Signs of Health in Farm Animals

(Examination of Soundness)
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Definition
2 of health
State of maximal physiological performance of all systems of the
body to achieve maximal economic production according to Age ,
Sex and Purpose of rearing.

Examination of Soundness

I. General examination

II. Clinical examination

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Signs of Health in Horse

I-General Examination:
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I. General examination
1-Alertness
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Horse should be alert without nervousness.

Alertness is indicated by:
1. High carriage of the head
2. Forward and backward ear movement
N.B. Any decrease or increase in attention is an
abnormal sign.
Decrease attention Increase attention
1. Dull or lethargic animal. 1. Anxious.

2. Dummy animal. 2. Restlessness.

3. Comma or comatose animal. 3. Mania. 4. Frenzy.
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Horses showing alertness

Horse showing no alertness
Horse showing no alertness
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2-Body
9 condition and Conformation

-The horse should be in a moderate to good condition

and regular body conformation.

3-Stance and posture (Attitude)

Animal shows normal stance ( Stand on healthy intact

four limbs with free movement).
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Animal showing normal Body condition and

stance
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Normal Body condition & stance in Horse .

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Horse showing emaciation( abnormal body condition)

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Horse showing abnormal Stance

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Horse showing abnormal recumbancy

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N.B. Resting position of horse:

1. Resting for one fore limb (placing it forward)
2. Resting for one hind limb ( Pointing ).

pointing
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4. Coat
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-Hair coat is reflective of good nutrition and health

- Healthy Horse shows Intact & glistening coat.

-Evenly distributed hair.
- Freely movable skin.
- Coat without any bare area.
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Horse showing abnormal body coat

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Horse showing abnormal body coat

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Horse showing abnormal body coat

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Horse showing abnormal skin lesion

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Skin injury in Horse .

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5. Appetite

-The typical horse eats 2-3 percent of its body

weight (feed) and drinks 5-12 gallons of water
per day.

- Healthy horse showing regular and good

appetite
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Horse showing good appetite

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Horse showing good appetite

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6. Head
A
A-Ear:
-Upright position
-Free from abnormal discharge
B-Eye:
-Bright, fully open & clear B
-Free from -opacity
-excessive tears
-abnormal discharge C
C-Nostrils:
-Dry & clear
-Free from abnormal discharge
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Normal Eye, Ear,Nose &

muzzle in Horse.
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Horse showing
normal eye and
nostril
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Horse showing abnormal eye lesion

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Horse showing abnormal eye lesion

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Abnormal eye discharge in Horse .

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Abnormal eye discharge in Horse .

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Abnormal nasal
discharge in
Horse .
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Abnormal nasal
discharge in
Horse .
D-Mouth I-Muzzle: dry, sensitive, muscular & mobile.

II-Teeth: intact (not broken or loosed).

III-Gum: moist, glistening, rosy red or pink m.m.
IV-Tongue: free from vesicles, papules, pustules.
I
III

II

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Normal Muzzle
In Horse :.
Dry-muscular-mobile
sensitive.
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Normal healthy un- broken teeth in Horse.

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7. Elimination (defecation & urination):

A-Defecation
-The typical horse eliminates 8 times/per day
-The Fecal matter looks like balls broken on touching the
ground.
-Ease of elimination i.e. dung pass without straining or
pain.
- Color of feces :Green to golden yellow according to food.

- Non-offensive odour.

abnormalities
-Watery feaces i.e. diarrhea
-Hard feaces i.e. constipation
-Bloody with long worms i.e. internal parasites
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B-Urination
Horse at Urination showing Straddle posture = straddling
position in stallion characterized by
-Abduction of 2 hind limbs
-Hollowing of the back
-Switching tail to one side
-Releasing urine in continuous stream without straining.
Urine is straw yellow colour with a slightly turbid wheat

abnormalities
- Releasing urine in jets i.e. urethritis

-Bloody urine i.e. urinary tract affection

-Brownish urine i.e. Monday morning disease

Straddling posture in Horse .
 Animal Behaviour (251)

II. Clinical examination

1. Respiratory rate:

1- site
Count the number of breaths per minute by watching
the horse’s flank.

2-Normal range
8-12 breaths/min
*Normal increase in: *Normal decrease in:
-Exercise . -Sleep.
-Excitement.
-Extreme weather.
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Method of
Measuring
respiratory rate
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2. Pulse rate:
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1- site
External maxillary artery
By pressing two fingers on the large artery that runs
under the horse’s cheekbone.

2-Normal range
36-42 beats/min.

*Normal increase in: Normal decrease in :

-Exercise . -Sleep.
-Excitement.
-Extreme weather.
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Measuring the pulse rate

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Click her

Measuring the pulse rate

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Measuring the
pulse rate
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3. Temperature:
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1- site
Through rectum.

2-Normal range

37.5-38°C.

*Normal increase. * Abnormal decrease. *Abnormal increase.

Productive animal Before Death Fever

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Clinical Thermometer
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Clinical thermometer
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Measuring
temperature

Click her
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4. Visible mucous membrane (m.m.)

1- site -Conjunctiva & 3rd eye lid

-Nasal m.m.
-Labial m.m.
-Buccal m.m.
-Vaginal m.m. (false judgment)
All m.m. should be rosy red or pink colored, moist
&glistening.

abnormalities:
-Pale i.e. anaemia
-Congested i.e. fever
-Yellowish i.e. jaundice or ictrus
-Cyanosed (bluish) i.e. asphyxia or toxicity
-Spotted i.e. septicemia
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Rosy red buccal mucous membrane in Horse .

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II. Clinical examination

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1. Respiratory rate:

1- site
Count the number of breaths per minute by watching
the cow’s flanks.

2-Normal range

15-25 breaths/min
*Normal Increase in: *Normal decrease in:
-Exercise . -Sleep.
-Excitement.
-Extreme weather.
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2. Pulse rate:
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1- site
coccygeal artery
By pressing two fingers on the artery that runs on the
ventral aspect of the cow tail.

2-Normal range
60-70 beats/min
*Normal increase in: *Normal decrease in :
-Exercise -Sleep
-Excitement
-Extreme weather
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Click her
Measuring the pulse rate in cow
Animal Behaviour (251)
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3. Temperature:
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1- site
Through rectum

2-Normal range

38-38.5°C
*Normal increase. * Abnormal decrease. *Abnormal
increase.
-Productive animal -Before Death. -Fever .

Click her
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4. Visible mucous membrane (m.m.)

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1- site -Conjunctiva .
-Labial m.m.
-Buccal m.m.
-Vaginal m.m. (false judgment)

All m.m. should be rosy red or pink colored, moist

&glistening.
abnormalities:
-Pale i.e. anaemia
-Congested i.e. fever
-Yellowish i.e. jaundice or ictrus
-Cyanosed (bluish) i.e. asphyxia or toxicity
-Spotted i.e. septicemia