Trauma, Concussion or Other Brain Injuries in Horses

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Treatment

Treatment is not always necessary for brain trauma; it sometimes only takes rest for the brain trauma to heal. Other times, certain steroids or diuretics may be administered to encourage the healing of bruises on the brain or to alleviate the pressure that results from swelling.

Antibiotics may be used to help curb infections in certain cases, as well.

Living and Management

For horses with mild to medium brain injuries that tend to wander or get confused easily, confinement to smaller, darker spaces and isolation from other horses may be a good idea. Your veterinarian will probably prescribe certain medication or treatment options to ease the symptoms or the brain injury. The brain is an important part of the body; it controls motions, emotions, and more, and without proper healing your horse may not return back to normal.

Prevention

Care is only way to prevent brain trauma. Most brain traumas are the result of an accident. And while accidents cannot be completely avoided, you can take steps to reduce risks. Taking care to get extraneous objects and posts out of your horse’s living area and not confining too many animals to one place is the best way to prevent brain injuries from occurring.