Checking Vital Statistics - Video included

 

My first foray into video demonstrations! My mare Angel is the horse in this video. There will be other videos coming in the near future. I plan videos for wrapping legs as well as packing and wrapping hooves.

Angel and I after a ride

Every horse owner should know how to check the vital statistics of their horses. Heart rate, temperature, gut sounds, breath rate. The normal ranges for an adult horse are as follows: Temperature – 99 – 101 degrees Fahrenheit; heart rate – 28 – 44 beats per minute; breathing rate – 10 – 24 breaths per minute. For foals, the normal ranges would be: Temperature – 99.5 – 102.1; heart rate – 80 – 100 beats per minute; breathing rate – 20 – 40 breaths per minute.

This is important information to be able to tell your veterinarian when you have to call with a possible emergency, whether colic or some other illness or injury. To check these vitals, you will need a stethoscope (I have a Littmann Classic III), which costs about $100. Having used some cheaper quality ones in the past, I really like this one! You will also need a thermometer. No need to spend a lot of money on one. Get a digital one made for people. The last thing you will need is a watch or the timer on your cell phone for counting heartbeat and breathing rate.

My stethoscope and thermometer

For the heart rate, you will find it behind the elbow on the left side. As I show in the video, you may have to reposition your stethoscope a bit to find the heartbeat. The heartbeat will come through as a two-beat sound as the heart pumps in and out. You count this two-beat sound as one beat.  Once you have found the heartbeat, count the beats in a 15-second period and then multiply by four to get your heart rate. It is much easier to get an accurate count this way, as you are less likely to lose count. Angel’s heart rate was 38 beats per minute, which is normal for her.

Video how how to check for vital statistics

For gut sounds (colic), you need to check all four quadrants. Left and right, upper and lower quadrants. I show the left side, upper and lower quadrants, but the right side will be in the same location. You are listening for loud gurgling sounds in all four quadrants. With a healthy horse, you can often hear these sounds without the aid of a stethoscope at times. The quieter the gut sounds, the more likely that you have colic brewing, even if they are quiet in just one quadrant.

Taking the temperature is pretty simple, as shown in the video. Use caution and stand to the side the first few times you check your horse’s temperature, as they may not be familiar with this procedure or may react. Always keep yourself out of the line of a potential kick. If the thermometer reads low, reposition and try again. You may have hit fecal matter. Angel’s temperature in the video was 98.9, which is in her normal range.

It is much easier to check breathing rate, as you can watch their sides rise and fall and count, again for 15 seconds, and multiply by four.

My grey gelding, Highway, recently had a gas colic incident. My first clue that something wasn’t right was that he didn’t eat all of his dinner. I checked his heart rate, gut sounds, and temperature. Gut sounds were a bit quiet on the right side, heart rate and temperature were normal. I called the vet, and we decided I was to give him some Banamine and see how he did. He then started lying down and acting more uncomfortable. The vet had me give him another half-dose of Banamine (a normal dose for an average horse is 10 cc). I don’t know how to do IV, so I shoot it in their mouths. It takes a bit longer to take effect, but it is the only alternative to IV administration. I NEVER administer Banamine IM.  The vet ended up coming out. He was tubed (naso-gastro tube), the vet got the gas cleared, and gave him some fluids and electrolytes. He was a bit dehydrated as well. One way to check for dehydration is to see if their gums feel tacky.

Video I took during Highway's colic incident to send to the vet. The veterinarian decided to come out after seeing this video. Videos and photos are very useful tools!

Practice checking these vitals often to get the hang of it and get familiar with what your horse’s “normal” is and where you will find them on your horse. When your vet is out for routine work, ask them to double-check how you are doing, so you can be sure you are getting it right. It makes their job easier in an emergency situation if you can give them these stats when you call them.

Other things to watch for: Has your horse’s behavior changed? Are they rolling? Are they thrashing when they roll? Not eating? Not drinking? Acting lethargic? Any swelling? Lameness? Wounds? Photos and videos help as well. The more information you can provide your veterinarian when you call, the better. It aids them in determining the severity of the issue.

Knowing what is normal for your horse helps you know when something is wrong with them. It can help you avoid bigger problems if you catch them when they are smaller issues. Getting familiar with their vital statistics, like heart rate, gut sounds, breath rate, and temperature, will help you in an emergency situation.