Equine Handling and PE Flashcards
Describe the equine eye.
- large eyeball and pupil
- wide angle lens
- located on side of the head
Do horses have a wide or narrow visual field?
Wide
Where are a horses blind spots?
directly in front of them and directly behind them
A horses ears can rotate how many degrees and uses how many different muscles?
180 degrees
10 different muscles
100% of equine communication with humans is what?
body language and facial expression
What organ do horses have that allows them to ilicit a flemen response?
vomero nasal organ
What areas are sensitive to touch on a horse?
- nose
- lips
- mouth
- ears
- legs
What can elicit a flight resonse in a horse?
- danger
- escape
What can make a horse sense danger?
- something that invoked fear in the past
- something new or different that is not understood
Which horses should you use extra caution with?
- stallions
- mares with foals
- young inexperiences horses
- horses at feeding time
- horses in a new environment
What do neighs and whinnies mean?
long distance when separated from others
What do nickers mean?
encourage to come closer
What do squeals mean?
defensive, greeting between unknown horses
What do short snorts mean?
alarm, play
What do groans, sighs, and blows mean?
discomfort, tired, bored
What do roars and screams mean?
extreme arousal
What does a foot stomp mean?
low level threat, discomfort
What does pawing mean?
frustration
Describe correct halter placement.
- crown placed 2 fingers behind ear
- no loose straps
- throatlatch sits across caudal aspect of jowl, buckle face out
- 3 fingers width between nose and nose band
- nose band at least a hand’s width above nostrils
Where should you always approach a horse?
Point of shoulder
Is it safer to close the lower or upper rear door first in the stocks? Why?
upper rear door because is you close the lower one first then a horse can flip backward over it if they backed up really fast
Do horses feel scared or safe when restrained?
Scared
Do horses have to be taught to tie?
Yes
Do handler and non-handler stand on the same side or opposite sides?
Same side ALWAYS
List types of non-chemical restraint from least severe to most severe.
- cupping an eye
- holding up a foreleg
- knocking on the head
- nose chain
- skin twitch
- nose twitch
- gum chain
- ear twitch
Which method of restraint is most useful for controlling horse during leading ot preventing horse from barging forward?
Nose chain
Describe how to put a nose chain on.
- loop chain through tie ring
- put clip through left cheek piece up diagonally through the square (out to in fashion - buckle should be on horse side of halter after feeding through)
- put clip though right cheek piece down diagonally thorugh square (again in an out to in fashion so buckle is on horse side of halter)
- clasp buckle on ring by eye
What is the most commonly used restraint for horses?
nose twitch
How long can you use a nose twitch before is loses effect?
15-20 minutes
What is the general order for grooming a horse?
- remove large amounts of dirt
- remove remaining dirt and dust
- remove fine amount of dirt
- comb mane and tail
- pick out feet
Should you pick a horses feet away from or towards you?
away from
Where do you lead a horse from?
just in front of shoulder
Describe how to pick up a horse hoof.
- Approach at point of shoulder and pat horse to let them know you’re there
- run hand down shoulder to leg and down leg
- when you reach the tendons they usually pick it up for you and you can hold the hoof. If they do not pick it up for you then squeeze the tendons as a cue
What is included in an equine signalment?
- age
- breed
- sex
- color +/- markings
What are common history questions you should ask for an equine PE?
- use of horse
- housing
- diet
- deworming protocol
- vaccination history
- recent changes
- recent travel
- currrent medications/treatments
- medical history
- presenting problem/s
What is included for a general equine physical exam?
- BCS, height, weight
- attitude, mentation
- haircoat, mane, tail
- head
- neck
- thorax
- abdomen
- limbs and hooves
What is an ideal equine BCS?
4-6
What are the steps to determine BCS in equine?
- evaulate the ribs
- look at topline
- look for areas of protruding bone structure and areas of fat pads/fatty deposits
Describe a BCS of 4.
- slight ridge along back
- faint outline of ribs discernible
- tailhead prominence depends on conformation, can be felt around it
- points of hips not discernible
- withers, shoulder, and neck not obviously thin
Describe a BCS of 5.
- back is flat
- ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt
- fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy
- withers appear rounded over spine
- shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body
Describe BCS of 6.
- may have slight crease down back
- fat over ribs fleshy/spongy
- fat around tailhead soft
- fat beginning to be deposited along side of withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck
How do you score the cresty neck?
- grade of accumulation fo fat in crest of neck along nuchal ligament
- graded 0-5 with 0 being none and 5 being excessive
Where do you measure height?
top of the withers
Ponies are what maximum height?
14.2 hh
1 hand equals how many inches?
4 inches
Horses are measured in what units?
hands
List the steps to use a height stick.
- pull on the numbered section of the height stick until the red button clicks into place
- press top button to swing black arm horizontally
- lower black horizontal arm to the top of the withers
- ensure stick is being held level with ground
List the steps to use a weight tape to measure height.
