Horse Health Unit - Infovets



A40 Horse Health Unit

Lesson 1

Name ____________________________________ Date ______________

Signs of Health

The first step in health management is learning to recognize a _____________ horse.

Disease can then be recognized and treated early.

The horse’s health is determined by evaluating the horse’s general ______________,

_______________________ and _____________________ and examining specific parts of the horse (such as the hooves and eyes). Also observing its manure and urine, and

measuring vital signs like ____________________ rate, _________________ rate, and

_________________________ are very important.

A bright, active horse can be recognized at a glance, as it will be ___________,

________________________, and _______________________.

An ill horse will have a _____________, ____________________ look.

When in pastures horses normally stay in a group, so if one is off by itself it may be hurt or ill.

A healthy horse will normally have a good __________________________.

Body Weight and Condition

There are many reasons why it is important to determine the weight and body condition of a horse.

Knowing a horse’s body weight is essential to properly dosing __________________ and supplements.

Knowing a horse’s body weight alone, however, cannot indicate if the horse is in proper

________________________________.

This is where body condition scores become necessary. By using both body weight and condition, horse owners can provide better care for their animals.

Body condition scores will be covered in the equine feed & nutrition unit.

Estimating Body Weight:

Studies show that even when experienced horse people estimate an animal’s weight by visual inspection alone, significant errors can occur.

To help avoid this problem, many horse owners and veterinarians use a heart girth measurement and sometimes a body length measurement to estimate weight.

Body weight tapes can also be purchased from local farm stores, but are usually not as accurate.

The girth measurement is taken by placing a tape or thin piece of material (twine) around the horse’s girth. The tape encircles the horse just behind the withers on top and just behind the elbows on the bottom.

Estimating Body Weight:

The length of the horse is also considered in some equations. The length is measured from the very front of the shoulder to the very back of the buttocks.

Once these measurements are taken, the following equations can be used to determine the horse’s weight in pounds:

(Heart girth squared X the length (inches) / 330.

Determine the following horse weights based on the measurements

1. Heart Girth 76 inches, Length 57 inches Weight = ___________________

2. Heart Girth 84 inches, Length 60 inches Weight = ___________________

3. Heart Girth 88 inches, Length 63 inches Weight = ___________________

Hair Coat

A shiny, glossy hair coat is one of the best indicators of a healthy horse. Hair coat is

reflective of __________________________.

Grooming

Grooming is important in maintaining the health and happiness of your horse.

In the wild, horses groom each other they also roll at will and rub against trees to maintain healthy skin.

Domesticated horses must rely on humans to provide skin care.

Grooming, increases the ______________ to the skin which then releases the ________ that provide luster to the horse’s coat.

A shiny, healthy coat does not develop overnight. It takes daily grooming over a long period of time to achieve the supple coat of a winner.

Daily grooming also eases the burden of the ______________________ season by removing the hair gradually.

As well as providing a shiny coat, regular grooming also enables one to notice any

______________, ___________________, or __________________ that can be detected and treated during a thorough grooming session.

Stand near the horse as you groom it. Make __________________, not quick jerky movements that are likely to startle the horse.

The grooming process begins with ____________________________.

The purpose of currying is to loosen caked-on ___________ and to bring _________ and

___________________ to the surface for easy removal. A __________________ curry should be used.

Start currying at the ______________ and firmly brush the hair in _______________ movements while working towards the rear.

Vigorous circular movements increase ______________________ to the skin. This, in turn, leads to healthy skin.

By releasing the skin’s natural oils, the coat takes on a healthy shine. Be careful not to curry too vigorously on bony areas, and do not use any curry comb on the face.

Brushing with a ____________________________________ should follow currying. Brushing returns the hair to its normal position and removes the dirt brought to the surface by currying.

Brush with ______________ ________________ strokes, not long fluid strokes. Long stokes only move the dirt from one area to another, while short swift strokes

______________ the debris off the horse.

Brush with the ________________ of the coat. While brushing with one hand, hold the curry in the other to clean out the brush every few strokes. Do not use the stiff brush on the face.

Following the stiff brushing, brush with a _________________ brush.

This second brushing removes the _______________ left by the coarser, stiff brush and

brings ______________ to the surface, giving a lustrous shine to the horse’s coat.

The face can also be brushed with the finer, soft brush.

Before grooming the head, ________________ the horse and hold it by the halter.

With a soft brush, start at the _________________________ and move down the face, brushing with the grain of the hair.

Avoid the eyes. Be gentle around the nose and mouth. Some horses are sensitive or ticklish in these areas and may try to move their heads to avoid the brush.

When grooming the legs, ___________________________ on the ground or rest one or both knees on the ground. These are committed positions, which means once in them, it takes longer than a split second to get out of them. In committed positions, if the horse should become frightened, the time it would take you to move away from scrambling feet and the chance of becoming seriously injured is increased.

It always helps to have your free hand resting on the horses body while working on the legs. This way you can feel the muscles tense up and be warned that the horse is about to panic.

Each time you groom a horse, use a ______________________________________ to clean its hooves.

