ANR-808 MONITORING YOUR HORSE'S VITAL SIGNS
ANR-808, Reprinted Feb 1999. Cynthia A. McCall,
Extension Animal Scientist, Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Science, Auburn University
Monitoring Your Horse's Vital Signs |
Vital signs are measurements of body functions that indicate the health
status of the animal. Body temperature, heart rate, and respiration (breathing)
rate are some easily monitored and commonly used vital signs. A horse's
vital signs usually fall within an average range for all horses. However,
there are individual differences in vital signs, and some healthy horses
may have a slightly higher or lower measurement than the average. Because
of small individual differences in values of vital signs, it is important
to know the usual value for your horse. Measuring your horse's vital signs
occasionally will give you an indication of what is "normal" for
your horse.
A change in vital signs from normal values may indicate a health problem
with the animal. Generally, greater and more prolonged changes in vital
signs indicate more severe health problems in horses. Monitoring vital signs
can give you a good indication of your horse's basic health and can help
you determine when professional veterinary care is needed. Knowledge of
your horse's vital signs can help you detect a serious health problem early
in its development when your veterinarian can more successfully treat the
illness. Information about vital signs early in the course of a disease
can help your veterinarian monitor the horse's response to treatment. Additionally,
vital signs can be used in basic management decisions such as determining
when the horse has cooled down after exercise.
Temperature
The internal body temperature of a healthy horse is maintained within
a fairly narrow range. Normal rectal temperature for the horse ranges between
99.5 and 101.5 degrees F, with 100 degrees F the average. Environmental
temperature extremes, exercise, and excitement may change an individual
horse's body temperature slightly, but body temperature usually remains
within the normal range during these conditions. Body temperature of a foal
varies more than that of an adult horse and is more influenced by ambient
temperature. Above-normal rectal temperatures in horses may indicate disease,
overheating, or colic. Extremely high temperatures can lead to convulsions
or death. A below-normal rectal temperature may indicate shock, chilling,
or a critically ill animal. Generally a rectal temperature a few degrees
above (102 degrees F) or below (98 degrees F) normal indicate the animal
is ill and should be closely monitored. Horses with temperatures higher
than 103 degrees F or lower than 97 degrees F need immediate, professional
veterinary care.
Large animal veterinary thermometer with string and hair clip
attached |
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You can take your horse's temperature with either a large animal veterinary
thermometer or a thermometer designed for human beings. Veterinary thermometers
are easier to handle. They have a loop on the end through which a string
can be tied. The string can be fastened with a hair clip to the horse's
tail, so you do not have to hold the thermometer. Use the following procedure
for taking the horse's temperature:
- Shake down a mercury thermometer so the mercury reads about 96°F,
or clear a digital thermometer.
- Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or some
other non-toxic lubricating substance.
- Stand beside the horse's hip and as close to the horse as possible
to reduce your chances of being kicked. Pull the horse's tail to the side
and gently insert the thermometer into the rectum until only the tip is
visible. If the thermometer does not easily slide into the rectum, change
the angle of the thermometer slightly and rotate it during insertion.
- If the thermometer has a string and hair clip attached, fasten the
hair clip to the horse's tail. If the thermometer is not equipped with
a string and hair clip, you must hold the thermometer while taking the
horse's temperature.
- If the horse's rectum is "ballooned" with air, the tip of
the thermometer must be held against the inside rectal wall by gently shifting
the outside portion of the thermometer to one side.
- Leave a mercury thermometer in place for 3 minutes before removing
it, wiping it off, and reading it. A digital thermometer usually has an
auditory signal when the temperature reading has stabilized.
Pulse
Every beat of the horse's heart pushes a surge of blood through the arteries.
This surge of blood can be felt as the pulse in arteries lying close to
the body surface. The normal resting pulse rate of a mature horse ranges
from 30 to 40 beats per minute (bpm) with an average of 35 bpm. Exercise,
environmental temperature, disease, the horse's physical condition, excitement,
and age (foals typically have a higher pulse rate than adults) can all affect
the pulse rate. Pulse rates of more than 80 bpm for a prolonged time period
in the absence of exercise or excitement can indicate illness or colic in
the horse. Maximal heart rates during the start of exercise can be more
than 200 bpm and are not a cause for alarm. These extremely high heart rates
can be detected only with a heart rate monitor in place during exercise
because the horse's heart rate will quickly drop when exercise is stopped.
You will need a watch with a second hand to take your horse's pulse on
one of several arteries. Some easily detected arteries are found on the
inside edge of the horse's lower jaw, just below the chestnut on the front
leg, the inside surface of the cannon bone just below the knee, and the
groove beneath the base of the tail. It takes some practice to consistently
locate and count the horse's pulse, so you should practice this procedure
until you are confident in locating an artery and feeling the pulse. Use
the following procedure for taking your horse's pulse:
- Locate one of the surface arteries with the flat side of your fingertips.
- When you can consistently feel the pulse beat, count all beats for
30 seconds. Double the count to give you beats per minute.
- Pulse rates can increase greatly when a horse becomes alert or excited,
so you may need to take several readings over time to determine the resting
pulse rate.
