Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. He must be assessed by a vet as an emergency, a heart rate as high as this in a horse indicates a serious problem which may be life-threatening. The elevated temperature may be related to pain could also be due to fever and infection
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
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Any heart rate over 40 bpm warrants a call to your veterinarian. A heart rate over 60 bpm indicates a severe condition and should be treated as an emergency. A normal respiratory rate for an adult horse is 8-15 breaths per minute (bpm).
A normal horse`s heart rate will rise with stimulus, fright, for example, and then fall with lack of stimulus. An ill horse may have a heart rate from 80 to 120 beats per minute for long periods. One can determine a horse`s heart rate by counting the pulse for 30 seconds and multiplying the number by 2.
The larger and fitter the horse, the lower the heart rate tends to be. Increased heart rates have many causes, including excitement, stress, pain, infection, respiratory and metabolic problems, and primary heart problems.
Watch for the horses` general attitude and degree of pain and check the heart rate. If the pain is getting worse or if the horse has an elevated heart rate (normal is <50 beats/minute, moderate colic is 75-80 bpm, severe colic is > 100 bpm).
A bloated horse with foul smelling manure with grain in it, a temperature of 39°C, a heart rate over 60, swollen legs, hot feet and strong digital pulses is a classic set of symptoms for carbohydrate overload laminitis.
Normal vital signs for adult horses (at rest):
Heart rate 38-44 beats per minute. Rectal temperature 37-38.5ºC. Respiratory (breathing) rate 12-20 breaths per minute. Gums should be light pink and moist, and capillary refill time less than 2 seconds.
A fever that rises above the normal range is known as hyperthermia. In both horses and humans, a fever can be the sign of inflammatory, infectious, or a type of immune-mediated illness. It may also be a symptom of a type of disease.
Clinical signs of myocarditis include depression, lethargy, work intolerance, and increased resting heart rate. Arrhythmias are not uncommon. Clinical signs may be confused with mild colic. The most useful diagnostic tests include cardiac ultrasonography, ECG, and measurement of cardiac troponin.
One study showed that ponies fasted 24 hours before moderate exercise had lower heart rates than those given feed and alfalfa hay before performing the same exercise. Another study found lower heart rates in horses fed eight hours before exercise compared to those fed three hours before exercise.
Although about 90% of cases of colic in horses resolve spontaneously or with medical treatment, the remaining 10% can be fatal if not treated surgically.
Acute laminitis
The horse will show an inability or reluctance to walk or move and may possibly lie down, displaying an unwillingness to get up. The horse will be visibly lame especially when moving on a circle or on a hard surface, and will have an increased digital pulse in the foot.
In the most severe cases the horses will lie down as their feet are too painful to bear weight. An acute new episode or flare up of laminitis is a veterinary emergency and an equine vet should be called to assess any horse with suspected laminitis as a matter of urgency.
Many people are first alerted to worsening heart failure when they notice a weight gain of more than two or three pounds in a 24-hour period or more than five pounds in a week. This weight gain may be due to retaining fluids since the heart is not functioning properly.
You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid built up in your lungs. Your doctor will check for these and other signs of heart failure. A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.
Heart failure symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
Horses that have a fever usually have warm-feeling skin. This FAST FACT refers to a horse that feels warm overall. Heat in a localized area is also a cardinal sign of inflammation, so expect inflamed or injured areas to be warmer than surrounding skin throughout the healing process.
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Page 1. Commonly known as “Swamp Fever” or “Horse Malaria”, EIA is caused by a virus in horses that can lead to destruction of platelets, red blood cells, and inflammation in many of the organs in the horse`s body.
People with myocarditis often feel fatigued, short of breath, chest pain or the sensation of their heart racing (palpitations). They may feel these symptoms gradually over time, or their symptoms may happen very quickly. People with myocarditis in more advanced stages may show symptoms of heart failure.
Signs may be mild. Horses less than 1 year old may have a fever only; horses 1 to 3 years old develop fever, depression, mild limb swelling, and lack of coordination. Adults exhibit the characteristic signs of fever, poor appetite, depression, reluctance to move, limb swelling, and jaundice.
If a stethoscope is not handy, the pulse can be taken from the facial artery, which is on the bottom side of the jaw in a shallow groove beneath the last cheek tooth. Count the number of beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four to calculate the heart rate in beats per minute.
Curl the fingers of your hand and place them in the groove between your horse`s jaws. Pull your fingers back toward the nearest jawbone (mandible) until you feel a cordlike structure. Press that slightly against the jawbone and you will feel the pulse beating.
If left untreated, severe impaction colic can be fatal. The most common cause is when the horse is on box rest and/or consumes large volumes of concentrated feed, or the horse has dental disease and is unable to masticate properly. This condition could be diagnosed on rectal examination by a veterinarian.
The overall annual mortality rate for equids based on the 2015 study was 1.4 percent. The highest annual mortality rates by age group were equids less than 6 months of age (2.8 percent) and equids over 20 years of age (3.1 percent).
