Equine Healthcare Flashcards
describe some of the signs of a happy relaxed horse
head up
wide ear base
relaxed (loose bottom lip)
resting hind limb
describe some of the signs of a worried horse
tight face
triangulated eye
neck muscles tense
leaning back
what are some of the signs of an angry or very unhappy horse?
flared nostrils
ears back
what can be assessed about a horse to assess their health?
demenour
what should a horses demeanor be compared to when assessing health?
other horses in the group
itself on a normal day
its normal self in todays situation
what is the normal demeanor of a healthy horse?
BAR
bright
alert
responsive
how can a horses demeanor be described?
bright or quiet
alert or subdued or dull
responsive or unresponsive or hyperaesthetic
define hyperaesthetic
excessive physical sensitivity
describe how a normal horse should behave in relation to it’s normal surroundings
interested - head up, ears reacting to change
describe how a normal horse should behave in relation to it’s normal routine
should be behaving as it would normally - mooching around, eating or sleeping
describe how a normal horse should behave in relation to it’s engagement with others
normal engagement - easy or hard to catch as normal, stood with friends, reacts to stimuli normally
what does DUDE stand for?
defecating
urinating
drinking
eating
what quantity of faeces should be produced by a horse per day?
4-13 piles
approximately how many kg of faeces wound be produced by a 500kg horse per day?
17kg
what does the appearance of normal horse faeces relate to?
diet
what is the normal colour of horse faeces?
dark green
what should happen when you squeeze fresh horse faeces?
some moisture should come out
what should not be seen in healthy equine faeces?
any parasites
where may faeces be located in the stable?
on the top of the bed in single spot or could be messy - depends on what is normal for the horse
when is a messy bed concerning?
if it is not normal for the horse
how often should horses urinate?
several times per day
how may urine be seen in the stable?
one large or several small wet patches
why may horses not urinate on a hard surface?
prevention of splashback
what is the normal posture of a urinating horse?
hindlimbs wide and caudal, back stretched and pelvis lifted
how may a mares urination change with oestrus?
more frequent and smaller volume
what volume of water should horses drink per day?
40-60ml/kg per day
when does horses drinking increase normally?
when eating - particularly with dry food
what condition may be indicated by polydipsia?
PPID - Cushings
should a healthy horse be interested in food?!
yes! most interested in food/treats at any time
how much should horses eat per day?
1.5 to 2.5% of body weight
how frequently should horses be fed?
continuous trickle due to risk of gastric uleration
how often to horses spend grazing through the day by choice?
18 hrs per day
how can a horses diet be restricted if they are obese?
reduce intake to a minimum of 1% bodyweight dry matter intake
when is the best time of the day for a horse to be without food/starved?
early hours of the morning
what is the first thing that should be observed when examining the horse?
demenour and behaviour
what parameters are included within an examination of the horse?
respiration pulse/HR MM and CRT lymph nodes auscultation temperature
what parameters should be observed first in the horse during the physical exam?
RR and HR as these are dynamic and may change due to exam
what should be observed about respiration?
rate and effort
what is the normal RR for horses?
12-20
should equine respiration be easy to see?
no
what are signs of increased respiratory effort in horses?
nasal flare (may relate to exertion) abdominal effort heave line
how should nares appear in a healthy horse?
moist but no discharge
what abnormal sign may be seen when examining horses respiration?
coughing
what is the normal HR for horses?
30-40 bpm
where can equine pulses be palpated?
transverse facial artery
facial artery
digital artery
apex beat palpation and cardiac auscultation
where can the transverse facial artery be palpated?
visualise a line between the caudal end of facial crest and mandibular condyle and palapate
where can the facial artery be palpated?
ventral boarder of mandible at the notch mid ramus. Should be able to feel the facial artery and vein crossing from medial to lateral here. Push dorsally on ventral boarder or grip vessel against medial mandible
where can the digital artery be palpated?
palmerolateral and palmeromedial aspect of the fetlock right down to ungual cartilages
where can the apex beat of a horses heart be palpated?
palm on left lateral thorax under point of elbow - around the 6th intercostal space
where can mucous membranes be checked on the horse?
conjunctiva
oral
nasal
vulva
what colour are horses oral MM?
salmon pink
how do MM colours vary within the horse?
may be more yellow-pink (conjunctiva) or red (nose) depending on level of body fat and vasculature in the area
how long is healthy CRT in the horse?
<2 seconds
what size should lymph nodes be in the healthy horse?
pea to bean size
where can equine lymph nodes be palpated?
either side of the midline ventral mandible
how should equine facial lymph nodes be palpated?
stroke the skin from caudal to cranial where they should be felt as a small bump
what areas of the horses body will be listened to on auscultation?
lungs and trachea
heart
gut
should lung sounds be easy to hear on auscultation?
no - difficult
how many fields should equine lungs be divided into for auscultation?
9
where are the boundries for auscultation of the equine lungs?
caudal to shoulder to 16th rib (avoiding becoming close to tuber coxae)
what should be heard when auscultating the heart?
clear “lub-dub” sounds
what side of the horse should you use for listening to the heart?
left and right
what is commonly heard at rest in horses when auscultating the heart?
dropped beats - second degree heart block
heart murmers
where should equine gut sounds be heard?
in all quadrants
what are gut sounds proportional to?
activity that the horse is doing (e.g. reduced with exercise, increased with eating)
whereabouts on the abdomen can caecal emptying be heard?
right dorsal quadrant
what does caecal emptying sound like?
toilet flush
what is the normal rectal temperature for a horse?
