Maintain Your Horse's Safety This Fourth of July

Key Takeaways

• Fireworks can trigger anxiety in nearly all horses, leading to behaviors like trembling, sweating, galloping and fence damage, and more than one quarter of surveyed owners reported injuries such as cuts, sprains or broken limbs.
• Horse owners can speak with their veterinarian about DORMOSEDAN GEL, a mild sedative that helps reduce anxiety and supports safety during fireworks events.
• Administer DORMOSEDAN GEL at least 40 minutes before festivities begin for calming effects that last up to three hours, and follow proper administration by placing the gel under the horse’s tongue.
• Keep horses in a safe, familiar space free of hazards and remove food and water while they are sedated. Maintain a well stocked equine first aid kit and monitor horses closely throughout the celebration. 
• Additional calming products and preventive steps can further help protect horses during fireworks and other stressful events.

Independence Day brings out patriotism, family fun and more than 200 million pounds of fireworks, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association.

How does your horse react to fireworks?

In a horse owner survey, which examined the effects fireworks can have on horses, 99% of respondents indicated their horse exhibited fireworks-related anxiety, such as galloping, sweating, trembling and damaging fences. Some 26% of horse owners reported their horse sustaining injuries due to such anxiety from fireworks. While multiple injuries were reported, the most common included cuts, sprains and broken limbs.

Maintain your horse’s health and safety. Before celebrating July Fourth, ask your veterinarian about prescribing a tube of DORMOSEDAN GEL® for your horse.

“Having tubes of the mild sedative on hand helps horse owners to take the edge off and treat minor injuries their horse might endure during fireworks displays and other exuberant festivities,” said Jeff Hall, DVM, senior equine technical services veterinarian, Zoetis. “Celebrate Independence Day with the greatest display of all, a safe, injury-free horse.”

Implement the following safety best practices:

1. Administer DORMOSEDAN GEL at least 40 minutes prior to the fireworks display for mild sedation lasting up to three hours. The mild sedative is available with a prescription authorization from your veterinarian and helps restore safety and prevent injury. You can administer DORMOSEDAN GEL from a single-dose syringe underneath your horse’s tongue. Watch how to administer DORMOSEDAN GEL.
2. Place your horse in a safe, familiar space such as his stall. Ensure you double check the area for sharp edges and any other material that could be harmful, should he become fractious. Remove access to food and water while your horse is sedated.
3. Make sure your equine first-aid kit is fully stocked.
4. Keep a consistent watch, and check in on your horse often to ensure he is resting comfortably in his stall.

Help ensure your horse’s safety during fireworks festivities with DORMOSEDAN GEL. Additionally, find an extensive selection of calming agents available to help keep your horse safe and injury-free.

About the author: This content was originally provided by Zoetis, with minor additions included from Valley Vet Supply.

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