Laminitis Pulse Rate

Which foot has the strong pulse.

Laminitis pulse rate. Total refusal to move or pick up feet lying down a lot heart rate may be over 80 bpm respiration rate may be over 60 breaths min sweating muscles rock hard ck ast may be slightly raised. A hoof that s hot for hours. A bounding digital pulse is a sign of inflammation. Your horse may have laminitis before you panic look at your horse carefully.

Pain in the toe region when pressure is applied with hoof testers. In fact bounding digital pulses and hoof pain are often the first signs of laminitis. Stronger pulses in two or four feet indicate possibly a bigger problem. Shifting lameness when standing.

A bounding pulse in both front legs however is an early sign of laminitis especially when the blood pressure is also elevated. Check the horse s pulse at consistent times to get a feel for the normal pulse at those times. In exceptionally severe cases for which the prognosis is unfavorable a blood stained exudate may seep from the coronary bands. Temperature usually normal unless sirs laminitis guard against dehydration and impaction colic in a horse in severe pain which is not eating drinking.

If there is a bounding pulse in only one hoof then suspect a localized issue possibly an abscess or maybe a bruise more than likely this is a pain response to an injury. Signs of acute laminitis include the following. If you find stronger or bounding pulses in two or four hooves laminitis is a possibility. The horse may shift his weight from foot to foot or lie down more than normal.

Lameness is usually moderate to severe at this time. Note both the strength and rapidness of the pulse. High heart rate rapid breathing increased digital pulses fever sweating colic diarrhoea and depression are signs of horses battling grain overload. Lameness especially when a horse is turning in circles.

Heat in the feet. I have one horse with a much stronger pulse overnight than during the day. Signs of the early onset of laminitis include an increase in amplitude of the digital pulse along with an abnormal gait. Taking a horse s pulse isn t simply a matter of putting a finger to an artery however.

If the pulse is stronger only in one leg for example chances are an infection from a wound or abscess for instance is present. Increased digital pulse in the feet most easily palpable over either sesamoid bone at the level of the fetlock. Horses with an acute case of laminitis often have a rapid pounding pulse. To check your horse s digital pulse place two fingers in front of the sesamoid bones at the level of the fetlock and feel the pulse.