of time. This, of course, is easier said than done. The reasons that a horse refuses to walk onto a trailer can be multifactorial or as simple as a different style of trailer. Investigating the available options that work and don’t work for a particular horse is absolutely essential to having a successful trailering experience.

In the event that your “problem loader” needs to be evacuated, my first recommendation is to remain calm and collected. Many horses have the ability to sense fear and stresses that are being exhibited by a person’s actions and speech patterns. Remain positive, patient and committed in your pursuit. Some horses require a gentle and comforting approach while others prefer a more forceful tactic. I have had luck with minimizing the angle of ramps, covering the ramps, manually placing their limbs individually up the ramp, enticing with feed, positive reinforcements, blindfolding, removing partitions, opening other doors, backing on and forceful encouragement from behind. Of course, all of these options have their pros and cons and the potential for injury to human or animal must be considered; so the positives must outweigh the negatives. I have had little to no luck with pulling the horse on the trailer by their head. In rare but extreme situations, sedatives (tranquilizers) can be considered. However, this should only be performed by a licensed veterinarian. An ataxic (“wobbly”) horse may pose more danger while on the trailer than actually getting him on the trailer.

There is no hard and fast rule for “how to load the difficult horse” however, many horsemen and women have been extremely creative in their approach. No matter which approach is implemented, the safety to both human and animal must be considered.

I apologize in advance as I am not sure the direction of your question. If your question is referring to the environmental difference between South Carolina and Colorado with respect to grasses, hay, temperature, vaccines, etc., I would recommend that you consult a veterinarian in the area. They would be your best resource for the regulatory requirements of the state, recommended vaccination protocols and nutrition options for the local area. As a general rule, it is recommended that you vaccinate the horse at least a week prior to departure and gradually adjust the hay/feed protocols. Of course, this means shipping some hay and feed from Colorado.

If your question pertains to preparing for disasters in South Carolina that you might not be familiar with being from Colorado, then I have several recommendations for you. I would first start with consulting a local veterinarian regarding some of your concerns. I’m sure that there are also a multitude of farms and horse owners that could be a wealth of knowledge regarding the local disasters that have been experienced and what could be expected for the future. Hopefully, an established veterinary practice can direct you to the appropriate experts in the area. Other agencies and organizations that should be consulted are local USDA offices, State Departments of Agriculture, Extension Agencies and local or state Offices of Emergency Management. There may also be an established and active county and state animal response team designed to deal with animals in disasters. These agencies are extremely valuable and typically very willing to help in these matters.

No doubt the ideal situation for protecting horses in such storms is not readily available. As stated in the previous response, there are no standard protocols on how to handle each situation. Many would argue that the risk of the horse being injured by flying debris outside of an enclosure (“set free”) outweighs the potential for collapse of the building directly on the horse. Both the severity of the storm and the structural integrity of the enclosure must be considered when deciding to maintain a horse within an enclosure during a hurricane or tornado. My personal opinion is that I would attempt to keep the animals contained in a barn unless I felt that the destruction of the building was imminent. If the decision is made to release the horses into the environment, then it is important to identify the animals in some way for purposes of recognition as well as proof of ownership when the animal needs to be reclaimed.

With respect to your question on the Southern architectural designs of equine facilities, I am not sure that an open design of a barn will minimize the damaging risks of a hurricane or tornado. My suggestion is that you should consult your architect or builder as to the rating of the structure and its expected ability to withstand such storms.

The decision to keep horses contained versus allowing them the freedom to “fend for themselves” in the elements of a disaster is not an easy decision. There is no one standard protocol recommended by experts. There are pros and cons to both situations. In the case of a high-wind incident, such as a tornado, some recommend allowing the horses to be turned out so that they have the potential for self-preservation. However, the risk for trauma, originating from flying debris, is a significant concern. On the other hand, keeping the horse in their stalls and enclosures, pose a significant risk of collapse of the building or barn. Much of this is dependent upon the structural integrity of the facility as well as the path of the storm. Unfortunately, when a horse is confined to a stall, the animal has limited ability to avoid the trauma from a collapsing structure.

Therefore, the simple answer to the question of letting the horse loose in the event of a tornado is a personal decision that should be dictated by the situation. My first consideration would be if I had the ability and time for evacuation of the animals (this would be my preference). If that was not possible and if I felt comfortable that the barn could withstand the high winds of the impending storm, I might consider keeping the horses stabled. If I had significant concerns that the structure could not withstand the stresses of the storm, then turning the horses loose is a valid consideration.

When considering other natural disaster situations, flooding poses similar dilemmas to the horse owner. In situations of raging water, providing the horse the ability to find higher and safer ground is probably preferable over the alternative of the animal dealing with flooding within a confining stall. In scenarios where water levels may not threaten the barn itself, maintaining the horses in confinement may be advantageous and pose less health related risk to the animal.

When animals are released in disaster situations, it is important for horse owners to consider identification of their animals for purposes of recognition as well as proof of ownership when the animal needs to be reclaimed. There are several different methods of identification as well as proof of ownership available to the horse world. Microchips, tattoos, brands, passports and the results from Equine Infectious Anemia Test (Coggin’s Test) are examples of permanent and formal identification methods commonly used. The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has recommended microchips be the standard identification method for horses. In unexpected situations, individuals have utilized paint or grease sticks on the sides of horses to provide contact information if the animal was found after the disaster. While this technique of identification is not permanent or ideal, writing on the side of the horse can provide valuable information for those who rescue these animals.

The final answer to your question regarding a halter is that maintaining a halter in place when a horse is set loose is not recommended. While this may sound counterintuitive, a nylon halter on a horse’s head runs the risk of hanging the horse on random structures and debris. Therefore, I would suggest leaving the horse without a halter or a “break-away” halter only.

The minimum list of supplies and equipment that you would need in any form of disaster is extremely variable and dependent upon each individual and their situation. The goal in designing a disaster plan, including the list of supplies, is to assess your personal situation and envision the incident that might impact you.

As a general rule, one should be able to maintain life for both human and animals for a minimum of 48 hours. Of course, logistically this can be rather difficult. It is always important to have a first aid kit, extra batteries, flashlights, radio, tools and important information such as phone numbers, insurance information, identification, vaccination records, Coggin’s test results and transportation resources. Routine equine husbandry items such as blankets, wraps, brushes, buckets, hoof picks, hay nets, etc. are also reasonable considerations.

There are a multitude of different websites that provide examples of disaster plans, supplies and first aid kits. Below are two links to pages on the AAEP’s website that addresses many of your questions. Within these links are a multitude of different resources and websites regarding the development of a disaster plan and the supplies someone would need in such an incident.

http://www.aaep.org/emergency_prep.htm

https://www.aaep.org/images/files/Emergency%20&%20Disaster%20Prep%20Guidelines.pdf.