Health and Disease in horses

The primary vital signs of a horse will indicate the horses health and condition. A table of the vital signs of a horse monitored will be included in this assignment. An assessment of the horses' vital signs will be made and the value of measuring, monitoring and assessing shown.

The heart is the motor organ that powers the horse's body. There are a number of abnormalities that can occur when functioning. Heart Murmurs are a known problem, four known types of murmur will be discussed and the problems that these would cause.

Many diseases and disorders can arise that will alter the average horses vital signs, these will be discussed, disorders named and treatment will be suggested.

These are the main and primary indicators of a horses health and fitness. The horses pulse rate measures the stroke volume, the heart rate determines how fast and how much blood is pumped around the body. Measuring the heart and pulse rate means we can monitor the blood flow and fitness progression.

If the heart rate was greater than the pulse, a weak stroke volume would be suspected. A lower, weaker pulse rate indicates that the blood is not being pumped hard enough to be measured.

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The sounds made by the heart are associated with vibrations of the cardiac tissue, produced each time the heart beats. Four sounds are heard. Each, related to a Ventricle or Atria. The first two sounds can be described as "LUB DUB" indicating the beginning and ending of systole. The Third and fourth sounds are caused by blood flowing through the Atria. The noises made by the heart can be altered by,
• Irregularities in the blood
• Irregularities with the function of the heart.
One example of a different noise that could be heard is "LUB brrrrr DUB." Also the pitch, intensity and quality of the heartbeat can be altered due to any number of malfunctions within the heart.

Atrial Fibrillation is a serious problem, defined as,
" Any local and uncontrollable twitching of
some muscle fibres within a main muscle."
Here, the walls of the heart twitch. The symptoms vary, from slow, to accelerated heartbeats. As not always preset, fittening and exercise tolerance is lower.
Atrial Tachycardia is a none-exercise related, fast, rhythmical heart beat, 120-250 bpm! It can be present in short bursts or is sustained for longer. This will reduce the horses work load and capability.
Atrial Premature Complexes can cause premature systoles. Often arising for no apparent reason; indicating severe problems within the horse not necessarily related to the heart, reduced heart rate, electrolyte imbalance. This disorder dramatically reduces athletic performance.
Ejection murmurs are lower grade systolic murmurs, commonly found in performance horses. They are not found to cause a reduced performance, but the severity of the murmur can be found by measuring heart rate responses and stroke volume.

Cardiac Arrhythmia is a dropped beat, e.g. LUB. This is common when resting, fit horses are monitored. The heart beat returns to normal as exercise begins; there is a minimal effect on the horses performance. It can be a common problem but is often unknown about due to the minimal effect it has on the horse during exercise.

i) An infection in the kidney, whose vital role is to regulate homeostasis, would greatly affect the horse's temperature. Temperature variation is a good indicator of infection, a rise would indicate that the body's immune system is fighting the infection. In many situations, movement creates heat, the same applies here.
ii) The heart rate can be affected by shock. Shock will cause the heart to differ from a regular, strong, steady beat, to a fast irregular and week beat.
iii) Pleuritis is the inflammation of the mucus membranes covering the lungs and the chest cavity. It causes pain and discomfort whilst breathing. The respiratory rate is increased greatly with quicker, shallow breaths.
iv) Primary Herpes Infection has a number of symptoms, one of them being a serous nasal discharge. This infection can lead on to influenza.
v) Conjunctivitis will cause a weepy, pussy ocular discharge. Irritations such as flies will hinder recovery rate.
vi) Jaundice can affect the mucus membranes. They become slightly yellow and paler than the usual salmon pink colour, due to the disrupted filtration of the blood. They can take up to four weeks to return to normal colour, even if the horse has recovered.

Thrush is caused by dirty, wet conditions. The main signs are the smell and the very moist, often broken down clefts and frog. The grooves may also contain a dark wet discharge. Further neglect will result in lameness. Removal of the cause, followed by an anti fungal treatment is required for recovery.
Cracked hooves are breaks/cracks in the hoof caused by trauma, hard ground and neglect or poor nutritional diet. Prolonged neglect will result in lameness. Treatments include, the daily application of hoof oils, resins to bond the hoof, or shoe clips.