vitals

OC Medical Records (Example – Completed Form)

Patient ID: 128N
Signalment: Ovine, F, open, 2025, Suffolk
Owner: Olds College
Date: June 2, 2026

Subjective

• Relevant History: N/A

• Initials of person completing history: mp

Objective

• Temp: 38.1°C

• Pulse: 84 bpm

• Resp Rate: 34 RR (elevated)

• CRT: 1 sec

• Muc Mem: light pink/moist

• BCS: 3/5

• Skin tent(s): 1 sec

• Gut Sounds: 2

• Were any values outside their normal reference ranges? Y (circled)

• Initials of person completing exam: mp

Procedures Performed: N/A

Sheep Vitals

Head to tail vitals:

Mucous Membranes: light pink and moist

Capillary Refill Time (CRT): 1–2 seconds
(gums, conjunctiva, or vulva)

Heart Rate / Pulse: 70–90 bpm 

Resp Rate: 12–30 RR or rpm (watch from nostril, or if sheared, flank area)

Hydration

• Important to know if the animal is properly hydrated, consuming adequate amounts of water

• Skin tent (Skin Turgor test) – area over nape of the neck or skin behind shoulder

• Eye or eye sockets can also indicate levels of hydration, as well as moisture in the gums

Rumen Sounds:

Score sounds (0–3) at LD (left dorsal) or LV (left ventral, paralumbar fossa area) — listen for 2–3 minutes

• 0 = no motility heard

• 1 = hypomotility (only hear one in 2–3 min)

• 2 = normal motility (hear 2 to 3 rumbles – "borborygmi" – during the 2 to 3 min)

• 3 = hypermotility (hear more than 4 rumbles)

Body Condition Score

Start by feeling the lumbar spine area – you should feel some fat, then bone. Next, feel the tips of the transverse processes – score them from 1–5.

Temperature:

39–40 degrees Celsius

Body Condition Scores – Sheep/Goats

Score	Description	Key Features
1 – Emaciated	No fat cover	Spine prominent and sharp; transverse process sharp; fingers easily pass under
2 – Thin	Thin fat cover	Spine prominent and smooth; muscles medium depth; transverse process rounded; fingers go under with pressure
3 – Average	Moderate fat cover	Spine rounded and smooth; muscles full; transverse process smooth and rounded; fingers need hard pressure to find ends
4 – Fat	Fat cover thick	Spine detected only as a line; muscles full; transverse process cannot be felt
5 – Obese	Fat cover very thick	Spine not detectable, fat dimple over spine; muscles very full; transverse process not detectable