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