MEDI107A: Equine Medicine

INTRODUCTION
Dr. Jocelyn Miranda, DVM | May 15, 2023

I. INTRODUCTION → fed as a group?

the history and physical examination are the most important
→ allowed in the open as a group?
parts of the database information and serve as the starting
point for identifying the patient’s problems → placed in stables individually?
● Each horse must have its own record
→ fed individually?
→ if purchased, age, medical history, surgical history, past
C. MANAGEMENT OF THE ENTIRE GROUP
treatments, sex, where it was bought
● If they are in groups, how do you manage them in groups?
● Physical examination is performed by the veterinarian once
purchased → fed as a group?

● When problems in the future will be brought up, you may use it → allowed in the open as a group?
for correlation with existing problems
→ placed in stables individually?
→ congenital or previous problems when the horse is bought
will be later on disease might develop and you may go back → fed individually?
and review where the patient’s problem started D. ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES
● You get all these from history and physical examination ● new horses in the flock

II. HISTORY ● old horses that are already present

A. COACH THE CLIENT
● if there is someone new, the old horses gets stress because of
● The history is taken usually from the horse owner because
the presence of the new animal
supposedly the horse owner is the most capable of providing
information. ● pasture managent - more than 10 in pasture?
→ However, sota or caretakers know more than the owner as
D. PRIOR TREATMENTS
the owner only visits during the weekend.
● other veterinarians
→ client
● self medications/treatments
▪ owner – most authorized
● ask the owner if there are vitamins or medicines that are
▪ sota / caretaker – sometimes (w/ the trainer) are usually
administered by them
more reliable than the owner
→ there was an instance that an owner instructed the sota to
▪ trainer (para sa karera)
administer B12 IM, once administered the horse fell and died
▪ stud master = anaphylactic reaction to the vitamins
→ consult the previous vet as the past treatment or intervention
▪ jockey
can be related to the current disease/illness
→ allow the client to talk towards the information that you would
like to obtain Points to Note:

→ try to find out what the management of individual horses are ● Do not pass Judgement- avoid blaming the owner/sota.

→ ask relevant questions III. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

B. INDIVIDUAL ● actual performance of the vet on the horse

● How are they fed
● each horse has a card
● Where does the food and water come from
→ all physical findings are indicated in the card to be referred
● How many times a day they are fed back

● If they are in groups, how do you manage them in groups?

MEDI107A Fabello, Manuel, Palconit, Walker

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● Several types of physical examinations for equines (three
phases or purposes)
A. BASELINE INFORMATION
● The Equine’s records
● Once arrival of the horse, this was the finding in which initial
physical exam was performed
→ Would give rise to potential problems
B. INSURANCE EXAMINATION
● required by the insurance company before a horse can receive
insurance coverage
→ Veterinarian hired by the insurance company should know
the real condition of the animal to know if it’s safe to insure
the animal as when the horse dies, the insurance company
will pay.
● insure that the horse is healthy by examining prior to issurance
● insurance will ask a veterinarian to work in their favor to
examine the horse and find out if it is healthy = horse is insured
→ if horse is sickly, the insurance will not insure the horse
C. PREPURCHASE EXAMINATION
● Conducted before completing the sale of an animal, the
veterinarian performing the examination is presumed to be
working in the buyer’s best interest
→ the vet should work to the person who hired them for their
best interest
▪ E.g., Before I purchase a horse, I should let the vet
examine the horse and should favor the buyer and not the
seller.
MEDI107A Introduction
D. BASIC PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
● There are two types (2) of examination
→ From a distance and visual examination
● Definition: you only observe the horse from afar
● to detect abnormalities that might be obscured by handling and
restraint
● STANCE and BEHAVIOUR reflect general mentation frequently
affected by systemic illness, neurologic disease and pain in
various organs
→ behavior of the horse is observed from a far
▪ horses get intimidated when people come near thus they
naturally behave when afar
● respiratory rate and effort noted prior to handling
→ observable from a far with its large chest
● general evaluation of body condition
→ payat
▪ kita ba yung buto, ribs, spinal vertebrae?
→ mataba
VISUAL EXAMINATION
Observe the animal from a distance.
● Gait - to check if there’s possible fracture
→ way of going, the manner how the horse walks, gallops, runs,
plays
→ movement of the feet
● Posture - upright posture (normal), note for abnormal problems.
→ Horses are proud animals
→ When they are sick, you can observe that the horse is
‘nakatungo’ and body is not balanced
● Hair Coat - shining, long, and silky hair (normal)
→ When always groomed, shiny hair and “kapit sa balat” is
observable
→ When horse is sick, hair is long, dry, curly
● Behavior - Quiet or aggressive
→ inaaway ba mga bago
→ magisa lang sa sulok
→ hindi nakikimingle
● Breathing Pattern
→ NORMAL: thoracic breathing (rise and fall)
→ ABNORMAL: Abdominal breathing; indicates thoracic pain
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 ▪ With horses having large chest cavities, you can see how → Abnormal Behavior
they breath (rise and fall)
▪ Pain
● Respiratory Noises - Ex. crackling sounds
▪ Cerebral dysfunction
→ With their large chest cavities, if they have abnormal
respiratory noises / roars you can hear it from afar
● Equine Body Condition Scores
● Body Swellings - body should be in mirror image/symmetrical
to the other side → refers to the condition of the body kung payat ba sila,