37.3 - 38.2
is hypothermia often seen in adult horses?
no - low values probably due to thermometer issues/open anus
are hyperthermia/pyrexia readings in horses likely to be real?
yes
does a sick horse always have an altered demenour?
no - may seen normal
what are signs seen often in sick horses?
disinterest in surroundings less reaction to changes more static (stood sleeping/recumbent) disengaged with others *in comparison to normal*
describe a commonly seen ‘pain face’ in horses
lowered ears (increased distance between ears at the base) triangulation of eye tense stare nostrils medio-laterally dilated lips pressed together and flattened chin
what can be used to assess pain in horses?
horse grimace scale
how may pain affect a horses whole body?
generic pain signs as well as those more specific to the area affected
what are the main presenting signs of colic?
rolling looking at flanks yawning grinding teeth stretching posturing to urinate but not recumbent pawing digging bed anorexia inappetant reduced faecal output
what are the main presenting signs of respiratory disease?
exercise intolerance extended head and neck increased abdominal effort heave line flared nostrils coughing nasal and occular discharge enlarged sub-mandibular lymph nodes epistaxis
why may a horse have a productive cough but no discharge seen?
they often swallow discharge that is coughed up
what are the main presenting signs of liver disease?
dull or hyperaesthetic inappetant weight loss jaundice head pressing compulsive circling photosensitization diarrhoea
what are the main presenting signs of dental disease?
quidding
weight loss
slow to eat
hallitosis
what are the presenting signs of lameness in horses?
recumbancy abnormal posture resting limb reluctant to move slow to move lame when moving poor performance changed behaviour during / around exercise inappetant / sweating - severe or profound lameness only
what are some key preventative medicine strategies used to keep horses healthy?
vaccination dentistry worming foot care and farriery fly treatments BCS physio
what are the routine core equine vaccines?
influenza
tetenus
what are the main vaccines given outside of core for stud animals?
herpes
rotavirus
equine viral arteritis
equine infectious anaemia
what are the main vaccines given outside of core for respiratory diseases?
herpes strep equi (strangles)
how is the equine influenza vaccine given?
IM
describe the correct plan for equine influenza vaccines
dose 1: day 0
dose 2: day 21-92 (3 weeks to 3 months)
dose 3: +150-215 days (5-7 months)
when must influenza boosters be given according to FEI rules?
6 monthly
when must equine influenza boosters be given outside of FEI rules?
< or on day 365
how long after dose 1 of equine influenza vaccine should dose 2 be given?
21-92 days (3weeks to 3 months)
how long after dose 2 of equine influenza vaccine should dose 3 be given?
+150-215 days (5-7 months)
how many horses in the UK are vaccinated against equine influenza?
around 40%
what are the signs of equine influenza?
pyrexia
nasal discharge
coughing
is equine influenza often fatal?
no but can make horses very sick
how is the tetanus vaccine given?
IM
when are the primary tetanus vaccines given?
4-6 weeks apart
when is the 3rd tetanus vaccine given?
1 year after the second
when are tetanus boosters given?
every 2-3 years after third depending on soil/environment
is tetanus contagious?
no
how is tetanus caused?
bacteria in environment enters wound to create toxin locally where it is then absorbed into the circulation for systemic effect
what are the signs of tetanus?
spastic paralysis muscular contraction extended head, neck, spine and elevated tail flared nostrils wide open eyes erect ears
why is tetanus uncommon?
due to vaccination
how often is a routine equine dental exam completed?
every 6-12 months in a healthy adult
why may the frequency of dental exams increase in the horse?
if pathology seen
what happens during an equine dental exam?
palpate, pick and probe cheek teeth
view with light and mirror
what may be done during a routine exam?
removal of sharp enamel points
removal of rostral and caudal hooks
what dental pathology may there be?
diastemata missing tooth overgrowth shear mouth step mouth
how can paddock maintenance aid equine worm reduction?
minimise stocking density
maintain consistent populations
poo pick 2x per week
rest and rotate pastures
parasites may survive over winter now due to global warming
larvae can spread from roughs (poo picking essential)
always turn foals out on clen pasture
what has reduction is disease risk to horses from worms got to be balanced with?
desire to reduce selection pressure
how many FWEC may be needed for adult horses between march and sept?
3 usually sufficient
how often should horses be tested for tapeworm?
every 6-12 months
what should be given if needed following tapeworm serum/saliva ELISA tests?
praziquantil
how can efficacy of worming be tested?
FWECRT testing annually
how many horses are needed for FWECRT testing for resistance to be proved?
6-10 horses
at what value of eggs per gram will horses be treated for worms?
200-250 eggs per gram
what will horses with high FWEC be treated with?
pyrantel or ivrmectin
what worm treatment must new arrivals to a yard be given?
moxidectin and praziquantil
what test must be taken by new arrivals 10-14 days post worm treatment?
FWECRT
should horses be turned out when the first arrive?
no - kept in for 3 days
how should foals be treated for worms?
febendazole at 3 and 5 months
FWEC at 7-8 months unless winter
moxidectin over winter
what should moxidectin worm treatment be preserved for?
larvicidal treatments in autumn / winter in high risk cases only
what is the benefit of grooming hospitalised horses?
contact time and stimulation to improve wellbeing
time to notice and issues (e.g. skin lesions or behaviour changes)
what is the minimum amount of grooming that must take place each day while the horse is hospitalised?
pick out feet
what must happen to grooming kits between each patient?
disinfect between patients
why are sponges not often used to groom horses in hospital?
fomite
what does the decision whether to shoe a horse depend on?
growth vs wear
conformation
hoof quality
what is provided to horses by shoes?
protection - prevention of excess wear
support at heel
traction (studs)
gait alteration if needed
how often should horses see the farrier?
every 4-8 weeks