Grooming the mane and tail is done with a mane and tail ________________. A horse with fine, thin hair that falls out easily should have its mane and tail groomed frequently with nothing more severe than a soft brush, and the knots separated with

ones ______________________ to limit hair loss.

Burrs and knots should not be combed out. Rather, pull hairs away from the burr or knot until it is free. This method prevents excessive hair loss.

When brushing the tail, always ___________________________________ of the horse. Do not stand directly behind the horse.

Remember to clean the _______________, ________________ and

____________________ with a clean cloth or sponge. Also check and clean, if necessary, the anus, sheath, or between the teats.

Eyes

The eyes should be ________________________, fully open, and __________ without discharge or a glazed, dull appearance.

Eye Care

The horse is considered a "prey" animal that relies heavily on its vision to identify predators coming from almost any direction. To help identify potential predators, a horse’s eye is fairly exposed and sits prominently on the head. As a result, injuries and irritation to the surface of the eye and the eyelids can be common problems for horses.

Eye irritation can be simply the result of _____________ or _________________ in the eye, or it can be caused by injury, infectious disease, or a specific eye condition.

Initially, the eye may become red and irritated. Often this is condition is

_______________________________. The horse may be sensitive to the light and will "squint" or keep the eye completely closed.

_____________________ or discharge from the eye is common and can result from trauma, irritation, infection, and disease.

Many of these problems can lead to corneal abrasions, ulcers, and __________________.

For mild eye irritation, follow these suggestions:

1. Clean around the edges of the eye with a clean washcloth or cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water.

After squeezing any excess water from the washcloth or cotton, start at the corner of the

eye and wipe ____________________ from the eye.

Do the same thing on the opposite side of the eye.

Gently remove any discharge or debris found around the eye, being careful not to drag any discharge over the surface of the eye.

Use different cotton balls or areas of the washcloth for each eye. These techniques will help prevent the spread of infection.

2. _____________________ the eye with "artificial tears" or other eye safe product. This can help rinse out debris and soothe the eye.

3. The eye should also be protected from excessive sunlight, wind, dust, and flying insect irritation.

For problems that do not seem to improve while implementing the above suggestions, the horse should be examined by a veterinarian. Conditions that may seem fairly harmless can soon progress into serious problems that can permanently damage the eye. If the eye

becomes ________________, ____________, _________________, very irritated, painful, or continues to have discharge, veterinarian attention is a must. The veterinarian may prescribe various ointments or solutions that can be placed in the eye.

This picture shows how to administer an eye ointment in the eye. The lower eyelid is pulled down slightly to create a type of “pocket” for the ointment. A small ribbon of ointment is then placed into the pocket.

After the ointment is placed into the eye, the eyelids are gently brought together once or twice to help spread the ointment throughout the eye.

Hoof Growth

Normal healthy horses have healthy hoof wall tissue. The wall should grow at the rate of

_____ to _______ inch per month. The hoof should be smooth and _________________.

Dental Care

A horse’s teeth continue to grow throughout its life. This could pose a serious problem if

most parts of the teeth did not wear down (about __________________ of an inch per year) with the horse’s powerful chewing action.

Because the upper jaw is wider than the bottom jaw, all parts of the horse’s pre-molar and molar teeth do not wear evenly.

Because of the uneven wear, it is common to find very sharp points on the ____________

edge of the __________________ teeth and the ______________ edge of the

_________________ teeth.

A horse’s ___________________ and ___________________ are very vulnerable to damage from the points on the inside and outside of the teeth.

As the horse chews in an almost ______________________ type motion, the tongue and cheeks are often forced to contact the sharp points.

When these structures are injured, great pain and soft tissue damage can result.

A horse’s tongue is often so large that it is almost impossible for the horse to avoid the sharp points.

Many horses often experience significant pain when they are forced to flex the head downward.

This position can force an already crowded tongue and soft tissues into the sharp points of the teeth.

Many horses do not show outward signs of pain, even with significant injury to the tongue and cheeks. Other horses may be in good condition and yet still have teeth problems. Because of this, the following suggestions are a must to help every horse owner identify a potential dental problem in a horse.

The first step in determining if a horse needs dental work is to simply stand back and

__________________________ the animal. ____________ horses often have dental problems that prevent them from properly grinding and even consuming their feed.

Watch the horse eat. Look for any abnormalities in the way the horse chews its feed. Horses that have problems will often _____________ feed (particularly grain) out of their mouths stick their heads out, and twist their heads from side to side.

They may _____________________ and act like they are chewing delicately. Horses

with problems may also __________________________ excessively. Certain feeds, like whole-grains and long stemmed hays, are often harder for a horse to chew. If a horse eats all the soft pellets, but leaves the hay, dental problems should be evaluated.

A horse that __________________ frequently because of impactions can be doing so because of teeth problems.

Why do horses with bad teeth often have colic problems?

1.

2.

What are two things to look for in the manure that would indicate the horse has dental problems?

1.

2.

