How to Check Your Horse’s Vital Signs

Question: What are my horse’s vital signs and how do I check them?

Answer: Every horse owner should be familiar with his or her horse’s “normal” vital signs. Knowing your horse’s healthy, resting temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, capillary refill time, and gut sounds will help you realize when he is unwell. Additionally, in the event of illness or injury to your horse, being able to check and report his vital signs can help indicate to your veterinarian the horse’s present condition.

All you need is a thermometer and a watch with a second hand. A stethoscope is optional for determining heart rate and respiration rate, and for checking gut sounds, but you should ask your veterinarian to show you how to use it correctly.

Temperature: A horse’s temperature is taken rectally. Plastic digital thermometers are safer than the traditional glass, mercury thermometers. If you do use a mercury thermometer, a string should be attached to one end and the string can be fastened with a hair clip to the horse’s tail; make sure you shake the mercury down to around 96 degrees Fahrenheit before taking your horse’s temperature. Lubricate the thermometer with K-Y Jelly or a similar water soluble lubricant.Your horse should be safely tied or held by a helper as you stand beside his hip, lift the tail, and gently insert the thermometer into the rectum, angling it slightly downward. Most digital thermometers will beep when they have an accurate temperature reading. A mercury thermometer should be left in position for at least three minutes. Once you have your horse’s temperature reading, always clean the thermometer well before putting it away

Heart Rate: There are several arteries from which you can determine your horse’s heart rate, or pulse, the most easily detected of which is located on the lower jaw bone.