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Published byBrian Griffin Modified over 9 years ago
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Basic Physical Examination of Horses Chapter #5 LACP
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Basic Physical Exam
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Visual Observation Observe the animal from a distance Gait Posture Hair coat Behavior Breathing pattern Respiratory noises Body swellings Skin wound Etc.
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Observation From a Distance Behavior Individual differences Affected by illness/pain Depending on environment, changes throughout the day Eating, drinking Feces, urine
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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.
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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
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Attitude Depressed attitude: Pain Weakness Cerebral dysfunction Abnormal behavior: Pain Cerebral dysfunction
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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
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Normal values- Adults (p. 149) Body temperature- normal adult at rest: 99.0-101.5°F —varies by age, breed, environmental temperature Pulse rate/heart rate- normal adult at rest: 28-44 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
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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
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Equine weight measuring tapes
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Pull the tape so that is it snug and not tight around the horse’s girth.
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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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Page 487 CVTV
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The height of a horse is measured from the point of the withers to the ground.
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Measuring height. A, Proper position for the height/weight tape for measuring height. B, Height is read at the highest point of the withers
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Physical Examination By system Always use the same approach Record your findings Look at “the whole picture”
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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
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When inserting rectal thermometer, stand facing caudally and maintain contact with the horse
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Never stand directly in back of the horse’s rear end. Grasp the tail at the base and move it gently to the side
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