HORSE HEALTH NUMBERS
Listed a few numbers, facts, and approximations to guide you through assessing your horse's health.
1. RECTAL TEMPERATURE 99-100.8 degrees F
2. HEART RATE 25-48 beats/minute (resting)
3. RESPIRATORY BEATS 10-24 beats/minute (resting)
4. MUCOUS MEMBRANES pink to pale pink (gums)
5. CAPILLARY REFILL TIME less than 2 seconds
(push on gums with finger - this is amount of time that it takes to return the color to pink)
6. HYDRATION STATUS pinch a flap of skin above the shoulder and it should spring right back
7. INTESTINAL GUT SOUNDS gurgling and growling in all 4 areas/quadrants of the abdomen
8. DIGITAL PULSE IN THE FEET you should not be able to feel a pulse between the fetlock and hoof
9. HOOF WALL TEMPERATURE the hoof walls should be cool to the touch
10. AMOUT OF HAY EATEN IN A DAY a 1,000 lb horse should eat 15-20 lbs. hay/day
11. WATER INTAKE PER DAY a horse should drink 1 gallon of water for every 100 lbs. body weight
12. DAILY URINE VOLUME a horse should urinate 2.5 gallons/day for the average 1000 lb. horse
|