Herd Health Management

Herd Health Management Equine Science II

Know Your Equine • The equine should be in good body condition and move freely • Normal vital signs may vary from one equine to another • Determine normal vital sign when the equine is at rest.

Recognize changes • Loss of appetite is one of the first warnings that something is wrong. • Observe changes in the color, texture, amount, etc. of manure. • Dullness of eyes and coat, a runny nose or a persistent cough can all be indications that something is wrong.

Respiration • The normal rate an equine breathes while at rest is 8-16 breaths per minute. • Any kind of distress or activity increases a equine’s respiration rate. • When respiration rate exceeds the heart rate, the equine has a serious problem. Normally the heart beat about four times per breath the equine takes.

Respiration rate can be determined without special equipment by: • Counting the number of times the flanks move in and out per minute. (Flanks move in and out with each breath).

Counting the number of times the nostrils flare and contract per minute. (the nostrils flare and contract with each breath.) • Holding the hand in front of the nostrils to feel the breaths that the equine takes may also help.

Temperature • The normal temperature range is 99.5-101.5 degrees F. • 102 degrees F is a mild fever, 104 degrees F is moderate and 106 degrees F is a high fever • The chance for recovery by an equine with a high temperature is low.

Rest equine with a 102 degree F temperature and call a veterinarian when the temperature rises to 103 degrees.

Use a veterinary thermometer to check a equine’s temperature. • Always take the equine’s temperature rectally. • Allow three minutes for accurate reading • Use the string attached to the thermometer to secure and retrieve. • Inserting the thermometer full length helps prevent breaking

Procedure for taking equine’s temperature: • Shake the mercury down to the 95-97 degree range.

Dip the bulb of the thermometer, bulb first, full length into the rectum • Fasten the thermometer to the equine’s tail using the clip-on string. • Remove after 3 minutes, read and then wash the thermometer with soap and cool water • Finally, dip the thermometer in a disinfectant solution and rinse it again

Heart Rate • Normal heart rate varies • Adult: 28-40 beats per minute • Newborn foal: 80-120 • Older foals: 60-80 • Yearlings: 40-60

Establish the normal rate for the equine by checking the rate when the horse is calm, cool, and relaxed. • The heart rate may have to be checked several times to identify a comfortable range for the normal rate • An ill equine may have a heart rate from 80-120 beats per minute for long periods

Determine a equine’s heart rate by counting the pulse for 30 seconds and multiplying by 2

Lower jaw The cheek 4” below eye Under the tail close to the body Inside foreleg Inside left elbow Against chest wall Behind the knee Inside or outside of the pastern • Locate an artery at one of the following points

Press the fingers against an artery and count each throb. • Use a stethoscope just behind the equine’s left elbow

Why First Aid • The nature of equine makes them accident-prone and they are subject to: • Kicks or bites from other horses, falls and injuries sustained by running through or over obstructions when frightened

Equines are naturally curious and may be injured as a result of pawing objects or sticking their heads through holes in fences or stall walls.

Equines may develop unsoundness from injuries because of stress and strain to tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, etc. and are caused by: • Overworking or over exercise from trainers, riders, etc. • Improper exercise (too little followed by too much)

First aid measure are needed for open wounds so that: • Excessive bleeding which can result in death is controlled. (Some controlled bleeding is good because it helps flush the wound of contaminated material)

The contaminated wound becomes a clean wound. • The wound heals rapidly

Other reasons for first aid treatment include reducing pain, calming the animal until a veterinarian can arrive, and preventing further injury.

Common First Aid Treatments

Wounds • Abrasions (skin scrapes) are superficial wounds caused by falls or tack and are treated by gently and thorough washing of the area with lukewarm water or a saline solution and when possible applying a light bandage.

Equine who suffer wounds more serious than abrasions or superficial cuts must be treated by a veterinarian, but first aid used for all open wound should be used until a vet arrives. • Move the equine to a quiet area and calm it down.

Hose the wounded area to remove dirt, clay and other contaminants. (Excessive pressure may force foreign materials deeper into the wound. • Clean the wounded area with either saline solution (1 tsp of salt in 1 pint boiled water is .84% salt solution) or diluted solution of mild skin antiseptic in warm water (1% iodine-based washes such as Povidone Iodine or Chorhexidine)

Remove foreign objects from puncture wounds and apply a poultice to draw out contaminating materials and keep the wound open • Applying firm, direct pressure with a sterile pad to the wound and holding it in place to control arterial bleeding (spurts our of the wound and is bright red). Reconstituted cellulose and absorbable gelatin sponges help blood clot and may be left in the wound since they are absorbed by the body.