→ Observe the feet

moderate lang, payat na payat, mataba, obese, etc.
→ divided into 9 categories
▪ symmetry of the feet
→ How can we categorize the BCS in Equine?
▪ same size
▪ there are points that we should observe in a horse where
● Skin wound - if there is blood discharge or thing, other
fat accumulates called point of evaluation
indication is if there’s flies = open wound.
− neck region
→ observe for pus, bleeding, following flies
− withers
FROM A DISTANCE
o highest point from the ground to the between the
● Behavior scapula (HP of the horse)

→ Individual Differences − shoulder

▪ mingle or alone? − elbow

→ Changes in behavior may be affected by − top line – back

illness/pain/disease − ribs
→ depending on environment, changes throughout the day
− tail head
▪ eating decreases during the heat and drinking increases
− point of the hip – protruded
→ feces, urine
− point of the buttocks
▪ Defacation: not wet, formed o bone protruded beside the buttocks area

▪ Urine: marami, konti, may kulay, may dugo − spinous process / spinal column

▪ Points to Note: Observe for the number of times, amount,

texture, and color of the feces and urine.
● Attitude

→ Depressed attitude:

▪ toward other animals

− when approached, nakikipagaway ba?

▪ does not want to mingle and alone / nakatungo

▪ DA could mean:
EQUINE BODY CONDITION SCORING
− in pain

− weakness

− cerebral dysfunction
o you may correlate with neurological disorders
= meningitis

= encephalophelitis

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 ● slightly fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse
processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded;
● Spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip joints) and
ischia (lower pelvic bones) prominent;
● Withers, shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernible.

3. THIN

● A. Neck

● B. Withers

● C. Back/rump

● D. Trailhead
● Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes;
● E. Rib are/side
● transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs;
● F. Shoulder
● spinous processes and ribs easily discernable;

The ideal body condition score is between 5 and 6-1/2 ● tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified
1. POOR
visually;
● tuber coxae(hip joints), appear rounded but easily discernable;

● tuber ischii (lower pelvic bones) not distinguishable;

● withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.

4. MODERATELY THIN

● Animal extremely emaciated;

● spinous processes, ribs, tailhead tuber coxae (hip joints), and

ischia (lower pelvic bones) projecting prominently;
● bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable;

● no fatty tissue can be felt.

2. VERY THIN ● Slight ridge along back;

● faint outline of ribs discernible

● tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt

around it
● tuber coxae (hip joints) not discernable;

● withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.

5. MODERATE

● Animal emaciated;

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 8. FAT

● Back is flat (no crease or ridge);

● Crease down back;
● ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt;
● difficult to feel ribs, fat around tailhead very soft;
● fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy;
● fat area along withers filled with fat, area behind shoulder filled
● withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and
with fat, noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner
neck blend smoothly into body.
thighs.
6. MODERATELY FLESHY
9. EXTREMELY FAT

● Obvious crease down back;

● patchy fat appearing over ribs, bulging fat around tailhead;

along withers, behind shoulders and along neck, fat along inner
thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.

