Horse Health

Question 1

Some signs of good health?

Answer 1

Some signs of good health?

.Alert outlook
.Appetite 
.Skin & coat
.Clear eyes & nostrils
.Mucous membranes
.Normal excretion - yellow brown or dark green & firm. 
.Urinating - 5-15L per day yellowish colour.
.Limbs should be cool

Question 2

Normal vital signs?

Answer 2

Normal vital signs?

In order
. Respiratory - 8-16 breaths per min
. Pulse - 25 - 42 beats per min
. Temperature - 38°c

Question 3

Pulse rate location?

Answer 3

Pulse rate location?

.Take pulse rate at the transverse facial artery below eye or listen to heart beats with stethoscope behind the left elbow ‘‘lubb-dub’’.

Question 4

How to take temperature?

Answer 4

How to take temperature?

.Use vaseline on end of thermometer and insert to half way and hold at a slight angle.

Question 5

Signs of ill health?

Answer 5

Signs of ill health?

.Disinterested, dull with head low
.Loss of appetite  
.Tight skin (dehydration)
.Sweating
.Discharge from eyes or nostrils

Question 6

Colic signs?

Answer 6

Colic signs?

.Pawing at the ground 
.Looking at flanks 
.Kicking at belly 
.Laying down & getting up repeatedly 
.Rolling
.Laying flat
.Increased PR & RR
.Loss of appetite

Question 7

Laminitis?

Answer 7

Laminitis?

.Stand with the weight back on his heels and be reluctant to move & heat in hooves.

.Rapid pulse of 43-50bpm indicates pain.

.Weak pulse indicates the heart is failing i.e shock.

Question 8

Shoeing?

Answer 8

Shoeing?

.Done every 5-6 weeks

Question 9

Teeth check?

Answer 9

Teeth check?

.Examined by vet yearly

Question 10

Tetanus vaccine?

Answer 10

Tetanus vaccine?

.Every 2 years

Question 11

Influenza vaccine?

Answer 11

Influenza vaccine?

.Yearly

Question 12

Worming?

Answer 12

Worming?

.Do faecal worm egg counts every 3 months or worm every 6-13 weeks.

.Do tapeworm saliva test every autumn to see which tapeworm wormer to use depending on tapeworm burden i.e. equest or equest pramox.

Question 13

Bathing?

Answer 13

Bathing?

.Never bath a grass kept horse as it will remove waterproofing grease from the coat.

Question 14

Sheath washing?

Answer 14

Sheath washing?

.Geldings need their sheath washed with hypoallergenic soap regularly.

Question 15

First aid kit?

Answer 15

First aid kit?

.Melolin dressing .Vetrap

.Animalintex poultices

.Assorted crepe bandages

.Gamgee .Cold bandages

.Sterile gauze .Pevidine & hibiscrub

. Hydrogel .Vaseline .Sterile saline

.Salt .Clean bucket .Bowl

.Spray bottle . Thermometer

.Scissors .Tape .Tweezers

.Tick remover .Stethoscope

.Hoof testers .Syringe

Question 16

Serious bleeding?

Answer 16

Serious bleeding?

.Apply pressure to wound. The pressure will help to stem the bleeding.

.Press the edges of the skin together firmly with your thumbs and keep that pressure up for a long time.

.If the wound is on the leg, apply a pressure pad once the bleeding has slowed down after applying pressure.

.If blood seeps through the pad don’t remove the bandage just apply another over the top until the vet arrives.

Question 17

Wound cleaning?

Answer 17

Wound cleaning?

.Clean hands and gloves

.Hosing - cold water constricts the blood vessels (tighten & close up) only gentle hosing.

.Antiseptic wash - once hosed the wound can be flushed with a syringe of antiseptic or use a gamgee swab and wipe wound from the centre.

.Bandages - must be flat. Start bandaging in the middle working down then up to help secure the bandage.

.Whole of lower limb should be bandaged to stop filling.

.2.5cm of padding is left exposed at the top & bottom of the bandage to prevent pressure sores and restriction of circulation.

.Never bandage too tightly

Question 18

Bandage care?

Answer 18

Bandage care?

.Unless necessary only needs changing once a day.

.Poultice - twice daily in early stages the once daily then once daily.

.If biting bandage apply bitter aloes.

.The sound leg must also be damaged to prevent filling caused by standing in the box.

.If not bandaged apply antibiotic wound powder or cream.

.All water used must be boiled first to sterile it.

.Never use strong antiseptics on a wound.

Question 19

Nursing?

Answer 19

Nursing?

.Eye injury - needs to be kept in complete darkness when healing on vet advice.

.Rugs and stable bandages help keep the horse warm.

.Warmth check - ears dry and warm if not rub with towel.

.Feed - go onto a non-heating diet i.e. low carbs & protein. Like warm bran mashes with a tablespoon of Epsom salts keep the digestive system moving but non-heating cubes soaked are better.

.Add small amounts of glucose to water to give energy.

.Keep a monitor chart for sick horses or diary.

.Massage the legs to improve circulation.

Question 20

Isolation?

Answer 20

Isolation?

.Contagious ailment - direct or indirect contact

.Infectious ailment - aerosol

.Keep separate from other horses but can still see companions.

.Have spare tools to be used when a horse is in isolation.

Question 21

Look at horse health file on laptop for more info

Answer 21

Look at horse health file on laptop for more info

Question 22

Bony enlargement?

Answer 22

Bony enlargement?

.Hard bony lump on leg.

.Signs - lameness, inflammation, heat, pain, swelling.

.Causes - riding & trauma to the leg.

.Treatment - rest, non heating diet, seek vet. Heat pain & swelling helped by ice pack, cold hosing, cold poultice.

Question 23

Bursal enlargements?

Answer 23

Bursal enlargements?

.Soft swelling, bursal sac fill with more synovial fluid.