Basic Equine Healthcare

Question 1

Define: “hyperaesthetic”

Answer 1

Over-responsive (experiencing things such as pain, heat, or cold in a way that is unusually strong and unpleasant)

Question 2

What are some behavioural signs of a healthy horse?

Answer 2

Interested in its surroundings
Doing what it normally does
Engaging how it normally does

Question 3

What does the acronym “DUDE” refer to?

Answer 3

D - defaecating
U - urinating
D - drinking
E - eating

Question 4

Describe the defaecation of a healthy horse

Answer 4

4-13 piles per day
Appearance relates to diet
Individual formed nuggets (can squeeze moisture out)
Normal colour
No visible parasites
Typical location for individual

Question 5

Describe the urination of a healthy horse

Answer 5

Several times per day
One large/several small wet patches in stable
Normal posture

Question 6

How might a normal urination pattern change for a mare in season?

Answer 6

Mares in season tend to urinate frequently and in small volumes

Question 7

Describe the drinking of a healthy horse

Answer 7

40-60ml/kg/day
Increases when eating
Increases with dry food

Question 8

Describe the eating of a healthy horse

Answer 8

Most horses are keen to eat hard food/treats anytime
1.5-2.5% bodyweight of dry matter intake per day
Continuous trickle (grazing)

Question 9

When is best to starve a horse before a procedure?

Answer 9

In the early hours of the morning, due to their natural resting behaviours

Question 10

What is the minimum amount you should feed to an overweight horse as part of a diet?

Answer 10

1% bodyweight of dry matter intake per day

Question 11

What goes into the examination of a horse?

Answer 11

Observe demeanour and behaviour
Respiratory
Pulse/heart rate
Mucous membranes and CRT
Lymph nodes
Auscultation
Temperature

Question 12

What is the normal range for temperature in the horse?

Answer 12

37.5 - 39.0°C

Question 13

What is the normal range for pulse/heart rate in the horse?

Answer 13

80 - 100 beats per minute at rest
<150 bpm when active

Question 14

What is the normal range for respiratory rate in the horse?

Answer 14

30 - 40 breaths per minute (within 4h of birth)

Question 15

What should be taken into account when examining respiration in the horse?

Answer 15

Observe respiratory rate and effort
Should be hard to see
Look for a heave line/nasal flare/abdominal effort
Observe nares (moist but no discharge)
Observe if coughing

Question 16

Where is pulse rate commonly measured on a horse?

Answer 16

Transverse facial artery
Facial artery
Digital artery

Question 17

Where can heart rate be measured on a horse?

Answer 17

On left lateral thorax underneath point of elbow
6th intercostal space

Question 18

How do horses’ mucous membranes differ to most mammals?

Answer 18

Their mucous membranes are often tinted yellow due to horse fat being yellow (as a result of grass pigments)

Question 19

Where can mucous membrane colour/capillary refill time be measured on a horse?

Answer 19

Conjunctiva
Oral (salmon pink colour)
Nasal (not recommended to blanch this area)
Vulva

Question 20

What should be taken into account when examining lymph nodes in the horse?

Answer 20

Small, pea to bean sized nodes
Either side of midline ventral mandible
Directly between points where the facial arteries cross under the jaw
Stroke the skin from caudal to cranial

Question 21

What should be taken into account when auscultating the lungs/trachea in the horse?

Answer 21

Should be difficult to hear
Divided into 9 fields

Question 22

What should be taken into account when auscultating the heart in the horse?

Answer 22

Clear S4-S1 and S2-S3 “lub dub”
Auscultate the left and right
May hear “dropped beats” (normal at rest)
May hear murmurs (can be normal)

Question 23

What should be taken into account when auscultating the abdomen in the horse?

Answer 23

Gut sounds should be present in all quadrants
Should be proportional to activity
Caecal emptying (right dorsal quadrant, toilet flush sound)

Question 24

Is it common to see hypothermia in horses?

