What are the Vital Signs for Horses

What are the Vital Signs for Horses

Temperature:
Normal body temperature of a mature horse at rest is 99 to 101 degrees F.

Heart and Pulse Rate:
Normal mature horses - 28 to 40 beats per minute.
Newborn foals - 80 to 120.beats per minute
Weanlings - 60 to 80 beats per minute
Yearlings - 40 to 60 beats per minute

Determine Pulse Rate:
Horse should be calm, rested and relaxed to obtain an accurate heart rate.
Press your fingers against an artery. There are several locations where an artery can be felt.
1. back edge of lower jaw
2. inner surface of the groove under the jaw
3. inside the elbow, up and forward against the
chest wall.
4. under the tail, close to the body
5. the inside or outside pastern.

Dehydration:
Check skin pliability for dehydration. Pinch a fold of skin on the neck and release it. It should quickly return to its original position. If the horse is dehydrated, the skin returns slowly and tends to stay in a fold.

Mucous Membranes:
Gums, inside lips of a mare's vulva and nostrils should be pink. A fire engine red color usually denotes illness. Anemia causes a pale color. Lack of circulation causes a bluish-purple color.

Quantity and Condition of Circulating Blood:
Rate of capillary refill (the rate blood returns to an area) indicates the quantity and condition of the circulating blood. Capillary refill can suggest anemia, colic, congestion and shock. You can determine capillary refill time by pressing your thumb on the horse's gum and releasing it. It should take about two seconds for the blood and normal color to return to the area. Longer capillary refill times can be indicators of dehydration or a circulatory problem.