On sunny mornings the world over, horses lie down in their paddocks, stretch out, and take glorious naps. But to the casual observer, a horse lying flat on its side might appear injured or ill. Indeed, in most cases the horse is just fine. But the fact a horse can also lie down when it’s not feeling well can be confusing for passersby and horse owners alike. Spotting illness in a horse comes down to, for the most part, looking for signs considered abnormal for horses in general as well as for the specific animal. We’ll cover some signs of trouble here and when to call your veterinarian.
Typically, if you’re having doubts about whether your horse is feeling well, record his or her rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Beyond those vital signs, observe whether he or she is behaving normally in the stall. For instance:
- Is he or she interested in what’s going on around him or her?
- Is he or she eating, drinking, and producing manure?
- Does the horse seem restless or listless for no apparent reason?
Equine Emergencies
When it’s an emergency and you need to call your veterinarian immediately:
- My horse isn’t bearing weight on a limb.
- His or her breathing is obviously abnormal—it’s rapid, distressed, and/or there’s obvious obstruction of the upper airway (everything ahead of the upper trachea).
- There’s persistent bleeding from a wound or orifice.
- Severe abdominal pain—or colic.
- My horse is showing signs of neurologic problems: suddenly staggering, uncoordinated, or acting profoundly different than he or she normally does.
- He or she is suddenly blind, has obvious trauma to the eyes, or is unwilling to open the eyes.
- Acute laminitis.
- He or she has sustained trauma at or near vital structures such as eyes, genitals, major nerves and vessels (e.g., the throatlatch).
- Trauma that will need immediate care because of cosmetic reasons (you can’t stitch an old wound).
- High fever (generally anything over 101°F (38.3°C), but know what’s normal for your horse).
Urgent Matters
When it’s urgent and you need to call your vet today or tomorrow morning:
- My horse has a low-grade fever.
- He or she is suddenly lame but can bear weight on the limb.
- Obvious trauma that’s away from vital structures that won’t compromise normal vital function; and won’t need immediate attention for cosmetic reasons.
- He or she shows signs of less-severe colic: poor appetite, dullness, not pooping much; and
- If the horse has chronic laminitis or equine asthma that’s flaring.
Don’t Panic
Here are some things that you need to schedule the vet to come out and look at, but it isn’t urgent:
- My horse is slightly and intermittently lame.
- He has a persistent skin problem.
- He has intermittent and very minor eye discharge with no apparent pain or poor vision.
- His appetite is slightly reduced but he’s alert and has no other signs of illness.
- He’s having some slight difficulty chewing; he has a bit of nasal discharge (but normal temperature and breathing).
You’ll also want to have your veterinarian out for routine physical exams, vaccinations, and dental care. They’ll also advise you on matters of parasite control, nutrition, and other aspects of care.
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