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Equine Quiz
Horse Anatomy
Basic Care and Hoof Care
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Heart rate
- Taken behind the left elbow.
- Each Lub-dup which is a double beat is considered 1 heartbeat 38 plus or minus 10 per minute
- Missed Beats-there is one or more bets are missed in a regular pattern. Generally there are four to eight normal beats, followed by one to three missed beats.
- When a horse, and in particular a well-trained, fit horse is at rest, the occasional beats are quite common.
* 35-40 beats per minute, Slower at rest, increases in excitement, fever, anaemia. (Adult)
* 80-120 beats per minute, Foals at birth
* 60-80 beats per minute, older foals
* 40-60 beats per minute, yearlings
** 52-60 Recovery Rate
Temp
Wait one minute before reading the Thermometer
Between 100.5 plus or minus 1
* 100.4
Respiration Rate
12 plus or minus 6 per minute at rest * 12-20 per minute
Heat Stroke
First signs are:
- Rapid Respiration,
- Disinclination to move,
- Red Mucous membranes and a
- High body temperature.
- The pulse is generally high and as the condition worsens, the
- Heartbeat becomes chaotic and the
- Lip, cheek and forearm muscles twitch.
Without fast cooling treatment, the horse collapses and dies.
Treatment
- Large quantities of cold water, iced if necessary, should be poured over the horse immediately, to cool the body down as soon as possible.
- Shade and fans to provide artificial wind will help.
- Electrolytes and fluid given intravenously are also needed.
Dehydration***
- Pinched at the point of the shoulder.
- Increased Skin tenting,
- scant sweat, dry, injected mucous membranes,
- sinking of the eyeball with constant drooping of the upper lid.
- Several signs can be time to look at other areas of fatigue or metabolic failure.
References
Complete Equine Veterinary Manual-Tony Pavord (BVSc. MRCVS) & Marcy Pavord
* The horses Health From A to Z- Peter D Rossdale & Susan M Wreford
** AERC Vet Handbook- AEFC Conference
First Aide for Abscesses:
List of items to have:
- Hoof Pick- To clean the hoof.
- A stiff wire brush- To clean the bottom of hoof after using a hoof pick.
- Hoof Tester- To find the soft area or painful areas of the sole. This would be where the abscess would probable be located at.
- Bucket- To soak the abscessed hoof.
- Epsom Salt- Soak the foot in the solution of Epsom salt and warm water in bucket.
- A poultice agent-such as Ichthammol, Animalintex Pad, Epsom salt and scrub agent, or other remedies.
- Cotton wrap or diapers- to cushion the foot while the poultice agent is wrapped under it.
- Several rolls of adhesive wrap- to wrap up the poultice and cotton wraps.
- Roll of duct tape- to cover the wrap and so that it stays on.
- Hoof boot- to use to keep the hoof clean if the duct tape wrap is not being used.
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