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    ehorses Magazine
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    • Equestrianism
      Ride, ride, ride — or take a breather sometimes?
      Ride, ride, ride — or take a breather sometimes?
      Branding in Horses
      Branding in Horses
      Is Barebacking Harmful?
      Is Barebacking Harmful?
      How To DIY Your Own Hoof Dressing
      How To DIY Your Own Hoof Dressing
      7 Reasons Why You Should Ride
      7 Reasons Why You Should Ride
      The Steps of Importing a Horse from Europe
      The Steps of Importing a Horse from Europe
      “You Ride Like A German” – The Difference Between The German And American Riding Style
      “You Ride Like A German” – The Difference Between The German And American Riding Style
      riding-young-horses: Woman riding a horse
      Backing and Riding Away Your Young Horse
      horse-lunge
      Starting your horse on the lunge

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        • All
        • All about horses
        • Feeding and keeping
        • Health
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        Rose Hips: Superfood for Horses

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        Linseed: Superfood for Horses

        How much does a horse cost per month? - competition horse jumping a fence

        How much does a horse cost per month?

        Fungal-skin-infections-header

        Fungal Skin Infections: what they are and how to treat them

        Horses corona: Girl on a horse

        Tips for selling horses during Covid-19

        How Does A Horse Auction Actually Work?

        How Does A Horse Auction Actually Work?

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        Branding in Horses

        Is Barebacking Harmful?

        Is Barebacking Harmful?

        How To DIY Your Own Hoof Dressing

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      How (and when) to Take a Horse’s Temperature
      Home Horse knowledge Health

      How (and when) to Take a Horse’s Temperature

      Sarah Weiher by Sarah Weiher
      10. May 2020
      in Health, Horse knowledge

      There’s nothing more guaranteed to make horse owners roll their eyes in sympathy than talking about the horse’s capacity to injure itself or be unexpectedly out of sorts. Injuries can be sudden and dramatic, whether as a result of rough play-fighting in the field or getting cast in the stable. It’s a good idea to master some first aid techniques for treating both horse and rider. In this article, we’ll give you the know-how on one of the fundamentals. (Pun intended.) That is, how to take a horse’s temperature.

      Why do I have to take my horse’s temperature?

      Measuring the temperature of a horse is not one of the most popular tasks in horse care. It’s an important one, though, since temperature reveals a lot about a horse’s health.

      Fever, indicated by elevated temperature, is often the first indication of infection or inflammation in the horse’s body. Fever lets us know that the horse’s metabolic rate has been raised because fever results from that activity. It’s the sign that the horse’s body is trying to deal with a threat of some kind. As in humans, a high temperature can pass quickly once the illness has been overcome. However, if the temperature reaches 40.5 ° C or more, the enzymes and proteins in the body can be damaged. It’s a bit like cooking an egg: the egg white solidifies. This is particularly dangerous for the brain, which can be damaged by oedema (swelling).

      Too low a temperature is a warning that the horse’s metabolism or circulation isn’t working properly. Keep an eye on anything below 37 ° C, and if it drops below 36.5 ° C you should consult a veterinarian.

      When should I check the temperature?

      Both high and low temperatures can indicate disease. A few indications of when to take the horse’s temperature are listed here:

      • The horse is unusually calm, appears dull and / or is unwilling to move
      • The horse is not eating and / or drinking properly
      • There are other signs of a cold, flu or infection (e.g. nasal discharge, cough or swollen lymph nodes)
      • The horse is showing signs of colic
      • There is a possible injury or the horse is post-operative
      • If other horses in the herd have an infection
      • In cases of heatstroke or hypothermia

      If you can tick any of these boxes, take your horse’s temperature!

      How do I take the horse’s temperature?

      When measuring fever in horses, the thermometer is always placed in the horse’s rectum. Top tip: practise this before you have an emergency! Use a regular clinical digital thermometer and lubricant. (Some are marketed as veterinary thermometers.) They are readily available at pharmacies and online. Don’t use a traditional glass one with mercury though – there’s too great a risk of it breaking, and mercury is toxic.

      Stand at the side of the horse, not behind it, for safety reasons! It’s much easier if you have a friend to help you do this task, particularly if the horse is restless. Follow the instructions and note down your reading.

      A tip: to make sure the clinical thermometer does not disappear into the horse or get lost afterwards, simply attach a piece of cord or good old fashioned baler twine to the thermometer with adhesive tape. You can fasten a stick or pencil to the other end.

      The normal temperature of a horse

      The adult horse’s temperature is usually between 37.2 ° C and 38.4 ° C. That’s a bit higher than a human’s. Factors such as the outside temperature or whether the horse has exercised recently play a part, as does its general constitution.

      Possible causes of fever & low temperature in the horse

      As mentioned previously, both a raised temperature due to fever and a low temperature can be indicators of some diseases.

      Fever can result from:

      • Infectious diseases, such as glanders, herpes, influenza or pneumonia
      • Inflammation in the body, such as laminitis, cellulitis or an abscess
      • Poisoning
      • Heatstroke

      Low temperature may indicate:

      • Chill
      • Shock
      • High blood loss
      • A drop due to freezing weather or lying on a cold surface
      • Metabolic disorders or malnourishment
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      Sarah Weiher

      Sarah Weiher

      Sarah-Laurien Weiher works as SEO Manager at ehorses. If she is not pursuing her favorite activity, page optimization, she writes magazine articles with exciting topics related to horses and dogs. You can reach Sarah at s.weiher@ehorses.de.

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