Download - Basic Physical Examination of Horses
Basic Physical Examination of Horses Chapter #2
Pages 29-45 LACP
Physical examination
There are several types of physical examinations for equines
Insurance examination is required by the insurance company before a horse can receive insurance coverage
Prepurchase examination, conducted before completing the sale of an animal, the veterinarian performing the examination is presumed to be working in the buyer’s best interest
Equine Terminology
Trot Colt Mare Withers Frog Stallion Gelding Parrot Mouth Harness Filly Mule Thrush Meconium Sound Laminitis
Basic P.E.
The basic physical examination usually includes temperature/pulse/respiration (TPR) heart/lung auscultation, abdominal auscultation, hydratation status, examination of mucous membranes, and height/weight measurement
Equine weight measuring
tapes
Pull the tape so that is it snug and not tight around the horse’s girth.
Read the number that meets the “weight arrow” end of your weight tape, this is the animal’s weight in lbs.
Page 487 CVTV
The height of a horse is measured from the point of the withers to the ground.
Measuring height. A, Proper position for the height/weight tape for
measuring height.
B, Height is read at the highest point of the withers
Physical Examination
By system Always use the same
approach Record your findings Look at “the whole
picture”
Body Condition Scoring The Ideal Body Condition Score is between 5 and 6-1/2
1. Poor
Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead,
tuber coxae (hip joints), and ischia (lower pelvic bones)
projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders,
and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
2. Very Thin
Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous
processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel
rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip
joints) and ischia (lower pelvic bones) prominent; withers,
shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernable.
3. Thin
Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse
processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous
processes and ribs easily discernable; tailhead prominent, but
individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae
(hip joints), appear rounded but easily discernable;
tuber ischia (lower pelvic bones) not distinguishable; withers,
shoulders and neck accentuated.
Body Condition Scoring 4. Moderately Thin
Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on
conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae (hip joints) not discernable; withers, shoulders
and neck not obviously thin.
5. Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead
beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck
blend smoothly into body.
6. Moderately Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to
be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck.
7. Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs
with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders,and along neck.
8. Fat
Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs, fat around tailhead very soft; fat area along withers filled
with fat, area behind shoulder filled with fat, noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along
inner thighs.
9. Extremely Fat
Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs, bulging fat around tailhead; along
withers, behind shoulders and along neck, fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled
with fat.Courtesy of Purina Mills
Observation From a Distance
Behavior Individual differences Affected by illness/pain Depending on environment,
changes throughout the day Eating, drinking Feces, urine
Attitude
Depressed attitude: Pain Weakness Cerebral dysfunction
Abnormal behavior: Pain Cerebral dysfunction
Normal valuesAdults Body temperature (p. 32) normal adult at rest: 99.0-101.5°F —varies by age, breed, environmental temperature Pulse rate/heart rate (p. 33) normal adult at rest: 28-44
bpm —varies by age, fitness level, 2° A-V blockRespiratory rate (p. 37) normal adult at rest: 6-12 breaths
per minute —varies by age, environmental temperatureGastrointestinal motility (p. 39) normal adult at rest: 1-3
borborygmi per minutePink gums6-10 piles of well formed manure per 24 hours
Normal Neonate
Temperature 99-102F HR 80-120 RR 20-40 Pink gums Nursing 4-6 times per hour Fecal output 2-4 piles per day, pasty
Body temperature
Temperature is almost always taken rectally using a standard mercury thermometer or a digital thermometer for large animals
Look Familiar?
99-101.5
When inserting rectal thermometer, stand facing
caudally and maintain contact with the horse
Never stand directly in back of the horse’s rear end.
Grasp the tail at the base and move it gently to the side
Insert the thermometer.
A, The thermometer has been inserted and secured with the clip to the tail hairs.
B, Thermometer secured to hair coat with the clip.