● Observe and Check Stalls

→ Always start by observing horse from a distance

→ can be done in their stall, noting breathing pattern,

● May have slight crease down back;
stance, sneezing, coughing and respiratory effort
● fat over ribs spongy; ▪ respiratory effort: not full breathing

→ if horse in stall, evaluate food and water intake, feces,

● fat around tailhead soft;

● fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind and urination
shoulders, and along sides of neck. ▪ food and water is not sufficient = thin horse
→ Saggy back = heavy stomach (fat) ▪ pasture horse = readily available food
7. FLESHY
HANDS ON PART OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

● the basic physical examination usually includes

→ temperature / pulse / respiration (TPR)

→ heart/lung auscultation

→ abdominal auscultation

→ hydration status

→ examination of mucous membranes

● May have slight crease down back;
→ height/weight measurement
● individual ribs can be felt but noticeable filling between ribs with
fat, around the tailhead soft; ● Normal Values in Adults

● fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and long neck. Body 37.2 - 38.6 degrees Celsius at rest
Temperature varies by age, breen, environmental temperature

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 Pulse / Heart At rest: 28-44 bpm − girth – sa may bandang kilikili
Rate varies by age, fitness level, secondary atrioventricular
block ▪ Read the number that meets the weight arrow end of your

Respiratory At rest: 6-12 breaths per min. weight tape, this is the animal’s weight in lbs.
Rate varies by age and environmental temp
→ How to measure for height:
GI Motility At rest: 1-3 borborygmi per minute Height of a horse is measured from the point of withers to the
ground
Stool 6-10 piles of well formed manure per 24 hours
▪ Proper positioning for the height/weight tape for
MM Pink Gums measuring height
▪ Height is read at the highest point of the withers
Points to Note:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION PROPER
● Borborygmi/Borborygmus
● By system (for systematic examination)
→ rumbling or gurgling noises produced by movement of gas
in the alimentary canal and audible at a distance ● Always use the same approach (anterior-posterior)
● younger animals
● Record your findings
→ mas mataas values kaysa sa adults kasi mas maliit yung
→ look for assistant to write the findings
katawan at organs
● Secondary Atrioventricular Block ● Look at “the whole picture”
→ → Interpret
sending of impulse in the heart starts from the SA Node AV Node (bet atrium and ventricle)results based from all the findings / correlate the
findings
→ when impulse is blocked, the impulses will not continue to
I. BODY TEMPERATURE
the ventricle which affects the heart
▪ weaker or skips a beat ● always taken rectally using a standard mercury thermometer or
a digital thermometer for large animals
→ Mercury thermometer today is not used because it sips the
● Normal Neonate
skin thus digital thermometer is used today.
Body 37.2 - 38.8 degrees Celsius → Rectal thermometer
Temperature
▪ Thick on posterior part; has hole where string is placed
Pulse / Heart At rest: 80-120 bpm
Rate and clip

Respiratory At rest: 20-40 breaths per min. → Oral Thermometer

Rate
▪ long and thin
Nursing 4-6 times per hour
→ Use lubricant when performing rectal thermometer
Stool 2-4 piles per 24 hours, pasty (bc of milk)
→ when inserting rectal thermometer, stand facing caudally and
MM Pink Gums maintain contact with the horse
● Technique in Getting Rectal Temperature
● Equine weight measuring tapes
→ When inserting rectal thermometer, stand facing caudally
→ Horse Average Weight: 350 kgs body weight and maintain contact with horse

→ This measuring tape is made in such a way that has lines in → face the posterior, the shoulder should be near the hip point
terms of cm and inches which has its equivalent in pounds of the horse

▪ 1 side: Weight (kg/pounds) ▪ stay near the horse so that the horse will avoid to move or
try to kick
▪ 1 side: Length (CM)

→ How to measure for weight:

▪ Pull the tape so that is it snug and not tight around the
horse’s girth

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 ▪ number of palpable arterial pulse waves/ minute

● in normal animals HR and PR are equal

● Arterial pulses may be palpated at several locations

● Pulse deficit

→ increase HR, decrease PR

● Pulse
→ With the left hand, grasp the tail at the base and move it
→ strong, bounding, weak, thready, or other non-specific terms
gently to the side
● Facial artery

→ most convenient location where it courses over the ventral

aspect of the mandible, rostral to the origin of the masseter
muscle
▪ directly connected to the heart

▪ Arteries: active pulse pressure

▪ Veins: passive, does not have pulse

● Technique in getting the pulse / heart rate:

