Horsey health questions...

[sandi_84]

Ok in preperation for buying my first horse I've been having a read of any horsey mags I can get my hands on and have borrowed a few books from my very horsey aunt. One of the books is brilliant "100 ways to improve your horse's health" which i've just started. It goes through a lot of basics that I otherwise would have taken a while to learn but I have a few questions...
1) It says the resting pulse rate of an average sized, healthy horse is between 32-42bpm but a "low pulse" is regarded as a warning sign. When they say low pulse I take it they mean anything below 32bpm or is there a bit of leeway i.e anything below 30bpm is indicitave of something wrong?
2) It says the skin around the ribs when pinched (gently ) should return to normal within 2 seconds. If it doesn't what is this an indicator of? Dehydration?
3) "Hard lymph glands that pit on pressure" ... does this mean when you press them the middle goes in? Please can I have an example of lymph glands?
4) "Strong digital pulse taken at sides of fetlock can indicate foot pain, usually laminitis"... What is a digital pulse?
5) When talking about dentition problems, what does "boring off" mean?

Sorry if some of these questions seem a bit daft and that it should be clear enough, I just want to be sure I understand correctly.
Thank you for your continued patience with my newbie-esk questions and saga like posts!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Goodness, I've had horses for 25 years and I've no idea about some of your questions!! You're certainly going to be well prepared!! Good luck with the horse you choose. x

 

[Piaffe63]

Not stupid questions at all! If you dont ask, how will you know?
I could answer some of the questions, but I dont like to put anything unless I'm absolutely positive its right, however, I'm sure on Q2- it is for dehydration.
Hope that was helpful!
Good luck with your new horse! x

 

[sandi_84]

Goodness, I've had horses for 25 years and I've no idea about some of your questions!! You're certainly going to be well prepared!! Good luck with the horse you choose. x

Hee hee i'm a worrier and I like to prepare for things Also I love to learn new things and read so i'm combining a lot of my favourite things Thank you for the luck!

 

[sandi_84]

Not stupid questions at all! If you dont ask, how will you know?
I could answer some of the questions, but I dont like to put anything unless I'm absolutely positive its right, however, I'm sure on Q2- it is for dehydration.
Hope that was helpful!
Good luck with your new horse! x

Thank you! We could always find consensus for the ones you aren't 100% on?

 

[Piaffe63]

I love to read too! The BHS manuals are brilliant- and '100 Ways to Improve your Horse's Health' is really good isn't it!?

 

[MiCsarah]

Ok in preperation for buying my first horse I've been having a read of any horsey mags I can get my hands on and have borrowed a few books from my very horsey aunt. One of the books is brilliant "100 ways to improve your horse's health" which i've just started. It goes through a lot of basics that I otherwise would have taken a while to learn but I have a few questions...
1) It says the resting pulse rate of an average sized, healthy horse is between 32-42bpm but a "low pulse" is regarded as a warning sign. When they say low pulse I take it they mean anything below 32bpm or is there a bit of leeway i.e anything below 30bpm is indicitave of something wrong?
2) It says the skin around the ribs when pinched (gently ) should return to normal within 2 seconds. If it doesn't what is this an indicator of? Dehydration?
3) "Hard lymph glands that pit on pressure" ... does this mean when you press them the middle goes in? Please can I have an example of lymph glands?
4) "Strong digital pulse taken at sides of fetlock can indicate foot pain, usually laminitis"... What is a digital pulse?
5) When talking about dentition problems, what does "boring off" mean?

Sorry if some of these questions seem a bit daft and that it should be clear enough, I just want to be sure I understand correctly.
Thank you for your continued patience with my newbie-esk questions and saga like posts!

1) I suppose each horse is different. So I think you would need to know your horses average really. Vets dont usually panic if its 1 or 2under I dont think but do look into it and see if this is usual for the horse
2) Have never done it by the ribs,usually do it on the neck
3) My boy gets swollen salivary glands with fresh grass or when he eats the hedges. They should be squishy
4) As far as im aware a digital pulse is like the one on your wrist. Its supposed to be there but if strong can be an indication of something
5)havent got a clue,never heard of the term

 

[Piaffe63]

Thank you! We could always find consensus for the ones you aren't 100% on?

Ok

Well a digital pulse is the pulse that runs along the digital artery. You can find it on the fetlock if you just feel your hand there. Inside it goes vein, artery, nerve, so you should be able to feel the pulse. Pain is indicated by a 'bounding' pulse. x

 

[sandi_84]

I love to read too! The BHS manuals are brilliant- and '100 Ways to Improve your Horse's Health' is really good isn't it!?

Planning on picking up the BHS manuals when I have some spare pennies Yeah I think it's gonna be really usefull literally just opened it and was bombarded with wonderful amounts of new information Taking notes for myself because the book is just on loan so I can go back and use it as a reference.

1) I suppose each horse is different. So I think you would need to know your horses average really. Vets dont usually panic if its 1 or 2under I dont think but do look into it and see if this is usual for the horse
2) Have never done it by the ribs,usually do it on the neck
3) My boy gets swollen salivary glands with fresh grass or when he eats the hedges. They should be squishy
4) As far as im aware a digital pulse is like the one on your wrist. Its supposed to be there but if strong can be an indication of something
5)havent got a clue,never heard of the term

Digital pulse as in the placement of where the pulse is taken?

 

[caberston]

sounds like you're going to be very well prepared
im not entirely sure these are the right answers and anyone feel free to correct...

1) i would of thought this assumes you know what your horses 'normal' resting pulse is so anything more than slightly below may indicate a problem
2) dehydration
3) behind the jawbone
4) pulse of the foot- basically just another place pulse can be taken, and if this pulse feels particularly strong could indicate a problem in the foot
5) not sure about this one but assume it means rasping? which is filing of sharp edges of your horses teeth.

hope this is of some help and, like i said, correct me if im wrong which is probably fairly likely

 

[sandi_84]

Ok

Well a digital pulse is the pulse that runs along the digital artery. You can find it on the fetlock if you just feel your hand there. Inside it goes vein, artery, nerve, so you should be able to feel the pulse. Pain is indicated by a 'bounding' pulse. x

Ah! Ok, never heard of a digital artery before, at first I was thinking "what is a digital pulse, some sort of gadget to take the pulse?... Well that just seems silly!" Thanks

 

[sandi_84]

Ok brilliant response, thank you!

3) "pit on pressure"?
5) "boring off" it reads like a symptom or problem that occurs when there is something wrong with the teeth. Here is the passage
"Dental problems can be indicated by the following: a change in eating behaviour or pattern; a new resistance to the bit; much undigested fibre passing out of the anus; holding the head awkwardly; boring off, or throwing the head up; dislike of being bridled"

After reading it again it makes me wonder if "boring off" is another way of saying head throwing? What do you think?

 

[caberston]

"pit on pressure"- meaning that when you press it, it 'dimples'... if you know what i mean
and the "boring off" thing, perhaps referring to ridden behaviour? like leaning and tanking off maybe?

 

[sandi_84]

"pit on pressure"- meaning that when you press it, it 'dimples'... if you know what i mean
and the "boring off" thing, perhaps referring to ridden behaviour? like leaning and tanking off maybe?

Okey doke! Thanks everyone!