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  Discussion on Thermoregulation - Normal vitals in a "hot" resting horse?
Author Message
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007 - 9:49 am:

Hi! We live in Texas and recently we have gone from reasonably cool and constantly raining to triple digits and high humidity. I have read the thread on thermoregulation, return to normal values following exercise, etc. I would like to know normal ranges for respiratory rates and heart rates in horses in pasture settings during the heat of the day. With temps of 100+ and humidity as high as 80% we are experiencing a high heat index. With ~40 horses, it is impossible to return them all to the barn in the heat of the day. We do have open shelters, lots of water, and sprinklers. Some of our horses seem somewhat sluggish in the heat (so do I...),sweat, and have elevated respiratory rates occasionally associated with flaring nostrils (especially if they have run the fence line). Is there a normal range of respiratory and heart rate with high ambient temperature? How high is too high? The horses are alert, eating normally, have normal capillary refill time (immediate) and respiratory rates return to normal with night cooling. I have not taken their temperatures. My feeling is that elevated respiratory rates, even with nasal flaring, is one of God's way of helping the horse cool off. But with so many horses here, I just would feel more comfortable having guidelines on what is considered normal in a non-exercising horse living with a high heat index. Also, some may not be the brightest....some stay in the sun, even with shelters!

Thanks for your input!

Judy
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2007 - 12:41 am:

No there are no numbers on respiration I know of that are reliable indicators and by themselves indicate serious problems. In your post and in the article are the important parameters indicating the horse is not dealing successfully with the heat.
DrO
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2007 - 10:37 am:

Thanks! We are leaving for vacation in two weeks and have competent staff we are leaving here. However, we have noticed that one tends to "over diagnose". We think she is nervous about missing anything when she is responsible. Any deviation from what she considers normal warrants moving the horse to a stall, removing hay, removing feed, etc, just in case they are colicking. None of the horses she has moved appear to have symptoms of colic, illness, or injury. They just look like healthy horses increasing their respiratory rate secondary to heat. We check their mucous membranes, capillary refill time, interest in food, etc., and satisfied they are ok, have immediately returned them to their pastures and friends. All have been happy to be back out. In our absence, I am worried that moving a horse into a totally different environment, restricting movement, and changing feeding could RESULT in a stressed horse or precipitate colic. As a result, I would like to give some general guidelines re: heat stress, so care can be consistent. This has been one the wettest years in recorded history in our area. Followed by extreme temperature which really creates an unbelievably hot, humid environment. Nothing the humans, nor the four legged critters are used to. We have gone to riding at 6-10 AM or so and evenings. I guess the bottom line is, if the horse is eating and drinking well, alert, with normal capillary refill time, the presence of elevated respiratory rate and moving around a little slower than usual, when it is hot and humid, may be normal. However, the horse with increased respiratory rate who isn't interested in food/hay, doesn't look alert, and/or has a prolonged capillary refill time, is not dealing well with the heat...or is sick. Does this make sense?

Actually it has cooled off the last day or two and we have been back to the massive rains...Thanks to Erin. Dean may be on Erin's tail. Just what we need...a hurricane. So this might be a mute point.

Judy
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2007 - 11:57 pm:

Judy, you have to teach this person to look at the total horse and pay the most amount of attention to attitude and appetite.

Perhaps the way to do this is to create a sheet with listings for important vital signs which includes attitude and appetite. There should be a place to put in the current finding and the normal ranges. By filling out all the lines when she thinks something is wrong, she may see the whole picture better. At the very least you can better tell if something is really wrong. For more see Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.
DrO
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:15 am:

Thanks. I already printed out your information and gave it to her for review. I agree that it would be excellent to generate a spread sheet for easy reference. Maybe even enter normal values for each horse, because they seem to differ somewhat one from the other, as they deal with the heat. Obviously, our biggest concern is reaching the point of having ourselves and others NOT taking her seriously...and having a true critical situation. IMHO over calling illness can potentially be damaging....

Thanks again,
Judy
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