How to measure your horse’s respiratory rate
What should your horse's respiratory rate be? Your horse’s resting breathing rate should be around 8-12 breaths per minute
05 May 2018
Read MoreHow to take your horse’s digital pulse
Palpation of your horse’s digital pulse in your horse’s lower leg can be useful to detect if there is inflammation in the feet, often associated with laminitis or an abscess in the foot.
How to check your horse’s digital pulse
Feel for the cord-like structure by gently placing your first two fingers horizontally behind the pastern bone on either side, just where it joins the fetlock. Alternatively, the pulse may be more obvious slightly further up on either side of the back of the fetlock.
Palpation of the pulse takes practice and it is important to use your fingers not a thumb as you will only feel your own pulse with the latter! If you can’t feel anything, try not pressing so hard as it is easy to squash the blood vessel.
Watch our video on how to take your horse’s digital pulse (courtesy of brookfarmstables)
What are vital signs?
The principal vital signs for horses are temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and mucus membrane colour. Knowing the normal range of your horse’s vital signs and how to take them will help you to monitor his health and can give you an important early warning that something could be wrong. Being familiar with your horse’s normal weight is also important because changes may indicate ill health. Always call your vet immediately if any vital signs are not as expected.
The principal vital signs for horses are temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and mucus membrane colour. Knowing the normal range of your horse’s vital signs and how to take them will help you to monitor his health and can give you an important early warning that something could be wrong. Being familiar with your horse’s normal weight is also important because changes may indicate ill health. Always call your vet immediately if any vital signs are not as expected.
How to take your horse’s temperature
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Wendy Talbot
DR WENDY TALBOT BVSC CERT EM (INT MED) DECEIM MRCVS
Wendy graduated from Bristol University in 1999. She then went on to complete a residency at Liverpool University and holds a European Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine. After working in practice for 13 years, she joined Zoetis in 2012 as the National Equine Veterinary Manager.
