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Tracking Your Horse’s Vitals for Good Health

As a horse owner, it is important for you to know some basics about horse health and how to recognize when problems arise. Of course, in order to know if something is wrong, you need to know what things look like when they are right.

While it is best for you to run some baseline diagnostics on your horse in order to know what is “normal” for your equine friend, some general rules of thumb include:

  • Temperature: A healthy temperature generally ranges anywhere from 99.5 to 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 to 38.5 degrees Celsius)
  • Pulse: A normal horse pulse typically ranges from 28 to 44 heartbeats per minute
  • Respiration: A healthy respiratory rate generally runs anywhere from 8 to 16 breaths per minute

Of course, each of these health signs can be impacted by the size of the horse as well as its age and other factors. As such, your horse’s “normal” may be way out of what is generally considered to be the normal range. 

In addition to knowing your horse’s vitals, you should also take note of your horse’s general attitude and demeanor. A healthy horse should appear bright and alert. If your horse seems unusually dull or restless, if it is rolling or kicking or if generally seems to be expressing signs of discomfort, it is probably a good idea to call your veterinarian to take a closer look. 

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