Vital Signs Flashcards
Main vital signs
- heart rate
- respiration rate
- capillary refill time (CRT)
- temperature
Normal adult horse resting heart rate is _____ bpm
30-40
A pulse rate of ____ bpm in an adult horse could mean physical distress
50 or higher
Heart rate for foals up to 2 weeks:
100 bpm
Heart rates for foals 4 weeks:
70 bpm
Heart rate for colts/fillies 6-12 months: _____ bpm
45-60
Heart rate for 2 year old horse: ____ bpm
40-50
Average breath rate of an adult horse is _____ breaths per minute
8-24
An increase in breaths will occur with…
- Hot humid weather
- Exercise
- Fever
- Pain
Beware: ________ rate should never exceed _______ rate.
Respiration; pulse
Normal capillary refill time is _______
Less than 1 second
If the CRT is over 2 seconds, the horse may be…
in distress/shock
Normal rectal temperature is…
99.5 - 101.5
Mild fever rectal temperature is…
100.5 - 102.5
Moderate fever rectal temperature is…
102.5 - 104.0
High fever rectal temperature is…
104 - 106.5
Very high fever rectal temperature is above _____
106.5
A healthy horse’s temperature can vary by ___ degrees depending on the environment
3
Other than fever, horses will have a higher temperature during…
- warm weather
- during/after exercise
- stress
- excitement
A healthy horse will drink a minimum of ___ gallons a day, but ______ is ideal
5; 10-20
One way to test for dehydration is the _______
Pinch/tent test
Mucus membranes include the…
- eyelids
- gums
- inside of nostrils
Regarding gums, color is a good indicator of….
blood flow
Gut sounds should…
Always be present
