Vitally Important

Do you know what your horse’s normal vital signs should be? This is good information to know because often times these are the first signs of distress in a horse. It is a good idea to take your horse’s temperature, pulse and respirations on a quiet normal day when your horse is feeling good, this way you have a baseline for what is “normal” for your horse.

Temperature

For an adult horse anything from 99-100 degrees is normal. Anything above 102 degrees is considered a fever and you should call our office.

For a foal 101 degrees is normal and anything above 102.5 degrees is a fever. Remember, foals can go downhill quickly, so do not hesitate to contact our office right away.

Pulse

For an adult horse anything from 28-40 beats per minute is normal.

Foal should be around 50-60 beats per minute and a newborn foal can be around 100 beats per minute.

Respirations

For adult horses 12-24 breaths per minute is normal.

For foals around 30 breaths per minute is considered normal and a newborn foal can be around 60 breaths per minute.

Capillary Refill Time

Capillary refill time can also be checked while you are checking the TPR. Healthy horses should have nice moist pink gums. Press you finger on your horse’s gums firmly, and then quickly take it away. The time it takes for the area to turn from white back to pink is called the capillary refill time. It should take around 2 seconds. Gums that are red, blue or even white indicate something is wrong and you should call our office immediately.