Physical Exam of Horse

Question 1

gray horses over 15 years old have

Answer 1

melanomas

Question 2

color of skin: gray vs white horses

Answer 2

gray horses = black skin
white horses = pink skin

Question 3

what regions do gray horses get melanomas (3)

Answer 3

commissures of lips
perineum
tail/mane

Question 4

normal heart rate range

Answer 4

28-40

Question 5

S4-S1-S2-S3 heart sounds

Answer 5

S4-closure of AV valves
S1 - closure of semilunar valves
S2 - filling of ventricles
S3 - contraction of atria

Question 6

how many heart murmur grades are there

Answer 6

6

Question 7

grading of heart murmurs

Answer 7

1 - audible at 1 valve
2 - audible at 2 valves
3- audible at 3 valve
4 - audible at all 4 valves (both sides of chest)
5- precordial thrill (can feel with fingertips)
6 - audible with stethoscope off chest

Question 8

2 ways to assess hydration

Answer 8

mucous membranes with CRT
skin tent over shoulder

Question 9

normal respiratory rate at rest

Answer 9

<20

Question 10

how should horses’ breath smell

Answer 10

sweet (bilateral)

Question 11

how to get horses to expose respiratory disease (3)

Answer 11

exercise
rebreathing exam
hear air moving without crackles, wheezing, etc

Question 12

4 palpable lymph nodes

Answer 12

mandibular
parotid
cervical
inguinal

Question 13

neurological exam components (3)

Answer 13

mentation
cranial nerves
ambulation

Question 14

how to assess cranial nerves

Answer 14

feed treat and look into eyes

Question 15

ears give you info about horse’s

Answer 15

mentation

Question 16

musculoskeletal exam components (2)

Answer 16

watch ambulation
palpate all limbs, joints, tendons (ROM, pain, symmetry)

Question 17

urogenital exam components (2)

Answer 17

ensure mare vs gelding vs stallion
normal anatomy (sheath, testicles, udder)

Question 18

GI exam: normal sounds

Answer 18

listen for 10-60 seconds: ventral midline
propulsive grinding type sounds

Question 19

bad sounds to hear during GI exam

Answer 19

pings
water dripping in cave
silence
fluid flushing
waves on a beach

Question 20

hearing “waves on a beach” during GI exam indicates

Answer 20

sand

Question 21

body condition scoring 1-9

Answer 21

1 - poor; almost dead, emaciated
2 - very thin
3 - thin; slight fat layer can be palpated, ribs easily discernable, can’t see individual vertebrae
4 - moderately thin, can see faint outlines of ribs, fat can be felt, neck and shoulders not obviously thin
5 - moderate; level back, ribs not easily seen but can be felt, spongy fat around tailhead, withers rounded
6- moderately fleshy; fat over ribs, beginning to deposit along withers/shoulders
7 - fleshy; noticeable fat filling between ribs, behind shoulders and along neck
8 - fat; ribs difficult to feel, noticeable thickening of neck, fat deposited along inner buttocks
9 - extremely fat; obvious crease down back, bulging fat over neck and shoulders