Basic Equine Healthcare Flashcards
how can you assess equine demeanour?
bright/quiet
alert/subdued/dull
responsive/unresponsive/hyperaesthetic
what is the demeanour of a normal healthy horse?
bright, alert, responsive
reacts normally to stimuli
what does DUDE stand for in terms of healthy horse behaviour?
Defecating
Urinating
Drinking
Eating
how much should horses defecate?
4-13 piles per day
approx 17kg/d for 500kg horse
what should horse faeces look like?
relates to diet - normal colour, no visible parasites, individual formed nuggets
consider whether location is normal for horse
what is considered ‘normal’ urination for a horse?
several times per day
one large/several small wet patches in stable
may wait on hard surface until reaches somewhere soft (avoid splashback)
what is the normal posture for urination?
hindlimbs wide and caudal
how much water should horses drink per day?
40-60ml/kg/day
25 l/day for 500kg horse
increases if dry food
how much food should horses eat per day?
1.5-2.5% bodyweight of dry matter intake/day
continuous trickle to avoid gut stasis
what is the minimum amount of food that should be given to horses on a restricted diet?
minimum 1% bodyweight of dry matter intake/day
which parameters should be examined during an examination of a horse?
observe demeanour and behaviour TPR MM/CRT lymph nodes auscultation
what are you looking for in terms of respiration?
rate and effort - normal 12-20 breaths/min
observe nares - shouldn’t have discharge
observe if coughing
what could a heave line indicate?
abdominal muscular hypertrophy due to increased abdominal effort of breathing (can be sign of respiratory issues)
what is the normal heart/pulse rate of a horse?
30-40 bpm
where can you palpate pulses in a horse?
transverse facial artery
facial artery
digital arteries
where is the correct location for cardiac auscultation?
left lateral thorax underneath point of elbow (6th intercostal space)
where can you assess the mucous membranes of a horse?
conjunctiva
oral (salmon pink)
nasal
vulva
what is the normal CRT of a horse?
<2 seconds on non-pigmented oral MM
where can you palpate the lymph nodes?
either side of midline ventral mandible
what should you hear when performing a heart auscultation on a horse?
clear “lub-dub”
some healthy variation between horses
what other heart rhythm is normal at rest?
2nd degree block - may hear “dropped beats”
what should you hear when auscultating the abdomen?
gut sounds - present in all quadrant proportional to activity
caecal emptying - ‘toilet flush’ sound in right dorsal quadrant
what is the normal rectal temperature range of a horse?
37.3 - 38.2 °C
is a hypothermic reading likely to be accurate?
rarely hypothermia in adult horses
how does demeanour change when a horse is sick?
often disinterested in surroundings
more static
disengaged with others (horses/handler)
what characterises the ‘pain face’ in horses?
lowered ears
contraction of muscle above eye
tense stare
medio-lateral nostril dilation
lips pressed together, flattened chin
tension of facial muscles
what are the presenting signs of colic?
rolling looking at flanks yawning, grinding teeth stretching recumbent pawing, digging bed anorexic/inappetent reduced faecal output
what are the presenting signs of respiratory disease?
exercise intolerance
extended head and neck position
increased abdominal effort, heave line
flared nostrils
coughing
epistaxis
what are the presenting signs of liver disease?
dull/hyperaesthetic inappetent, weight loss jaundice head pressing compulsive circling photosensitisation diarrhoea
what are the presenting signs of dental disease?
dropping food/quidding
weight loss
slow to eat
halitosis
what are the presenting signs of lameness?
recumbency, abnormal posture resting limb reluctant and slow to move lame when moving poor performance changed behaviour during/around exercise inappetant
what are the main preventative medicine strategies in horses?
vaccination dentistry worming foot care and farriery (fly treatments, body condition scoring, physiotherapy/chiropractor)
what are the routine core vaccinations in horses?
influenza and tetanus
what are the other vaccination courses for horses?
herpes rotavirus equine viral arteritis equine infectious anaemia strep equi (respiratory)
how often should horses be vaccinated against equine influenza?
3 doses in first year of life
6-monthly for FEI competing horses
OR annual booster
what are the main signs of equine influenza?
pyrexia
nasal discharge
coughing
how often should horses be vaccinated against tetanus?
primary vaccinations 4-6 weeks apart
third vaccination 1 yr
then every 2-3 years
what are the signs of tetanus?
muscular contraction extended head/neck/spine/elevated tail flared nostrils wide open eyes erect ears
how often should dental exams be performed on horses?
every 6-12 months in healthy adult - increase frequency if pathology
what is involved in a dental exam?
palpate/pick/probe cheek teeth, view with mirror and light
removal of sharp enamel points
removal of rostral/caudal hooks
what common dental pathologies occur in horses?
diastemata
missing teeth
focal overgrowths
shear mouth/step mouth
how often should faecal worm egg counts be performed?
2 between march and september
how often should tapeworm tests be perfomed?
every 6-12 months - serum/saliva ELISA
what egg count warrants treatment?
FWEC >200-250epg, use pyrantel or ivermectin
what should be involved in the grooming routine of normal horses?
dried mud removed with dandy brush/rubber curry comb
body brush used all over
feet picked out with hoof pick
face sponge for eyes and muzzle
perineal sponge
what are the advantages of grooming hospitalised horses?
improves wellbeing - contact time/stimulation
give time to notice skin lesions, behavioural changes
what do shoes provide?
protection
support
traction
gait alteration (changes point of loading)
what care needs to be taken with cleaning kit of hospitalised patients?
disinfect between patients no sponges (fomites)
how often should a horses routine trim/shoe be?
every 4-8 weeks