Answer 24

No, very rarely
Question duration, battery power, position of thermometer, gas pockets, open anus, etc.

Question 25

Is it common to see hypothermia in horses?

Answer 25

No, very rarely
Question duration, battery power, position of thermometer, gas pockets, open anus, etc.

Question 26

How might we assess a horse’s demeanour?

Answer 26

Compare the horse to others in the group/its normal self
Bright OR quiet
Alert OR subdued OR dull
Responsive OR unresponsive OR hyperaesthetic

Question 27

Define: “colic”

Answer 27

Abdominal pain

Question 28

What are some less noticeable signs of a sick horse based on demeanour?

Answer 28

Disinterested in surroundings
More static
Disengaged with others
(They may appear outwardly normal)

Question 29

What are the presenting signs of colic?

Answer 29

Rolling
Looking at flanks
Yawning
Grinding teeth
Stretching
Posturing to urinate (in attempt to alleviate pressure)
Recumbent
Pawing
Digging bed
Anorexia/inappetant
Reduced faecal output

Question 30

What are the presenting signs of respiratory disease in horses?

Answer 30

Exercise intolerance
Extended head and neck position
Increased abdominal effort
Heave line
Flared nostrils
Coughing
Nasal (and ocular) discharge
Enlarged sub-mandibular lymph nodes
Epistaxis

Question 31

Define: “epistaxis”

Answer 31

Bleeding from the nose

Question 32

What are the presenting signs of liver disease in horses?

Answer 32

Dull/hyperaesthetic
Inappetant
Weight loss
Jaundice
Head pressing
Compulsive circling
Photosensitization
Diarrhoea

Question 33

Why is ragwort dangerous for horses if ingested?

Answer 33

Ragwort is an accumulative toxin for liver disease

Question 34

What are the presenting signs of dental disease in horses?

Answer 34

Quidding
Weight loss
Slow to eat
Halitosis

Question 35

Define: “quidding”

Answer 35

Dropping food whilst chewing

Question 36

Define: “halitosis”

Answer 36

Bad breath

Question 37

What are the presenting signs of lameness in horses?

Answer 37

Recumbency
Abnormal posture
Resting limb
Reluctant to move
Slow to move
Lame when moving
Inappetant
Sweating

Question 38

Describe the “pain face” in horses

Answer 38

Lowered ears
Contraction of the muscle above the eye
Tense stare
Nostril dilated in the medio-lateral direction
Edged shape of the muzzle with lips pressed together and flattened chin
Tension of the facial crest

Question 39

What are some equine preventative medicine strategies?

Answer 39

Vaccination
Dentistry
Worming
Fly treatments
Body condition score/weight
Farriery
Physiotherapy/chiropractor

Question 40

What are the two main vaccinations given to horses in the UK?

Answer 40

Equine influenza
Tetanus

Question 41

What are the signs of equine influenza?

Answer 41

Pyrexia
Nasal discharge
Coughing
Horses very sick but rarely fatal

Question 42

What are the signs of tetanus in horses?

Answer 42

Spastic paralysis
Muscular contraction
Extended head, neck, spine, elevated tail
Flared nostrils
Wide open eyes
Erect ears
High mortality

Question 43

What goes into routine equine dentistry?

Answer 43

Routine examination every 6-12 months for healthy adult
Increase frequency if pathology
Palpate, pick and probe cheek teeth (PM & M)
Removal of sharp enamel points
Removal of rostral/caudal hooks

Question 44

What advice may help owners to plan effectively and overcome potential barriers to worming their horse?

Answer 44

Maintain consistent populations
Poo pick 2x per week or more
Rest and rotate pasture (esp studs)
Know parasites can survive overwinter on pasture
Larvae spread from “roughs”
Always turn foals out onto clean pasture

Question 45

Describe a horse grooming routine

Answer 45

Dried mud removed with dandy brush (not face)
Body brush used all over
Feet are picked out with hoof pick
Face sponge for eyes and muzzle
Perineal sponge