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.

Create Your own Equine Emergency and First-Aide kit

If an emergency occurs with your horse it's a good idea to have already set up your own emergency kit as you can find it easily and often in an emergency situation those few seconds you spend searching for the right supplies to help your horse really could make a difference. I suggest strongly that you have one made up for your barn as well as another for in your horse trailer if you plan to trailer your horse anywhere. In addition to what's on the list I would suggest you also try to keep ice or cooling blocks in your freezer at home ready at all times.

Suggested items for an Equine first aid/ emergency kit:

Triple antibiotic ointment - 1oz. (28.4 gm) tube. Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Bacitracin Zinc.
Sterile Saline - 12 oz. squeezer bottle' for wound or eye irrigation.
Epsom salt - 1 lb. (.45 kg) container for soaking hoof abscess/infections.
Povidone Iodine Solution - 4 ounce 'squeezer' bottle with 'flip-top' for cleaning wounds, skin infections, etc.
Artificial Tears (sterile) - 15ml. dropper bottle for eye application (screw cap for reuse).
Horse Liniment - A warm, soothing treatment for temporary muscular soreness caused by overexertion, minor injuries and/or arthritis.
Emergency Blanket
2 - clean, white, 100% cotton, hand towels.
2 - Polo Wraps
2 washable, full-size fluffy leg quilts for use with track bandages.
2 - 4" (10.2 cm.) rolls cohesive flexible bandages (4" x 5 or 6 yards(10.2 cm x 4.6 - 6 meter, self-adhesive, lightweight compression and breathable)
8 to 10 - absorbent, hospital-grade, gauze pads.
5 or six - large, non-stick, sterile, highly absorbent and hospital-grade, Telfa-type pads.
3 pair vinyl gloves ('fits all').
Scissors
Tweezers (stainless Steel)
Hoof pick with rubber coated handle
Stethoscope
Thermometer - heavy duty Veterinarian-quality
Some type of ice Gel for cooling off swelling areas
Tourniquet for Emergency Bleeding Control ONLY.
Jointed pliers/heavy wire cutter all in one (or one of each).
Flashlight with fresh batteries installed.
10 – 20 feet (3.5 – 5 meters) Rope. (A type of rope that is strong but supple and will not unravel or be abrasive on the horses skin if you need to make an emergency halter with it.)
Duck tape roll. (Good for repairing equipment or protecting bandage over hoofs but do not allow it to come in contact with horse skin as it would be extremely painful to remove)
Quick link-type snap-hook for use with the utility rope.
'Wet Ones' travel pack
Note Pad.
Pen and/or pencil.
'Horse First Aid and emergency Reference Guides(Reference/Instruction sheets on: Horse first and Dealing with Equine Emergencies)