Posture This may the first clue that something serious is wrong.
Animals that are sick often assume unusual positions, stances, and attitudes.
Abnormal posture alone does not always indicate disease, so look for other signs.
An example would be a horse that stretches out.
This may be a normal routine for a horse or could be a sign of abdominal discomfort (colic).
A horse that shifts its weight from one leg to the other constantly usually has pain in one of its legs, a horse that is reluctant to move may have founder, and a horse that completely refuses to bear weight on a limb could have a severe stone bruise, a foot abscess, a joint infection, or a fracture.
Movements such as pawing, shaking the head, yawning or scratching may indicate a problem or may only signify that the animal is annoyed.
Watch your horse's movement or "way of going".
Stumbling, clipping, interfering, or forging may be the first sign of lameness or may indicate a neurological disorder.
A normal gait or "way of going" for one breed may be abnormal for another.
Appetite Watch your horse as you approach at feeding time.
Is the horse alert and eager to be fed? A good appetite is one of the best indicators of overall health.
If your horse eats lightly at one meal, do not panic.
Look closely for a cause, instead.
Check to see if someone else is feeding the horse or overfeeding him/her at other meals.
Also, make a mental note of what food is left behind.
Is the horse not eating hay, grain, or both? A horse that dives into its grain at first and then stops eating after a few bites may have stomach ulcers.
Stomach ulcers can also cause horses to eat sand.
Some horses eat sand out of boredom or accidentally while eating their hay / grain.
You can avoid accidental ingestion of sand (and the resultant problems) by feeding the horse away from sandy areas in a stall or outside feeders.
Mineral deficiencies can also cause horses to eat peculiar things.
Water Start by examining the horse's water pail or trough.
Horses tend to drink an hour or so after they begin eating the roughage portion of their rations.
A few hay stems or grains in the water are no cause for concern.
However, if the water pail is packed with hay and or grain, your horse may be having trouble eating and using the water to soften the feed.
This could be due to dental problems and pain.
Monitor the amount of water your horse is drinking.
Some sick horses will stop eating and drinking, while others continue to drink or drink more water than normal.
Horses that drink more water than normal may have a fever, kidney problems or a digestive system problem.
If you have an automatic waterer and you suspect your horse is ill, it is a good idea to shut it off.
Hang a water bucket so you can monitor the horse's intake.
Manure A normal horse will pass 8-10 piles of manure per day.
The manure pile should have well formed fecal balls with enough moisture so that the pile stays heaped.
When the fecal balls become separate and somewhat dry, it may indicate that a horse is not drinking enough water.
This sometimes happens during cold weather.
Firm fecal balls covered in mucous are an indication that the horse is taking longer than normal to pass feces and may be due to dehydration.
Loose manure could be due to a sudden change in feed, nervousness, or mechanical / bacterial irritation to the horse's gut.
Some mares have loose manure when they are in heat.
Diarrhea is not common in horses and can be a sign of a severe problem.
These horses need to be monitored closely for loss in appetite, colic, fever, or lethargy.
It is best to call you veterinarian when you notice your horse has diarrhea, especially if it is accompanied by a fever.
Extremely dry feces or lack of feces are also indications to call Dr.
Garfinkel.
Vital signs If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us at 619.
659.
1180.