Monitoring Your Horse's Vital Signs
Temperature
Materials needed - KY Jelly, thermometer (either mercury or digital)
How to take temperature - Lubricate thermometer with KY Jelly. Make sure you have a trusted handler holding your horse. Stand level with your horse's hip, facing backwards. It is important that you stand as close to your horse as possible. This way, if you do get kicked, your horse will not be able to generate enough momentum to inflict a serious wound. Reach around, lift your horse's tail and insert the thermometer into rectum. Wait for 3-120 seconds (according to manufacturer’s directions).
Normal resting temperature: 99.0- 101.0 °F
How to take temperature - Lubricate thermometer with KY Jelly. Make sure you have a trusted handler holding your horse. Stand level with your horse's hip, facing backwards. It is important that you stand as close to your horse as possible. This way, if you do get kicked, your horse will not be able to generate enough momentum to inflict a serious wound. Reach around, lift your horse's tail and insert the thermometer into rectum. Wait for 3-120 seconds (according to manufacturer’s directions).
Normal resting temperature: 99.0- 101.0 °F
Pulse
Materials needed - watch, plus/minus stethoscope
To take pulse - use your pointer and middle fingers together under either side of the mandible (lower jaw bone) to feel the facial artery. Don't press too hard!
To listen to heart rate - Listen for heart rate with stethoscope just in front of girth, 5 inches up from bottom of chest. You might have to push the stethoscope forward under the horse's elbow in order to hear the heart beat, especially if the horse is large and/or overweight. Each "lub-dub" counts as one heart beat.
Normal resting heart rate: 24-40 bpm (beats per minute)
To take pulse - use your pointer and middle fingers together under either side of the mandible (lower jaw bone) to feel the facial artery. Don't press too hard!
To listen to heart rate - Listen for heart rate with stethoscope just in front of girth, 5 inches up from bottom of chest. You might have to push the stethoscope forward under the horse's elbow in order to hear the heart beat, especially if the horse is large and/or overweight. Each "lub-dub" counts as one heart beat.
Normal resting heart rate: 24-40 bpm (beats per minute)
Respiration
Materials needed - watch
How to get respiratory rate - Watch the horse's flank for the rise and fall of the chest with each inspiration, or put your palm in front of a nostril and feel each breath.
Normal resting respiration rate: 8-20 bpm (breaths per minute)
How to get respiratory rate - Watch the horse's flank for the rise and fall of the chest with each inspiration, or put your palm in front of a nostril and feel each breath.
Normal resting respiration rate: 8-20 bpm (breaths per minute)
Mucous Membranes
Materials needed – none
How to assess mucous membranes - Lift your horse’s upper lip so you are able to visualize the gums.
Gums should be: moist to the touch (not tacky or dry) and pink (bubblegum color).
How to determine Capillary Refill Time (CRT) – Press your finger against your horse’s gums above the teeth, let go, and count the seconds it takes to return from white to normal color.
Normal CRT: should be less than 2 seconds
How to assess mucous membranes - Lift your horse’s upper lip so you are able to visualize the gums.
Gums should be: moist to the touch (not tacky or dry) and pink (bubblegum color).
How to determine Capillary Refill Time (CRT) – Press your finger against your horse’s gums above the teeth, let go, and count the seconds it takes to return from white to normal color.
Normal CRT: should be less than 2 seconds
If your horse is displaying any abnormal vital signs, please call your veterinarian immediately. In addition, if your horse stops eating or is lethargic, please do not hesitate to call 804.333.0333
The above information is available in a PDF as well for downloading and printing.
The above information is available in a PDF as well for downloading and printing.
Dover Equine Veterinary
P.O. Box 246 | Aylett, VA 23009
804.333.0333 | 804.769.2433