VETERINARIAN
ACTHA Monthly | August 2015 | 40
By Dr. Mary Beth Hamorski VMD
Mixed Animal Veterinarian/Co-Owner Califon Animal Hospital
Califon, New Jersey
The
What's
Normal
You probably spend considerable time with your horse but do you know what normal vital signs for your own animal are? Having a range of normal factors for your horse, as well as knowing normal core body temperature, resting heart and respiratory rate can clue you in should your horse become ill. Teaching young riders what is normal and what isn’t for their horse or pony is an essential teaching tool on the road to good horsemanship.
While I have discussed equine temperature in a prior article, part of my job is to continue to educate my clients and the youth. Sometimes it means repeating the importance of being able to perform the essential diagnostic tool of obtaining a horse’s temperature. Having your horse get use to having their temperature taken when they are healthy can ease the stress when they are sick. This way you and your horse learn how to do it, and you learn what is normal. The best and safest way to take a temperature is to buy a digital thermometer that says for oral and rectal use. Pick up a small jar of petroleum jelly too. Dip the thermometer in a small dab of jelly, stand near the hip facing towards the butt and let the horse know you are there. Make sure they are on cross ties or have someone assist initially to hold them. Rub your hand on the hip and slide back to the tail base. Touch your fingers near the anus and slowly and gently push the thermometer in about 1 1/2 -2 inches. Wait for a beep then read. Normal should be about 99’-101’. Don’t be afraid to take it 2-3 times to make sure you are getting an accurate reading. Temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, so if you are finding your horse’s normal take it at the same time each day.
Get an idea of what normal respiration is at rest by counting how many times the ribcage moves in and out while your horse is at rest. This number is variable and can be as low as 10 up to 18. Many horses with fevers may increase their respirations to blow off extra internal heat. Signs of discomfort or pain may also increase respiratory rate. Often in times of distress you may see your horse blowing hard with flared nostril breathing. While this is a common and normal occurrence after exercise, observing flared nostril breathing especially on a cool day may be your first indication that something is wrong.
Heart rate is a bit harder to get. Sometimes you are able to feel the heart beating by placing your palm on the ribcage right behind the left elbow. Another place is from the mandibular artery. Draw a line down from the left eye and feel the jaw bone. Strum your fingers back and forth from outside to inside jaw tip you feel a piece of twine snapping, this is
Get an idea of the color of your horse's mucus membranes by rolling down the lower eyelid and by lifting up the upper lip and observing gum color. Horses do have pigmented membranes so don't think a black color is a problem. It may be totally normal for your horse. When you press on the gums the white spot should return in about 1 second. This is noted as capillary refill and a sign of hydration. Pale gums could be from anemia or blood loss, while bluish tinged may indicate lack of oxygen and purple dark gums maybe toxins or severe dehydration.
What else do you look for in normal for your horse? As discussed in a previous article, your horses' eyelashes should be parallel to the ground and not pointing downward. Downward lashes indicate pain was well as squinting and excessive tearing.