Lameness • Check each hoof for any foreign object lodged in the sole or frog, remove the object and observe the equine for signs of lameness and rest the equine.

First aid treatment for closed wounds, injuries or swelling include: • Application of cold is a common first aid treatment because it reduces pain, swelling, bleeding and inflammation • Cold treatment should not continue past the first 24-48 hours • Apply cold treatment for 20-30 minutes and then wait one hour before starting another 30 minute treatment

Bruises and Fractures • Call a veterinarian • If leg fracture is suspected, immobilize the leg with a pillow held in place as tightly as possible by wrapping bandages tightly around the pillow and leg.

Strains and Sprains • Muscle strains/sprains to tendons and ligaments may be treated with an alcohol rub or liniment • After the application of liniment, the owner or caretaker should wrap the horse’s legs in rest bandages.

Bandages used for wounds, sprains and support • Bandages may protect a wound from dirt, decrease movement of the wounded or affected area, allow faster healing, cover medications, minimize swelling and provided support. • Bandages consist of padding material and an adhesive, elastic or not-elastic wrap

Vet rap is a self-adhering, elastic bandage with contouring qualities which can make it useful for bandaging difficult areas, pressure bandages and ice packs

A stable bandage extends from below the knee or hock to the fetlock and is used to support the lower leg: support the leg opposite an injured leg: or for wounds. Apply a stable bandage by: • Wrapping padding snugly around the leg from just below the joint to below the fetlock and cover with wrapping flannel or knit wrap starting near the middle of the cannon bone.

Tuck the end of the wrap under the edge of the padding, and wrap once around the leg to just below the fetlock joint. • The bandage should wrap below the back of the joint but rise higher in front, causing an upside down “V” on the front of the joint.

Cold water bandages are used to apply cold pressure to cool a warm strained leg. Apply a cold-water bandage by applying cold water to the leg or soaking padding in ice water and applying padding directly to the leg without wringing it out.

Wrap the padding snugly with a knit leg wrap. • Run cold water over the bandage frequently and do not let the bandage dry out

Bandages should be changed when they are no longer functional; the leg is swollen above or below the bandage; the equine shows signs of pain; the bandage slips out of position or the bandage becomes dirty.

Hoof Anatomy • Parts of a horse’s foot • The hoof wall is a horny substance made of parallel fibers protected by a varnish-like coating called periople that also holds moisture in the hoof. • The hoof wall functions to: provide a weight bearing surface, protect the internal structure of the foot and maintain moisture in the foot.

The coronet, or coronary band is an area directly above the hoof wall that serves as the source of growth for the hoof wall. • The pastern- The part of the horse’s leg between the fetlock and the coronet that affects the stride of the horse.

The sole of the foot is a horny substance that protects the sensitive inner portions. • The frog is a triangular shaped formation in the sole of an equine’s foot. The frog of a healthy hoof must remain elastic as it acts like a shock absorber.

The hoof is designed to change shape when weight is applied. As weight is applied the sole flattens and the hoof expands laterally at the heel.

Growth of the Hoof • The growth rate of the hoof is about 3/8” per month depending on exercise and general health of the equine. • Hind hooves grow faster than front hooves because they have less weight to rise.

Unshod hooves grow faster than shod because the nails and shoe of a shod hoof limits movement. • The hooves of mares and geldings grow faster than stallions because they get more exercise than stallions.

The hoof grows at a 45-55 degree angle with the ground.

Important Points in Foot Care • Foot care is often neglected as a horse management practice. Foot care includes • Routine cleaning with a pick. Pick from the heel to the toe of the foot to prevent injury. • Trimming the hooves every 4-6 weeks so they retain proper shape and length.

Correcting minor imperfections by trimming such as splayfoot, toed in and toed out. • Treatment of foot diseases and injuries. Thrush is a bacterial infection that penetrates the frog, making it soft and mushy. Thrush is related to lack of cleaning. Wet conditions cause rapid drying out of the horse’s foot.

Reasons for Shoeing • Protect the hooves from excessive wear. • Provide better traction. • Help correct defects of stance or gait such as forging. • Help cure diseased or defected hooves such as inflamed tendons.

Shoes can provide relief from the pain of injured parts such as bruised soles and hoof wall cracks.

Shoes do not make walking easier; shoes do not improve agility; shoes do increase shock and road concussion and nail holes made in attaching shoes weaken the hoof wall, may cause separation and may provide entry for infection

Herd Health Management