→ Get the temperature for 60 seconds using the righ hand
→ Facial Artery
▪ make sure that the thermometer is at 0 degrees.
▪ identify the facial artery along the medial aspect of the
▪ Consider environmental factor when taking rectal
mandible
temperature
▪ Press the vascular bundle against the medial aspect of
the mandible

→ Transverse Facial Artery

→ The thermometer has been inserted and secured with the
clip to the tail hairs
▪ thermometer secured to hair coat with the clip
▪ located in a horizontal depression about 1 inch caudal to
the lateral canthus of the eye and just below the
zygomatic arch

II. PULSE / HEART RATE → Coccygeal Artery

● heart rate and pulse rate are not the same ▪ supplies the tail and located along the ventral midline of
→ heart rate the tail
▪ Ideal is ventral midline coccygeal artery
▪ number of heart beats/minute

→ pulse rate

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 → Dorsal Metatarsal Artery

▪ located between metatarsal 3 and 4 (cannon bone and

lateral splint bone) on the hind limb
● How to auscultate the heart?
→ Lateral Digital Artery
→ gently lift the triceps muscle away from the chest wall
▪ Location of the lateral digital artery over the lateral
proximal sesamoid bone and proximal to the lateral → place stethoscope against the chest wall deep to the triceps
collateral cartilage muscle
▪ Palpation of digital arteries over the proximal sesamoid IV. RESPIRATORY RATE
bones
● Number of respirations / minute can be counted in several ways
▪ Palpation of the digital arteries proximal to the collateral
cartilages → use a stethoscope to listen to air movement in the trachea or
chest
→ using a hand to feel movement of air in and out of the nostril

→ simply counting chest excursions and rise and fall of the

thoracic wall/minute)
▪ chest excursions: rise and fall of the chest

▪ when the rise and fall is in the abdomen, there is pain in

the thoracic cavity (probably pneumonia)
● Landmarks of the lung

III. HEART AUSCULTATION → borders of the left lung field for auscultation
● Horses are athletes

→ heart of the average horse may be as large as a basketball

→ Auscultation may be done on the left or right side of the chest

▪ though most of the heart valves and sounds are heard

best from the left side
→ the most common cause of irregular heart rhythm in the
horse is the second degree AV block
● Landmarks of the heart
● How?
→ horizontal marks indicate the level of the shoulder and elbow
joints → the stethoscope is placed in several locations within the lung
→ vertical mark indicates the caudal border of the triceps field to listen to several breaths at each location
muscle ▪ Why?

− even if the animal has pneumonia, it is not throughout

the lung, sometimes it depends on which lobe
pneumonia is present
▪ examine both sides

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 ▪ inhale + exhale = 1 count

V. ABDOMINAL AUSCULTATION

● borborygmi or borborygmus = abdominal gut sounds - it

indicates that the intestine functions normally
● a stethoscope is used to listen to abdominal sounds, which are
created by movements of the intestines (or known as GI
motility)
● landmarks

→ best area: flank area are the point of the hip VI. MUCOUS MEMBRANES

→ between the tuber coxae and the last rib (since walang buto, ● Tissues that have the ability to make and secrete mucus

manipis ang laman, and skin) (protects lining epithelium, traps microorganism of the tubular
organ)
● to determine the movement of the digestive tract
● Color helpful as indication of certain diseases

→ Yellowish coloration

▪ is due to bilirubin

▪
process of Bilirubin: from breakdown of RBC rerelease ng hemoglobin sp

▪ heme splits into Iron (deposits sa liver and tissues) &

bilirubin (by product; metabolized by the body)
− Unconjugated circulating bilirubin - not water soluble; if
● listen to each quadrant for at least 1 minute each on left and
right side
in circulation
→ 0 = no motility
− Conjugated circulating bilirubin - if in liver w/ glucuronic
▪ paralysis of the intestine is a common side effect of acid
anesthesia when doing surgery → Stercobilin - form the yellowish stool

→ Urobilin - form the yellowish urine

▪ paralytic ileus - condition where the motor activity of the
bowel is impaired, usually w/o presence of physical
obstruction ▪ pag may problem sa liver, hindi nailalabas/metabolized
→ +1= hypomotility ang bilirubin kaya naiipon sa blood = yellowish