Observe the horse while a bit is in the mouth. Horses with teeth problems will often

_________________ having the _______ put into the mouth. Once it is in the mouth,

the horse may ______________ on the bit excessively, turn and jerk its head sideways, and resist any flexing motions. Try working the horse without a bit in place. If the problems seem to subside, the teeth are often the problem.

Now it is time to actually feel the teeth for points and potential problems. This can be done without putting the fingers in the horse's mouth.

Serious damage can occur if the horse happens to bite down on a vulnerable finger.

Instead, use the outside of the mouth where the upper teeth contact the cheeks.

How do you check a horse’s mouth for dental problems without putting your fingers in the horse’s mouth?

Hydration

The water balance of a horse is vital to its health. A ____________________ test can be

done by pinching a fold of skin on the _____________, pulling it out, and recording the number of seconds the skin takes to return to its normal position.

Hydration: The loose skin over the neck is the best area for evaluation.

The skin on a well hydrated horse will quickly snap back in _________________ seconds.

A skin tent will remain for several seconds on a dehydrated horse.

Manure / Urine

Horses normally have _________________________ balls that are not loose and watery and do not show undigested grains and other feed stuffs.

Urine is normally _________________________ colored and is not cloudy or red in color.

Mucous Membranes

Checking the mucous membranes and capillary refill time is essential for evaluating the health status of any horse.

The membranes of the horse’s gums and lips should be _______________ and have a

healthy ___________ color.

__________________, ___________________, ______________________, or deep

_________________ colors are all causes for concern.

If the horse is dehydrated, the membranes will be dry and the capillary refill time will be prolonged (>_______ seconds).

A horse with colic or in shock may also have an increased capillary refill time.

Capillary Refill Time

The circulation of a horse can be assessed by gently pressing ones thumb against the

______________ of the horse and counting the number of seconds it takes for the

color to return to the area once the thumb is removed. _____ to ______ seconds is normal.

Heart Rate

The normal heart rate of an adult horse at rest is _______ to _______ beats per minute.

This will vary with _______ of the horse, outside ________________________ and

humidity, _______________________________, and excitement levels.

Detecting a Pulse

The facial artery can be felt using light pressure just __________________________ in this region. This is an excellent place to feel a pulse. With continued practice, finding a pulse should come easily.

The heart is best heard on the __________ side, behind the point of the elbow. Because the heart is often difficult to hear, place some pressure on the stethoscope and move it around to different areas.

Digital Pulses

It is important for horse owners to get a basic feel for their horse’s digital pulses.

A horse that has very strong or bounding pulses may be having a problem with

_____________________________ (foundering).

Respiratory Rate

The normal respiratory rate of an adult horse at rest is ____________breaths per minute.

Exercise, air temperature, humidity, fever, distress, pain, and anxiety will increase the respiratory rate.

Temperature

The normal body temperature of a horse is __________ to ___________

High outside temperature, exercise, or dehydration can increase this by ___ to ____ degrees.

Taking a Temperature

After placing lubrication on the thermometer, stand as close to the horse as possible.

__________ points of contact is best.

Lifting the horse’s tail will help determine how cooperative the animal will be.

Gently insert the lubricated thermometer _______ inches into the rectum. Leave the

thermometer in place for ______ minutes.

Placing a long piece of tape or string on the end of the thermometer helps to keep track of the thermometer.

Gut Sounds

The abdomen should be divided into ___________ quadrants. In each quadrant there should be some sort of gut sound every minute.

Listening to the horse’s digestive track can reveal problems.

List two possible scenarios that might indicate a problem:

1.

2.

Normal sounds that are commonly heard include gurgling, sloshing, and even a noise that resembles the sound of a dripping faucet.

Owners should become familiar with their horse’s normal gut sounds.

Using a Stethoscope to Diagnose Respiratory Problems

A horse’s lungs lie below the rib cage and do not extend beyond the last rib. To listen

to the lungs, choose a location that is ________________________ the ribs. It is best to listen to multiple areas in many different rib spaces.

The _______________________ region should also be listened to.

Note: It is not uncommon to hear the normal passage of air in and out of the lungs. It

should be considered abnormal, if ___________________________,

____________________________ or ___________________________ are heard.

Note: Signs of respiratory problems include ______________________________,

___________________________, ________________________________, and swollen glands under the jaw.

Restraint (Using a Twitch)

Several different types of twitches are available. The ___________________ on the end

of a handle is probably the __________________________________. Some better twitches are the humane twitch or a twitch with just a rope on the end of a handle.

Twitches should be reserved as a ____________________ effort in controlling a horse. They should be used conservatively and with as little pressure as possible.

Often times a "_______________________________" is all that is required to distract a horse’s attention. This is performed by taking a handful of the loose skin in the neck/shoulder region.

When applying a twitch, it is essential that the ___________________ be held

________________ to prevent the handle from causing injury to the horse or handler.

Once the rope or chain is over the lip, the handle can be ______________________.

The twitch on this horse is probably too tight and is causing some real discomfort.

Every ____________ minutes the twitch should be __________________ and then

replaced if required. This allows for adequate _______________ supply to the nose.

After removing any type of twitch, it is often helpful to _______________________ the area to help restore adequate blood supply and the horse’s confidence.

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