Horse Health

A temperature of 102 degrees F or higher generally indicates an infection, which needs attention.

Normal breathing rate for a horse at rest is 12-15 breaths per minute. Breathing rate can be determined by watching the nostrils or flank. Rapid, shallow breathing at rest means a horse needs medical attention.

Normal resting heart rate for a horse is 35-40 beats per minute. The rate will increase when a horse is excited or exercising. A resting heart or pulse rate of 50 or higher means the horse is in physical distress. Heart rate can be determined by monitoring it at the artery that crosses under the jaw, or by feeling the heart beat by putting your hand under the horse's left elbow, Peverley advises.

Worms - Worms live in a horse's stomach and intestines eating the horse's hay, grain, and blood.

Bots - Flies that lay their eggs in the horse's hair and when the horse scratches he/she swallows the eggs and the larvae live in the horse like worms do.

Ring Worm - A fungus that makes the horse's hair fall out in a circular pattern.

Tetanus - A bacteria that causes a horse's muscles to stiffen to the point that the horse dies or must be put sleep.

Encepalomy - A horse gets a high fever and then is paralyzed and dies within 2 to 4 days.

Rhinopneumonitis - A cold. Sometimes called snots because of the white discharge coming from the nose.

Distemper or Stranglers - A bacterial infection the causes the glands near the thoat to swell and eventually rupture.

Equine Infectious Anemia - Also called swamp fever. A virus that lives in the blood. Equine Infectious Anemia can be spread to others horse's by bugs. A horse with Equine Infectious Anemia must be put to sleep.

Colic - A bad stomachache. Symptoms - The horse is depressed or restless.

Lameness - Pain some where in the horse that makes it unpleasant for the horse. Symptoms - Limping and the horse not wanting to put weight on a leg.

Founder or Laminitis - Serious lameness of the hooves. Symptoms - The horse's hooves are hot, painful, and the horse has difficulty moving or standing.

Navicular Disease - A painful condition of the front heels. Navicular Disease may be caused by one of these things: poor conformation of the hooves and legs, poor shoeing, lack of regular hoof care, working a horse to hard, or on poor footing. Symptoms - A horse takes short, shuffling, stiff steps.

Thursh - A disease that destroies the frog tissue. Symptoms - You will notice that the horse's feet have an awful smell and there will be a black gook in the clefts of the frog.

Tying Up or Azoturia - When a horse is fed to much and is not exercised regularly. Symptoms - The horse's muscles cramp and it's painful for him/her to move.


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