high resting heart rate in a yearling colt

[bumble stephens]

Does anyone have any experience of a continually high resting heart rate in a horse which does not seem ill in any other way.He is a yearling colt who appeared to injure his neck about 8 weeks ago.Whilst examining the neck our vet took his heart rate and found it to be 60.Since then it has gone up to 90 most of the time.He has had a heart scan which shows no sign of disease and an ecg which also does not show anything unusual.The only time we have managed to lower the heart rate was after a Bowen treatment and lasering the lower neck vertebrae.We have not always been successful with this and the effects do not last longer than a day.Apart from this he is bright ,has a good appetite and moves well. Since being on box rest,which didnt seem to help, he has grown on well. Now he is being turned out for a short time each day but jumped out twice today! Any thoughts? Blood tests show a pretty normal blood profile - just slightly raised whites but but all within normal parameters. Getting desperate....

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Do you have any record of what was "normal" for him before the accident? High heart rates with no sign of viral/bacterial infection usually mean pain. I would guess that he is in pain from his neck all the time, poor lad. I'd try to get to the bottom of it even if it means referral to a more experienced centre because you run the risk of ulcers and behavioural problems if the pain continues.

 

[Tnavas]

Most horses will have an elevated heart rate when the vets around.
Could very well be the result of the neck injury. I have high blood pressure which is steadily going down following twice weekly neck manipulation over several weeks.

Keep on with the neck treatment and check the heart rate each time.