Normal Vital Signs of an Adult Horse
- Temperature: 98.5 - 100.5
- Pulse: 32 - 40 beats/minute
- Respiration: 8 - 16 breaths/minute
- Capillary Refill Time: less than 2 seconds
- Mucous Membranes: moist and pink
It is a good idea to become familiar with your horse's vital signs. If you don't know how to check them, ask your veterinarian to show you. In the event of an illness or emergency, this information will provide us with a more complete medical profile.
For more horse health information on a variety of topics, please go to the AAEP's web site for horse owners at www.myhorsematters.com
First Aid Kit
In the event of an illness, injury or emergency, you should be prepared to care for your horse until the veterinarian arrives. We recommend that you keep at least one first aid kit on hand. For those of you who regularly travel with your horses, we suggest keeping a second kit in your horse trailer. We recommend that your first aid kit include the following items:
- 2 cast pad rolls/gauze **
- 4 bandage flannels
- 1 package sterile 4X4 gauze sponges
- 2 Telfa pads **
- Alcohol
- Antibiotic wound ointment **
- Banamine paste **
- Betadine solution and scrub
- Bute paste **
- Dose syringe **
- Duct tape
- Elastikon roll **
- Electrolytes
- Pen light / Small flashlight
- Poultice **
- SMZ tablets (#100 bottle) **
- Stethoscope
- Thermometer (Digital)
- Towel (bath size)
- Triple antibiotic eye ointment (non-steroidal) **
- Vet wrap **
- Veterinarian's phone number: (978)468-6307
For your convenience, we have emergency kits available. If you would like to purchase one, please call our office @ (978) 468-6307.
**Always have an available trailer for use in emergencies
