Taking a Horse’s Heart Rate
The easiest place to take a horse’s heart rate, or pulse, is the mandibular artery located under the jaw.
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Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is Director of the medicine clinic at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee equine practice in Lexington, Ky.
Posted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Oct 7, 2013 | Article, Vital Signs & Physical Exam
The easiest place to take a horse’s heart rate, or pulse, is the mandibular artery located under the jaw.
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Aug 24, 2010 | Article, Basic Care, Horse Care, Vital Signs & Physical Exam
Being familiar with your horse’s normal resting temperature, pulse, and respiration rates (TPR) help you recognize when things are abnormal. The TPR vitals help you determine “how abnormal.”
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Aug 7, 2010 | Article, Basic Care, Horse Care, Respiratory System, Vital Signs & Physical Exam
Since you can’t tell your horse to “Take a deep breath,” listening to your horse requires some technique to hear lung sounds.
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Jul 29, 2010 | Article, Basic Care, Cardiovascular System, Heart & Cardiovascular Problems, Horse Care, Vital Signs & Physical Exam
Knowing how to identify abnormalities in your horse’s heart rate and rhythm will help you and your veterinarian treat him or her when illness strikes.
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Jul 23, 2010 | Article, Basic Care, Colic, Horse Care, Vital Signs & Physical Exam
Unlike heart and respiratory rates, abdominal sounds do not punch a specific time clock for generating “gut sounds.” The rhythmic peristaltic churning of food mixed with fluids within the gut varies in slower waves depending on meal time, the meal itself, and the level of activity. You don’t actually “time” bowel sounds, but you do want to know if they are present.
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Jun 7, 2009 | Article, Rabies, Thoroughbreds, Vaccinations, Veterinary Practice, Working With a Veterinarian
Rabies is a rhabdovirus that has been a human threat since antiquity. The virus is capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals with some variation in susceptibility. Rabies is considered 100% fatal to the infected host. However, in order for
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Apr 1, 2009 | Article
Twice, my 12-year-old Paint gelding has gotten his third eyelid “stuck” over the top of his eyeball for 10 or 20 seconds. The first time was when water splashed in his eye during a bath.
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Apr 1, 2009 | Article
My 18-year-old Percheron/ Morgan gelding was diagnosed with insulin resistance. Just prior to being confined to stall rest for a connective tissue injury, his insulin was 67 microIU/mL. The vet did a dexamethasone suppression test to rule out PPID,
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Oct 8, 2008 | Article, Musculoskeletal System
Comparisons of humans to horses logically can start with the anatomy. We stand upright; horses stand prone on their four limbs. What we call our knees are the stifles of horses, and our heels or ankles are horses’ hocks. Our foot is their cannon
Read MorePosted by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM | Jul 1, 2007 | Article, Educational Opportunities, Veterinary Students
Leaders in veterinary research and the equine industry should develop policy initiatives that recognize needed changes in the research landscape. Equine medicine remains grossly underfunded. As companion animals, horses receive few government
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