Week of September 3, 2000

SIGNS OF DISTRESS PART 1.

Horses can communicate their needs in many subtle ways. Sometimes, when a horse is ill, or in distress, there might not be any obvious, outward signs like bleeding or limping. Therefore, it is important for you to know what your horse’s normal vital signs are. To establish a base line for temperature, pulse, and respiration, be sure your horse is calm, rested, and in good health when you take these measurements. Normal ranges for adult horses are:

*Pulse rate: 30-42 beats per minute.

*Respiratory rate: 12-20 breaths per minute.

*Rectal temperature: 99.5 to 101.5 F. 102.5 F, contact your vet ASAP. 103 F and above indicate a serious problem.

*Capillary refill time (the time it takes color to return to gum tissue after pressing it with your thumb): 2 seconds.

As you can see, the range for normal is quite varied in some cases. This makes it even more important for you to establish and record a base line for your individual horse’s normal vital signs. It’s important to contact your vet if you suspect your horse is in physical distress. Next week I will discuss more signs of distress that the attentive horse owner can observe. (Information from the AAEP and Bayer Corp. web site)