If you spend any amount of time around horses, sooner or later equine injuries and illnesses are bound to occur. Sometimes it's immediately apparent that you'll need veterinary assistance - often, such situations involve substantial and serious wounds. But when the injury is less severe, how do you know when it's time to call in the vet?

The simple answer is that you need to call the vet any time an injury or illness is more than you can handle on your own. But there are also a number of conditions which might appear to be minor, but can, in fact, be far more serious. Learning to recognize such potentially serious injuries and illnesses - and enlisting veterinary help early on in their treatment - can prevent them from becoming much, much more serious in the long run.

Wounds

Any horse owner will quickly learn how to take care of minor - and even some more significant - wounds without having to call out a vet. But veterinary care will be necessary for particularly deep wounds, or those that will require stitches. Profuse, unstoppable bleeding also requires an immediate vet call. Significant wounds, or those difficult to keep clean, may require a horse to be put on antibiotics, and a vet call is necessary. Remember, it's always easier to stay ahead of infection, rather than treating it retroactively, so if you suspect a wound will be prone to infection, save yourself - and your horse - some trouble and call your vet.

If a wound may have interfered with a joint then it is vital to call a vet, and always call a vet if synovial (joint) fluid is visible. The presence of synovial fluid indicates that the joint capsule has been punctured, and serious infection is both possible and likely.

Eye injuries

All eye injuries, including squinting, any cloudiness, or unusual tearing, and especially a puncture or injury in or near the eye, should really receive immediate veterinary attention. Eye injuries can quickly worsen and develop into more serious conditions, even risking your horse's sight.

Sudden, severe lameness

If you ever find your horse suddenly and seriously lame, it may be time for a vet call. Sudden, higher degree lameness is concerning because it can signify serious injuries such as tendon or ligament tears. Lameness and heat also indicate a soft-tissue injury, and their presence should be taken seriously.

Colic

While minor cases of colic may be safely treated without requiring veterinary intervention, it's important to be able to recognize when and if a colic case progresses to a level where a vet's assistance will be necessary. Monitoring your horse's vital signs and pain level throughout the episode can help to identify this, and calling your vet to discuss your horse's condition and progress over the phone is a good idea, as your vet may have treatment suggestions and can help you decide if his or her help will be necessary.

Fractures or broken bones

If you ever suspect your horse may have a fracture or a broken bone, call the vet immediately. Such injuries cannot be self-treated, and it's likely that your horse will also be in a high level of pain.

Shock

Any time your horse shows signs of shock, including weakness, pale mucous membranes, slow capillary refill time, sweating, shaking, and an increased heart rate, veterinary assistance is necessary. Elevated respiration is also a sign of shock, and you should also take the situation seriously if your horse ever demonstrates labored breathing, or if his breathing is noisier than normal. Such an issue needs an immediate call to the veterinarian.

With careful treatment and attention, you can likely get your horse through many minor health issues. If you should encounter larger, more serious injuries or illnesses, bringing in veterinary assistance early on can avoid an even more serious condition down the road. Any time you're unsure about a diagnosis or the potential seriousness of your horse's condition, you should call your vet. It will pay off in knowing that your horse will receive excellent care, and you will also receive peace of mind.