Basic Physical Examination of Horses Chapter #5 LACP

Examination of Horses The history and physical examination are the most important part of the database and serve as the starting point for identifying the patient’s problems

History Coach the client- Individual –food and water source, feeding practices Management of the entire group Environmental stresses- pasture management, new animals Prior treatments- other veterinarians, or self medications/treatments Do not pass judgment

Physical Examination Physical examination Baseline Potential problems Insurance examination Required Prepurchase examination Used in the sale of horses It is not a guarantee of horses future performance

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

Basic Physical Exam

Visual Observation Observe the animal from a distance Gait Posture Hair coat Behavior Breathing pattern Respiratory noises Body swellings Skin wound Etc.

Observation From a Distance Behavior Individual differences Affected by illness/pain Depending on environment, changes throughout the day Eating, drinking Feces, urine

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

Attitude Depressed attitude: Pain Weakness Cerebral dysfunction Abnormal behavior: Pain Cerebral dysfunction

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

Normal values- Adults (p. 149) Body temperature- normal adult at rest: °F —varies by age, breed, environmental temperature Pulse rate/heart rate- normal adult at rest: bpm —varies by age, fitness level, 2° A-V block Respiratory rate- normal adult at rest: 6-12 breaths per minute —varies by age, environmental temperature Gastrointestinal motility (p. 130) normal adult at rest: 1-3 borborygmi per minute Borborygmus- rumbling or gurgling noises produced by movement of gas in the alimentary canal and audible at a distance Pink gums 6-10 piles of well formed manure per 24 hours

Normal Neonate Temperature F HR RR Pink gums Nursing 4-6 times per hour Fecal output 2-4 piles per day, pasty

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.

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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 temperature Temperature is almost always taken rectally using a standard mercury thermometer or a digital thermometer for large animals Look Familiar?

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