- ensure you are using the correct side of the tape
- locate where you step on the tape
- step on tape close to front hoof and pull tape straight up from ground
- look across to the withers to estimate the height
List the steps of using a weight tape to measure weight.
- wrap tape around the horse just behind the front limbs
- read where the tape overlaps
What do you examine haircoat for?
- shiny or dull
- appropriate length for season
- areas of hair loss
What do you examine main and tail for?
- evidence of rubbing due to itchiness
What do you examine eyes for?
- color of conjucticva
- holding eye open vs squinting closed
- presence of discharge
What do you examine the nostrils for?
- mucous membranes
- discharge
- airflow
- odor
What are the locations of equine mucous membranes?
- oral
- nasal
- ocular
- vulvar
What is a normal equine CRT?
<2 seconds
What are the only lymph nodes that are always palpable in the horse?
submandibular lymph nodes
Where can you palpate the submandibular lymph nodes?
- situated in between the mandibles
- roughly arranged in the shape of a V with the apex of the V positioned rostrally
Where do you palpate a pulse on a horse?
- facial artery
- transverse facial artery
Where can you find the facial artery?
- facial artery travels along the medial aspect of each mandible with the facial vein
- crosses to lateral aspect of the mandible at the rostral aspect og the messeter muscle (cheek)
What is a normal equine pulse?
28-40 bpm
Where can you find the transverse facial artery?
caudal and often slightly ventral to each eye
What should you pay attention to when palpating for a pulse?
- pulse rate
- rhythm
- quality (strong vs weak)
What do you examine the neck for?
- symmetry
- swelling (edema)
- heat
- pain
The esophagus travels down what side of the ventral neck?
left
The trachea travels down what of the ventral neck?
midline
What do you look for on jugular vein examination?
- inspection (jugular furrow should appear empty)
- palpation (swelling, heat, pain)
- jugular pulsations (should not be visible above the lower 1/3 of the jugular groove)
- jugular fill time
Describe the steps for a skin turgor test.
- pinch skin to create vertical skin fold
- loft skin away from neck and release
- count number of seconds for skin to flatten
What is a normal skin turgor test result?
<2 seconds
What should you take into consideration during a skin turgor test?
- age of the horse since skin becomes more elastic with age
You interpret skin turgor findings along with what other findings?
- mucous membrane
- CRT
When auscultating the heart, what should you pay attention to?
- heart rate
- rhythm
- presence/absence of murmurs
What location should you use to determine a hearat rate and rhythm?
left side of thorax with bell deep to the point of the elbow
What location should you use to determine presence/absence of heart murmur?
left and right side of thorax
Where do you find the mitral valve?
5th intercostal on left side
Where do you find the aortic valve?
4th intercostal on left side
Where do you find the pulmonic valve?
3rd intercostal on left side
Where do you find the tricuspid valve?
3rd-4th intercostal on right side
How do you evaluate the lungs?
- inspection of respiratory effort
- determining respiratory rate
- auscultation of lung fields
Horses have what type of inspiration and expiration?
biphasic
How do you inspect respiratory effort?
- observe patient from a distance for signs of increased effort indicated by flared nostrils or exaggerated abdominal movement
What are methods of determining respiratory rate?
- visualize abdomen expansion/contraction
- visualize nostril flaring
- feel airflow at nostrils
- auscultate over trachea
What is a normal respiration rate for a horse?
8-16 breaths per minutes
What is the location of lung field auscultation (dorsal border, cranial border, ventral border)?
- dorsal border: epaxial muscles in line with the point of the hip
- cranial border: shoulder/triceps muscle
- ventral border: slightly curved line from last intercostal space at the level of the point of the hip to the point of the elbow
How many sites should you evaluate per lung field?
3-4
- at least 1 site per dorsal, middle, ventral regions for at least 1 full breath each
How do you evaluate the abdomen?
- inspection of symmetry
- palpation
- auscultation
- rectal temperature
What are you listening for on abdominal auscultation?
borborygmi (GI sounds/gut sounds)
How long should you listen at each abdominal quadrant?
5-10 seconds
What is a normal rectal temperature in a horse?
99-101.5 F
How do you describe and interpret decreased GI sounds?
- indicated hypomotility
- long pause between sounds
- possible cause is colic (impaction, displacement)
How do you describe and interpret normal GI sounds?
- indicated normal GI motility
- semi continuous sounds
How do you describe and interpret increased GI sounds?
- indicated hypermotility
- continuous sounds, no pause
- possible cause is colic (diarrhea, colitis)
How do you evaluate limbs?
- palpation of limbs
- palpation of digital pulses
- palpation of hooves
What are you palpating limbs for?
- swelling of tissue (edema)
- distension of joints (effusion)
- heat
- pain response
How many limbs should you palpate for digital pulse?
All 4
What is the location of digital pulse for palpation?
- digital palmar/plantar artery runs along the medial and lateral spect of the distal limb with the palmar/plantar vein and nerve
- easiest place to palpate is the palmar/plantar aspect of the widest part of the fetlock on both medial and lateral sides
Describe normal digital pulses.
barely palpable
Abnormal/increased digital pulses indicate what?
inflammation in the hoof
What are possible causes of abnormal digital pulses?
