Horse owners should be aware of and be able to measure their horse's normal, healthy vital signs. The table below shows the normal ranges for a healthy horse at rest.
|
Heart rate: |
30-40 beats per minute |
|
Respiratory rate: |
12-20 breaths/minute |
|
Temperature: |
37.5-38.5°C (99-101°F) |
|
Mucous membrane colour: |
Pink |
|
CRT (Capillary Refill Time - pressing finger on gum above the front teeth and seeing how long it takes for the colour to return): |
Less than 2 seconds |
|
Skin turgor (Skin elasticity - pinching skin and seeing how long it takes to return to normal): |
Less than 2 seconds |
|
Gut sounds: |
A wide range of sounds (gurgling, rumbling) every few seconds. |
|
Hoof temperature: |
Luke warm |
