Equine Physical Exam

Question 1

Weaning (in terms of age)

Answer 1

Young, weaning to 1 year

Question 2

Yearling

Answer 2

1 year to 1.5 years

Question 3

Long Yearling

Answer 3

1.5 years to 2nd birthday

Question 4

Colt

Answer 4

Intact male between 2-3 years

Question 5

Filly

Answer 5

Female between 2-3 years

Question 6

Stallion

Answer 6

Intact male after 3rd birthday

Question 7

Mare

Answer 7

Female after 3rd birthday

Question 8

Gelding

Answer 8

Castrated male of any age

Question 9

Once patient history is obtained, it must be evaluated for ___. Some info may be difficult to ___, some might be ___.
Most owners will provide ___ history, while others will ___ or provide ___ info to spare ___. It is common for large animal owners to do this in order to not appear ___ or admit ___ on their part.

Answer 9

1. Accuracy
2. Evaluate
3. Misleading
4. Excellent
5. Ramble
6. False
7. Embarrassment
8. Ignorant
9. Fault, mistakes

Question 10

wo types of exams for equine are…
Purpose of each:
(excluding basic exams for both)

Answer 10

1. Insurance exam:
   - Required by insurance companies before horse can receive coverage.
2. Pre-purchase exam:
   - May be simple or in-depth exams.
   - TO avoid potential lawsuits, & the sensitive nature of information obtained from these exams, they must be thorough, accurate, & private.

Question 11

Basic PE
How to take rectal temperature (6)

Answer 11

1. Stand face caudally (left side) & maintain physical contact.
2. Grab tail and gently move to the side.
3. Insert lubricated thermometer with a twisting motion.
   - Digital, ring top, or mercury is okay.
4. Make sure it is secured on patient or in your grasp!
5. If it doesn’t advance, don’t force it!
6. Some horses pull the anus inward, and in some defecation is stimulated!

Question 12

Adult horse temp is typically __-__F.
Large breed & daft horses have ___ rectal temps.
Neonates often lack the ability to generate body heat and will have ___ temps following birth. Older foals might be a degree ___ than adults in the first few days/weeks after birth.
A false low reading could be due to ___ entering the rectum or if the rectum contains ___.

Answer 12

1. 99-101.5 F
2. Low
3. Low
4. Higher
5. Air
   - Esp during rectal exams/procedures
6. Feces

Question 13

Lowest rectal temp is in the…
“Gray zone” meaning for temp

Answer 13

1. Morning
2. Gray zone: 101.5-102 F
   - This may be normal for some, especially in hot weather.
   - Above this is suspicious unless post exercise.

Question 14

Pulse rate is taken by palpation of the ___. Heart rate refers to the number of ___/___, while pulse rate refers to the number of palpable arterial pulse ___/___.
In normal animals, these are ___ to each other.
Auscultation of the heart is for ___ ___, not pulse rate.
Some heart abnormalities produce audible heart sounds that are not always ___ by arterial pulse.

Answer 14

1. Arteries
2. Beats/min
3. Waves/min
4. Equal
5. Heart rate
6. Accompanied

Question 15

Locate the pulse areas and artery names (5)

Answer 15

A - Mandibular facial artery
B - Transverse facial artery
C - Coccygeal artery
D - Dorsal metatarsal artery
E - Lateral digital artery (two locations)

Question 16

Heart auscultation landmarks/locations (2)

Answer 16

Left side: F
Right side: G

Question 17

Lung auscultation landmarks & location names (6)

Answer 17

Right side:
K - Caudodorsal field
L - Mid thorax
M - Cranioventral

Left side:
H - Caudodorsal field
I - Mid thorax
J - Cranioventral

Question 18

Abdominal auscultation landmarks (4)

Answer 18

Left side:
N - Upper quadrant
O - Lower quadrant

Right side:
P - Upper quadrant
Q - Lower quadrant

Question 19

Normal pulse rates
Adult:
Foal post birth:
First 1-2 weeks of life:
Fit horses (ex: racehorses):
How is rhythm recorded? And pulse quality?

Answer 19

a. 28-44bpm
b. 60-80bpm
c. 75-100bpm
d. Below 28bpm
e. Rhythm: Regular or Irregular
f. Pulse is subjective: Strong, bounding, weak, or thready.

