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.