- hoof abscess
- laminitis
What do you palpate hooves for?
hoof temperature
Desribe normal hoof palpation.
cool to touch
Increased hoof temperature indicates what?
- inflammation of hoof
What are possible causes of increased hoof temperature?
- hoof abscess
- laminitis
How do you determine hydration status?
- mucous membrane color and moisture
- CRT
- skin turgor
What are indications for a digestive exam?
- weight loss
- diarrhea
- gastric ulcers (suspected/historic)
- colic
- esophageal obstruction (choke)
Digestive focused questions would include:
- appetite
- issues eating
- diet
- housing
- manure
- deworming
How long is the equine digestive tract?
100 feet
True or false: The equine digestive tract is free floating in the abdominal cavity.
True
A complete digestive exam includes what?
- attitude and mentation
- vitals
- BCS
- lips and whiskers
- teeth
- tongue
- pharynx
- esophagus
- abdomen
- manure
What are indications of GI pain?
- pawing
- sweating
- tense abdomen
- trying to lay down
What type of teeth are used to grab food?
incisors
What type of teeth are “fighting teeth”?
canine
What type of teeth are used to grind food and are commonly called “cheek teeth?”
premolars and molars
What are quids?
balls of chewed up hay/grass
What are some signs of dental abnormalities?
- dropping food when eating
- prolonged chewing
- tilting head when chewing
- excessive salivation
- wads of chewed up hay/grass between cheek and cheek teeth
- decrease in BCS / weight loss
- whole grains or long stems of fiber in manure
How do you assess tongue tone?
- grasp tongue from interdental space
- pull tongue out to either side
- hold onto the halter at the same time to avoid damaging the stylohyoid apparatus
Which body part is responsible for moving food around mouth to facilitate proper chewing and moves food to the back of the mouth to facilitate proper swallowing?
tongue
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), excessive salivation, or bilateral nasal discharge with food particles would indicate an abnormality in what?
pharynx
How do you diagnose an abnormality in the pharynx?
- endoscopy
- radiographs
Which step of eating includes picking up food and involves lips and incisors?
prehension
Which step of eating includes chewing food and involves tongue and cheek teeth?
mastication
Which step of eating includes swallowing the food and involves tongue and pharynx?
deglutition
The esophagus is located on what side of the ventral neck?
left
What diagnostics can be used for an abnormality in the esophagus?
- passing nasogastric tube
- endoscopy
What is a common issue of the esophagus indicated by bilateral nasal discharge with food particles, excessive salivation, and coughing/retching?
esophageal obstruction (choke)
Where is the stomach located?
on the left side underneath the ribs
What size is the equine stomach?
holds 10-15L (2-4 gallons)
Can horses vomit?
No
If the amount of reflux exceeds 15L, what can occur?
the stomach can rupture
What common issue of the stomach is indicated by irritable mood, weight loss, reaction to tightening girth, decreased appetite, and pawing/uncomfortable after eating?
gastric ulcers
Ulcers are more commonly seen where using gastroscopy?
along the margo placates and on the squamous mucosa
What are you looking for on visual inspection of the abdomen?
- distention
- tension
- muscle fasciculations
- edema
- scar
What are you looking for when palpating abdomen?
- edema
- hernia
- scar
What are you assessing when auscultating the abdomen?
GI motility
What are the four quadrants for abdominal auscultation?
- left dorsal
- left ventral
- right dorsal
- right ventral
What is the term for GI sounds/gut sounds?
borborygmi
Where is the “5th quadrant” for abdominal auscultation?
located on the ventral midline of the abdomen, approximately 1 hands width caudal from the xiphoid process
What are you listening for in the “5th quadrant” of the abdomen?
evidence of sand colic/sand impaction
What diagnostics can be done if you suspect sand colic/sand impaction?
- rectal sleeve test
- radiographs
What are common issues of the small intestine?
- colic
- enteritis
- strangulating lipoma
What diagnostics can be used for an issue with the small intestine?
- nasograstric intubation
- rectal palpation
- ultrasound
What is a common issue with the cecum?
impaction
What are some common issues with the large colon?
- impaction
- displacement
What diagnostics can be used for an issue with the large colon?
- rectal palpation
- ultrasound
Define hypsodont teeth.
born with the length of teeth needed for life so the teeth contantly erupt through the gingiva over time
How many incisors does a horse have?
6 maxillary and 6 mandibular
How many canines does a horse have?
4 in males, often 0 in mares
How many premolars does a horse have?
6-8 maxillary, 6-8 mandibular
How many molars does a horse have?
6 maxillary, 6 mandibular
What is a wolf tooth?
1st premolar
What should you use to determine age by teeth?
- eruption times
- occlusal surface of incisors
- incisor shape
- Galvayne’s groove
You can accurately age a horse using teeth up to what age?
10 years
Review slides for practice aging teeth.
