Download Equine Health Management

A70 Equine Health Management
Lab
Name _________________________________________
Items Needed For the Lab
Stethoscope
Stop Watch
Thermometer with String on the end
Mineral Oil
Tape Measure
Date _____________
Rubber Gloves
Calculator
Penlight
Horse Tape
1. Pulse (Normal range is 32 to 48 beats per minute)
Using the stethoscope, go to the left side of the horse and behind the front
shoulder. Place the stethoscope between the ribs and find the heartbeat. Using the
stopwatch, count the number of beats per second and record below.
Number of beats per minute _______ Pulse is normal ______ Pulse is abnormal ______
Now, by hand, find the pulse using light pressure under the jaw of the horse.
Using the stopwatch, count the number of beats in a minute and record below.
Number of beats per minute _______ Pulse is normal ______ Pulse is abnormal ______
2. Respiration (Normal range is 8 to 16 breaths per minute at rest)
Place the stethoscope about midway between the withers and the heart girth and
about the center of the rib cage between the ribs. Using the stopwatch, count the number
of breaths per minute and record below.
Number of breaths per minute _______________
Respiration is normal ________ Respiration is abnormal _________
Listen for fluid, crackles, or wheezing in the lungs on both sides of the horse.
Lungs sound good ______ Suspect fluid in the lungs ______ Which lung ____________
3. Gut sounds
Movement in the Cecum
Place the stethoscope in the center of the belly under the horse and behind the
sternum. Listen for movement of feed in the cecum of the horse.
Sounds occurring every minute ______
No sounds occurring _____
Sounds occurring constantly _______
Movement in the intestines
Place the stethoscope in the top right, top left, and bottom left quadrants and listen
for movement of feed in the intestines.
Sounds occurring every minute ______________
No sounds occurring ______________
Sounds occurring constantly ____________
4. Temperature (Normal range 99.5 – 101.5)
Place lubrication on the thermometer, stand close to the horse, and lift the horse’s tail. If
the horse clamps down his/her tail do not force it. Gently insert the lubricated
thermometer 2-3 inches into the rectum. Make sure a string is attached to the end of the
thermometer so that you do not loose it. Leave it in place for at least 2 ½ minutes. Using
a paper towel, wipe the thermometer clean and take the reading. Convert Celsius to
Fahrenheit by the following formula: Temperature in Celsius X 1.8 + 32 = Temperature
in Fahrenheit
Temperature reading ________________
Temperature is normal ________
Temperature is above normal ________
Temperature is below normal ________
5. Capillary refill
Lift the top lip on the horse while someone is holding firm on the halter. Be careful not
put your fingers in the mouth. Look at the color of the gums. A healthy horse will have
pink gums. An unhealthy horse will have pale white, yellow or purple colored gums.
Push your thumb (not your fingernail) on the surface of the gum and count the number of
seconds it takes for the gums to return to their original color.
Color of the gums is normal ________________
Color of the gums is abnormal __________
If abnormal, describe the color ________________________________________
6. Teeth Examination
Check for wear points
Check the upper and lower left and upper and lower right jaw for sharp points on
the teeth. Using your thumb on the exterior of the cheek, press downward against the
lower jaw on both sides of the head. If the horse quickly jerks its head away, there may
be sharp points causing discomfort due to uneven wear. Press upward to check the upper
jaw on both sides.
____________The horse did not appear to experience a great deal of discomfort
when this procedure was done.
___________The horse experienced discomfort on the upper / lower left/ right
side indicating dental points are present.
7. Hydration
In the winter, horses’ water intake often dramatically decreases especially if the water is
not heated. If the horse is worked hard, dehydration can set in. Dehydration is less likely
to occur in cold weather when the horses’ coats are heavier. Check hydration by lightly
pinching a fold of skin on the neck of the horse and gently pulling it away from the horse
until a tent forms. If the skin snaps back immediately the horse should be hydrated. If a
ridge of skin remains for a few seconds, the horse is considered dehydrated.
_________ The horse is properly hydrated
_________ The horse appears to be dehydrated
8. Eye examination
Snap your fingers in front of each eye to see if the horse blinks and can see out of
the eye. Be careful not to poke the horse in the eye.
Examine the exterior of the eye for cloudiness or growth on the eye. A healthy
eye should appear clear. Use a penlight to check the pupils for proper dilation.
Check for cataract crystals by looking for sparkles when you shine the penlight
inside the eye through the pupil.
R _____ L _____ The eye appears clear and to be functioning normally.
R _____ L _____ The eye appears to have a potential problem.
Poor vision
R _____ L _____
Growth
R _____ L _____
Dilatation
R _____ L _____
Cataract Crystals
R _____ L _____
9. Ear Examination
Snap your finger in front of each ear to see how the horse responds to sound.
Check the inside of the ears for parasites.
R _____ L _____ The horse’s hearing appears to be functioning properly
with no visible parasites present.
R _____ L _____ The horse appears to have a hearing problem.
R _____ L _____ The horse appears to have a parasite problem in the ears.
10. Estimate the horse’s weight
Using the horse tape provided, measure the horse’s weight.
Horse tape weight __________
Use a tape measure and measure the length of the horse tape (in inches) from the end of
the horse tape to your original measurement. This gives you the heart girth measurement.
Next, take the horse tape (because it is flexible) and stretch it from the point of the
shoulder to the point of the buttocks and use the tape measure to measure the tape to get
the horses length in inches.
Now use the following formula to calculate the horse’s weight.
Heart girth squared X Length
330
= Horse’s weight ___________
How does that compare with the horse tape weight estimate?
11. Estimate the horse’s height
Using the horse tape to measure to the top of the withers.
The horse is __________ hands tall.
12. Oral Paste administration
Using a 60 CC syringe, fill it with water and rinse the horse’s mouth.
Keeping your fingers out of the horse’s mouth, insert the syringe into the mouth
of the horse in the cavity between the incisors and the molars and turn the syringe
so the water will be placed directly onto the tongue of the horse. Slowly depress
the syringe releasing the water into the horse’s mouth. Adjust the oral paste
syringe by turning the ring on the plunger to the proper body weight of the horse.
Apply the paste in the same manner you applied the water.
_____________ Instructors initials verifying the paste was administered properly.