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How do you know when your horse is feeling less than his best?
Sometimes the signs of illness are obvious, but often times indicators of illness are subtle especially early in the course of disease.
Early detection and treatment can frequently avert serious and expensive consequences. Knowing what’s normal for your horse can go a long way in pin pointing problems,
and help you and your veterinarian to initiate appropriate treatment.
Monitoring your horse’s vital signs during normal periods helps you to become attuned to what’s normal for him. It also helps you to practice taking measurements of heart
rate, respiratory rate, and temperature so that you can easily and accurately obtain vital information when illness is suspected.
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Resting Heart Rate for an Adult:
36 to 48 beats/minute
Call your vet if heart rate is persistently above 60 beats.
Video: Where to Find a Pulse on Your Horse
courtesy of Equestrianlife.com
 Go to video
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Resting Temperature for an Adult:
between 98F and 101F
Call your vet if temperature is greater then 102F.
NOTE: In warm weather or during exercise, stress, or excitement, a horse's temperature will naturally rise.
Video: Physical Exam
courtesy of Equestrianlife.com
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Resting Respiration for an Adult:
8 to 20 breaths per minute
Call your vet anytime your horse appears to have difficulty breathing (Respiratory noise, flaring of nostrils,
and increased respiratory effort).
NOTE: You can save time by counting the number of breaths taken in 15 seconds, and then multiplying that by 4.
Video: Physical Exam
courtesy of Equestrianlife.com
Go to video
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Gum Color and Feel:
Color: Pale Pink to Pink
Feel: Moist
Call your vet when your horse's capillary refill time is 3-4 seconds or above.
Video: How to Check for Gum Color
courtesy of Equestrianlife.com
Go to video
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Attitude:
This should be the first thing you observe. You know your horse, his mannerisms, and personality best.
A horse that is typically high-strung and active that has suddenly become quiet and docile may be experiencing a problem. Always be
on the lookout for any sudden changes or abnormal behaviors.
Normal Attitude: Bright and Alert. Responds to stimuli in a normal manner - such as looking at you when you walk into the stall or acting hungry in the morning prior to being fed.
Call your vet with any significant changes in attitude or behavior such as (1) Depression (horse overly quiet and does not respond to normal stimuli);
(2) Agitation or Anxiety when not stimulated; (3)Signs of pain (frequent, inappropriate rolling, pawing, looking at sides, frequent lip turning or yawning, or abnormal posturing).
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Appetite:
Most horses have very regular eating habits. Loss of appetite is often the first indicator of a problem.
Call your vet when there's signs of a decrease in normal appetite; difficulty chewing or swallowing; food or water exiting the nostrils; or, frequent coughing or stretching of the neck during eating.
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Movement:
If your horse has no underlying problems, he should move freely and willingly with coordination.
Call your vet if you see any sudden changes in locomotion; if you see signs of Ataxia (wobbliness) or loss of coordination;
if there's a sudden lameness (especially severe or involving more than 1 limb); if there's sudden stiffness; or if there's overall Difficulty of moving, such as in getting up or down.
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Manure Production:
This may sound gross, but your horse’s manure production is a great indicator of his current health. Watching for subtle changes (especially when dealing with
decreased manure production) can help prevent an emergency call to your vet later.
Call your vet when there's signs of decreased manure production or diarrhea.
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