→ +2 = normal motility Bluish (Cyanosis) Low oxygen level in blood

→ +3 hypermotility Brick red ● septicemia or shock or

both present
● colic, endotoxemia

Points to Note: Purplish (esp. in gum line) endotoxic shock

● better to have hypermotility than 0 motility because if may
Yellowish indicates icterus or jaundice (due to
toxin, maabsorb ng intestine pag hindi gumagalaw levels of bilirubin)

Pale anemia
● Standard 4 points for auscultation

→ UL abdominal
● Examination of MM
→ LL abdominal
→ Examination of Gums - common site
→ UR abdominal
→ Examination of Conjunctiva
→ LR abdominal
▪ membrane supplied by arteries

▪ vascular

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 → Examination of the Mucosa of the nares

→ Examination of the vulva in the female

Figure A. Examination of the gums | Figure B. Examination of the conjunctiva

APPROACH TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

● examine horse from nose to tail along left side then nose to tail
along right side to ensure complete general examination
● No strict rules regarding proper physical examination

Figure C. Examination of the Mucosal nares | Figure D. Examination of the vulva of the
procedures
female
● recommended thst consistent approach be adopted

● if left to right, susunod na exam dapat left to right rin

● Physical Examination

→ By system

→ always use the same approach

→ record your findings

→ look at the “whole picture”

▪ after examining per system, combine the recorded

Normal Gum Color
findings and general observation
VII. HYDRATION STATUS ▪ correlate it to one system to another

● Hydration Status − there are diseases affected by all systems

→ amount of fluid inside the body of the animal ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

→ should be moist not dry ● Examine the Nostrils

→ Skin Turgor Test/Pinch test/Tent test - done by pinching → flared nostrils can indicate pain or increased effort to bring in

the shoulder of the animal then withdraw, take note of how air
fast or slow it flattens. → check both nostrils for presence of airflow and whether or not
▪ At the point of the shoulder it is equal on both side
→ any nasal abnormalities should be noted
− 1 second or less is normal
→ Important Considerations
− 1 second or more is >5%

− >8 seconds: severely dehydrated

▪ unilateral or bilateral

o Give IV fluids ▪ +/- blood

→ Capillary Refill Time (CRT) - Done by pressing the gums ▪ color
▪ less than 2 seconds ▪ consistency
▪ Dehydration; shock 5 to 8 seconds ● Examine the mouth
− you deprive the area of blood supply

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 → it is important to check the nostrils and mouth for odor since ● Neurologic Examination
often associated with the presence of anaerobic bacteria
→ Uses
which may be contributing to an infection
→ this is also a good time to listen to the horse’s breathing, ▪ confirm disease
nothing any abnormal noises.
▪ find where
● Check MMs
▪ more tests usually needed
→ first examined by raiding the upper lip as shown
→ How
→ MM are examined for moistness, icterus, hyperemia (+
▪ Allow the horse to walk
discoloration), cyanosis, pallor (pale), ulceration, and
petechia (pin point hemorrhage) ▪ In order for the 4 legs to walk, brain should be in good
● Check tongue and teeth condition

→ take a look at the horse’s incisors ▪ If uncoordinated, neurologic disturbances are present

→ The tongue can also be grasped through the inter-dental

space at this time to evaluate for oral ulceration
→ ulceration caused by infection

→ hindi pa flat yung ngipin, bata pa

● Check Lymph Nodes

● Jugular Fill

→ left jugular vein is occluded and palpated

→ evaluation of jugular venous refill is another indication of

perfusion and hydration status
→ jugular veins are collapsed and should fill rapidly within
several seconds when held off (valsalva maneuver)
→ Distal Extremities and Hoof

→ the hand is then run down the forelimb to evaluate

temperature of the distal extremities if cardiovascular shock
is a concern and also to palpate temperature of the hoof and
evaluate digital pulses if laminitis is a concern
→ Also check extremity for any swelling or pain

→ Check hoof for any cracks

● Inguinal area/Mammary/Hind limbs

→ inguinal area is then carefully palpated to evaluate testicles

in stallions, scrotal remnants in geldings (castrated horse),
and the mammary gland ni ares
→ testicles are found in the abdominal cavity in young horses
before descending
→ monorchids and cryptorchids are hereditary

→ not used for breeding

→ distal hind limbs are visually inspected for joint effusion or

distal limb edema
→ if edema is present, it should be determined if it is warm or
painful to palpation

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