Question 20

Respiration rate is defined by ___ & ___. Like ___, ___, ___, ___, etc.
Horses use a combination of ___ & ___ muscles to breathe called ___ breathing.
Painful chest conditions may ___ use of abdominal muscles when breathing.

Answer 20

1. Effort & depth
2. Shallow, deep, labored, gasping, etc
3. Thoracic & abdominal
4. Costoabdominal breathing
5. Increase

Question 21

Respiration rates
Adult:
Adult hot weather:
Newborn foals:
Foals 1-2 weeks of life:

Answer 21

a. 6-12bpm
b. Higher, elevated
c. 80-90bpm
d. 20-40bpm

Question 22

T/F: Respiratory noises are not uncommon but may be significant. It should be noted what activity level the patient is and if it’s on inspiration or expiration.

Answer 22

True! They might be described as wheezing, whistling, honking, snoring, fluttering, etc.

Question 23

T/F: Most heart valves & sounds are best heard from the left side, but many murmurs are heard from the right side

Answer 23

True! This is why you must listen to both sides

Question 24

Where is the heart best heard?

Answer 24

Cranially to the caudal border of the triceps.

Although, it can be difficult to hear it here, so it’s advised to lift the muscle away from the chest or move forelimb slightly forward.

Question 25

T/F: Heart rates in large animals are slow and sounds are low & muffled.

Answer 25

False! HRs are SLOW but sounds are LOUD and DISTINCT

Question 26

Mummers ___ uncommon, although most are ___. This is due to the result of large volumes of blood moving at ___ speeds thru the valves, called ___ mummers.
True cardiac disease is ___ in horses & is usually accompanied by ___ and other abnormal sounds.

Answer 26

1. Aren’t
2. Physiological
3. High
4. Ejection mummers
5. Uncommon
6. Mummers

Question 27

T/F: Even though horses have large lungs, it can be difficult to hear the sounds of breathing

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Normal air movement during lung auscultation should be without any… (3)

Answer 28

Wheezing, gurgling, or moist sounds

Question 29

How are abdominal sounds created?
What is “passive movement?”

Answer 29

1. Generated by movements of the intestines
   - “Active movement”
2. Movement of gas & liquids without being propelled by intestinal musculature
   - “Passive movement”

Question 30

Intestinal motility sounds are called ___ and described as… (2)
How long should you listen to the abdomen?
No intestinal sounds means..?

Answer 30

1. Borborygmi
   - Rumbling thunder or freight train
2. One minute per quadrant
   - 3 borborygmi/min is WNL
3. Intestinal standstill (ileus)

Question 31

Locations to evaluate mucous membranes & CRT: (4)
Normal CRT:

Answer 31

1. Gums (gingiva)
2. Conjunctiva of eye
3. Lining of nostrils
4. Inner surfaces of vulva in females
5. Normal CRT:
   - <2.5 seconds

Question 32

MM color meanings
Light-dark pink:
Blue:
Brick red:
Purple:
Yellow:
Pale:
Reddish spotting:

Answer 32

1. Normal
2. Cyanosis
   - Low O2 in tissue
3. Bacterial septicemia &/or septic shock
4. Endotoxic shock
   - Along gum line called toxic line
5. Icterus
6. Anemia or poor perfusion
   - Some horses are normally pale pink
7. Clotting disorders

Question 33

Hydration status
Skin turgor:
Normal:
Dehydration:
Severe dehydration:
Severe dehydration & severe shock CRT:

Answer 33

a. Skin pinch test
- Lift skin over lateral aspect of neck & allow to retract.
b. <1 second
c. Prolong response, >1 second
- >5%
d. >8 seconds
e. 5-8 seconds

Question 34

Height & weight may be required for ___ & __ ___ exams.
Weight is crucial for accurate drug ___ & diet ___.
Tape is marked in hands which is equal to __ inches.

Answer 34

1. Insurance & pre-purchase
2. Dose
3. Formulations
4. 4 inches
   - 1 hand = 4 inches

Question 35

Height is read at the highest point of the ___

Answer 35

Withers