Colic is a painful, sometimes fatal, condition that strikes fear in the heart of any horse owner. Many cases of colic are mild and can be resolved with veterinary intervention. Others are severe enough to necessitate surgery or euthanasia. Colic is a generalized term is used to describe abdominal pain in horses.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. My horses heart rate is 120+ all four legs are swollen temp is 102.9 labored breathing very weak hard for him to stand won’t walk
ANSWER : A. He must be assessed by a vet as an emergency, a heart rate as high as this in a horse indicates a serious problem which may be life-threatening. The elevated temperature may be related to pain could also be due to fever and infection
Read Full Q/A … : Horse Vital Signs: Temperature, Pulse and Respiration
Q. My dog has a hard time walking on his front legs. I was told he has nerve damage and he was walking on three legs now it seems to be both front legs
ANSWER : A. Problems with walking in the front legs can be caused by a large number of things. Arthritis in older dogs can cause joint pain and stiffness which may make walking hard. Nerve or muscular damage may also cause problems.
With nerve or muscle damage there is often a loss of muscle tone in the affected limbs. Limbs may look skinnier than unaffected ones, and may lose overall muscle mass. In some cases, treatment for pain or soreness may help improve symptoms some. Depending on the severity of the damage, some dogs may recover while others have permanent damage.
It may also be that if your dog was putting all his weight on one front leg to help the other, that the good front leg is now stiff and sore. Restricting exercise, giving a supplement to help joints and bones and following your veterinarian’s recommendations for care can all help your dog to feel a little better.
Read Full Q/A … : Front Leg Injury in Dogs – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis …
Q. My 1 year old toy poodle has a very hard pounding heart beat at rest. The rate averages around 100 – 110.
ANSWER : A. A normal resting heart rate for small dogs is 100-140 bpm (beats per minute). If her heart seems to working unusually hard, I would suggest a visit to the vet, who may recommend a cardiologist for further investigation.
Read Full Q/A … : Canine Heart Disease: A Silent Killer
Q. Hello.. My jack russel has started to get a bowed front leg at the ankle and is causing him to limp quiet a lot.. Is there anything that can be done.?
ANSWER : A. It is possible an injury or deformity of the leg is causing the limp and physical changes you are seeing. Sprains, breaks, strains and even nutritional deficiencies may cause the leg to bow and pain/limping to occur. Having a vet take an X-ray and examine the leg is best to determine the cause of the changes and limp as well as the treatment needed. Casting, bed rest, and medications to treat pain may all be needed to help the leg heal. Until you can get to the vet, a regime of strict kennel rest with leashed walks only to go potty outside will help reduce any further injury to the leg and decrease pain.
Read Full Q/A … : Jack Russell FAQs Page!
Q. Are heart murmurs in a cat serious? He can’t use his bac legs?
ANSWER : A. If you cat suddenty lost ability to walk on back legs you should take him to your vets without delay as it could be related to heart disease. It may be a blood clot from the heart blocking blood supply to back legs.
Read Full Q/A … : Signs Your Cat May Have Eye Problems
Q. My ragdoll cat has congestive heart failure. Is this a congenital problem?
ANSWER : A. By congestive heart failure we mean basically heart failure, which is what happens when your cat’s heart function is significantly impaired by cardiomyopathy. The blood flow through the heart and the output from the heart is compromised. Congestive heart failure is secondary to different kinds of cardyomyopathies, some of them are congenital and their development is linked to a genetic defect which is more common in certain breeds. However more studies are still needed to establish which breeds are affected and which aren’t.
Read Full Q/A … : Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in Cats – Vetstreet
Q. My Chihuahua was jumping and suddenly started whining. Now she won’t put her hind leg down, but doesn’t cry when I mess with it. Will it heal on own?
ANSWER : A. Leg injuries are very common in small dogs, especially if they have jumped from a high place, or even stumbled and landed on the leg wrong. Leg injuries can be caused by anything from minor sprains and strains, to full blown breaks or joint tears and even arthritis or luxating patellas (knee joints that slip in and out). If the leg appears swollen, dislocated or there is visible bone or bleeding, veterinary care should be sought. Providing strict kennel rest and decreased activity for a day or two can help with minor injuries, however if the limping continues for more than a day you should make an appointment with your local veterinarian.
Read Full Q/A … : Causes of Limping in Dogs
Q. My pomeranians back leg is bothering her I believe it is sprained she cant walk on it.she can stand on it and is not in any pain should she see vet
ANSWER : A. If you believe the leg may be sprained or you are seeing signs of injury such as pain, swelling, limp or loss of use of the leg, then scheduling a veterinary appointment is best. Your vet can examine the leg, and may also recommend an X-ray to check for breaks, sprains and dislocations that can all cause these issues. Until you can get into your vet it is best to limit all activity to strict kennel rest and leashed walks outside ONLY to go potty to help reduce the pain and decrease further injury to the limb.
Read Full Q/A … : Pomeranian Health – Problems, Medical Concerns, Issues
