Assessing Illness and Taking Your Horse's Vital Signs:
Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
by Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Introduction
Introduction
»
Local vs Systemic Signs
»
Behavior and Appetite
»
Temperature
»
Pulse
»
Respiration
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Mucous Membranes
»
Sclera
»
More Info
When you come in and there is something different about your horse, questions run through your mind. What is wrong? How serious is this? Should I call the vet? It is a change in your horse's behavior that tells you something is wrong but may not tell you whether it is serious or not. Once illness is suspected, using vital signs may give a clue as to cause and the seriousness of the illness. Monitoring demeanor, temperature, pulse, and respiration is not only important diagnostically, but also for monitoring improvement or worsening of the illness. This article discusses how to take the vital signs, normal values, and assessing the seriousness of a sick horse.
~Word Count: 2017 words (The average magazine page contains about 600 words);
~Last Updated: September 08, 2009;
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