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Arteries are marked where the horse's pulse can be monitored
easily. |
Respiration Rate
Respiration is movement of air in (inhalation) and out (exhalation) of
the lungs. The respiration rate of the mature horse at rest is 8 to 16 complete
breaths (inhalation and exhalation combined make up one complete breath)
per minute. Exercise, high environmental temperatures, high humidity, excitement,
pain, and illness will increase respiration rate. A high respiration rate
may not be as indicative of illness as other vital signs because it is more
influenced by environmental conditions. However, respiration rate in combination
with other vital signs can be a good indication of health. The sound and
pattern of respiration can be used to evaluate horse well-being. Generally,
respiration is steady and effortless, and it produces little noise. Irregular,
shallow, labored, or noisy respiration patterns can signify exhaustion or
illness.
You can determine your horse's respiration rate by observing movements
of the horse's rib cage, flank, or nostrils, or exhalations can be felt
by holding your hand approximately 3 inches in front of the horse's nostril.
You will need a watch with a second hand to determine respirations. Use
the following procedure for determining your horse's respiration rate:
- Locate respiratory movements in the horse's rib cage, flank, or nostrils
or feel exhalations on your hand.
- Count either the inspirations or exhalations for 30 seconds. Since
a breath consists of an inhalation and exhalation, do not count both. Double
the count to give breaths per minute.
Mucous Membrane Color
Mucous membranes line body cavities open to the air such as inside the
mouth, nostrils, and eyelids. Mucous membrane color indicates the quantity
and condition of the blood flowing through these areas. Healthy horses have
pink mucous membranes, and changes from this color can indicate anemia,
colic, illness, or shock. A bright-red color may signify illness and fever.
A pale color may indicate anemia, and a bluish color indicates poor circulation
and possibly shock. Practice checking the color of your horse's mucous membranes
so that your horse is comfortable with the procedure, and you can recognize
changes from the normal pink color. Use the following procedure for checking
mucous membrane color:
- Stand by the side of the horse (not directly in front) and pull its
head toward you slightly.
- Lift up the horse's upper lip in the area of the corner incisor tooth
to inspect the color of the inside lip and gums, or gently pull down the
horse's lower eyelid to check the color inside the eyelid.
Capillary Refill Time
Capillary refill time is the time it takes blood to return to a mucous
membrane after pressure forces it out. When blood is forced out of a mucous
membrane the area will look pale and be a yellow to white color. When blood
returns to the area, the mucous membrane color reverts to its healthy pink
color. The capillary refill time for a healthy horse is approximately 2
seconds. A capillary refill time of more than 2 seconds may indicate a circulatory
problem, shock, or dehydration. Capillary refill time is usually checked
on the horse's upper gum. Use the following procedure for checking your
horse's capillary refill time:
- Stand by your horse's shoulder and pull its head toward you slightly.
- Lift up the horse's upper lip in the area of the corner incisor tooth
and press your thumb firmly against the gum for 2 seconds.
- Remove your thumb and count the seconds until the pink color returns
to the area.
Hydration
Hydration refers to the amount of fluid in the body. Dehydration occurs
when the fluid loss is greater than the amount absorbed by the body. Dehydration
can be caused by lack of fluid intake, fever, diarrhea, sweating, blood
loss, and urination. Horses worked in hot, humid conditions or confined
to a trailer on a hot day often become dehydrated. Mild dehydration caused
by lack of water can be treated by letting the horse drink small amounts
of water at frequent intervals. Dehydration due to other causes or severe
dehydration requires immediate professional veterinary care.
A horse that is properly hydrated has pliable, elastic skin. A dehydrated
horse's skin will lose pliability and become dry and wrinkled. The horse's
eyes seem to sink into the skull, and its mucous membranes appear dry and
sticky. Use the following procedure for checking hydration in the horse:
- Stand by the horse's shoulder and pinch up the skin near the base of
the horse's neck between your thumb and fingers for approximately 2 seconds.
- Release the skin. A properly hydrated horse's skin will quickly flatten
to its original position against the muscle mass of the neck. A dehydrated
horse's skin will return to its normal position very slowly or may stay
"tented up" rather than returning to its normal position.
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To test for dehydration, pinch up the skin near the base of the horse's
neck. |
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A dehydrated horse's skin will return to its normal position slowly
or remain "tented up" when released. |
Excreta Appearance and Patterns
The physical appearance and pattern of excreta (manure and urine) is
not really considered a vital sign, but it can be a good indication of the
overall health of the horse. Horses generally defecate every 2 to 3 hours
and urinate every 4 to 6 hours. Any sudden change in color or consistency
of urine or manure may signify illness. Elimination frequency will increase
with excitement. Frequent eliminations in a calm horse or straining during
urination or defecation are not common and could indicate muscular soreness
or illness. Normal horse urine is cloudy in appearance because of the calcium
carbonate crystals it contains. Coffee-colored or bloody urine, diarrhea,
or failure to defecate indicate potentially serious problems that require
professional veterinary attention.
Horse owners should know normal vital signs for horses and some methods
of monitoring them. Practice monitoring your horse's vital signs so you
and your horse are comfortable with the procedures and you have confidence
in your results. Not every method of measuring vital signs is presented
in this publication. However, if you become familiar with the simple methods
presented here, you can easily monitor your horse's health status. Whenever
you are in doubt about your horse's health, contact your veterinarian for
advice.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Look
in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and
home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related
acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal
opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.
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