Horse Anatomy

Normal temperature for horses

99.5-101.5 degrees F

RR normal for horses

6-12 rpm

HR normal for horses

28-44 bpm

Normal CRT for horses

1-2 seconds

MM color for horses

Pale pink to pink

GI motility is normally

1-3 borborygmi/min

Dental formula for horses

2 (I 3/3 C 0-1/0-1 P 3-4/4 M 3/3) = 36-42

_____ horses can have canine teeth.

Male

Female horses rarely have canine teeth. T/F?

True

Rudimentary upper 1st premolars

Wolf teeth

Grinders

Cheek teeth

Retained deciduous teeth

Dental caps

"Dental Floating"

Due to cheek teeth being continually worn and erupting, they often develop irregular surfaces called "sharp points". These can lacerate the cheeks and gums so this can be used to smooth surfaces of teeth. (Must be under sedation)

Horses do not have a __________.

gallbladder

Horses are ________ _________ and cannot vomit.

Monogastric herbivores

Cecum of the horse

Up to 4 feet and can hold 8 gallons

Guttural pouches

Exact function is unknown but is located in the back of the nasal cavity from inner surface of eardrum (sides of pharynx)

Poll

Bony prominence between the ears

Crest

Curved top line of the neck

Point of shoulder

hard bony prominence surrounded by heavy muscle

Chest

Muscle mass between forelegs

Forearm

From the elbow to knee

Knee (carpus)

Joint between forearm and cannon bone

Cannon

Bone between knee and fetlock joint

Fetlock

Joint between cannon bone and pastern

Coronet

Band around the top of the hoof from which hoof wall grows

Stifle

Joint at the end of thigh of femur (knee)

Gaskin

Region between stifle and hock

Hock

Between gaskin and cannon bone in rear leg, back of hock is point of hock (tarsus)

Pastern

Region from fetlock to top of hoof

Withers

Prominent ridge where neck and back join

Loin

Area joining back and croup

Flank

Between last rib and thigh muscles

Croup/Rump

Between loin and tail

Heart Girth

Area around ventral aspect to belly right behind the shoulder

What breed of horse has only 17 pairs of ribs?
(Typically have 18)

Arabians

The scapula and clavicle are _______.

Fused

Horses do not have an acromion on the scapula. T/F?

True

The radius and ulna are _______.

Fused

Allows the horse to rest while standing with little muscular activity/fatigue. Fibrous tissue in serratus ventralis muscle suspends body from scapula. What is this mechanism called?

Stay apparatus

The fibula only goes _____ way down the tibia.

1/2

Metacarpal or tarsal 3

Cannon bone

Metacarpal or tarsal 2 &4

Splint bone

Phalanx 1/2/3

long pastern, short pastern, coffin bone

Proximal sesamoid bones

Shuttle bones

Distal sesamoid bones

navicular bone

Stable vices: locomotor

Stall weaving, circling, or kicking

Stable vices: oral

Cribbing, wind sucking, or wood chewing

When approaching a horse with a veterinarian, you should stand...

On same side as vet

Acepromazine cannot be used in ________ because it can cause penile prolapse.

Stallions

Some drugs used for chemical restraints can cause a reaction to loud noises. T/F?

True

Chemical restraint

-xylazine
-butorphanol
-dormosedan
-Acepromazine

You should stand on the ________ _______ aka left side.

Near side

Mechanical twitch effectives cannot be applied to?

Foals or on ears

Mechanical twitch is only for use of the ______ _____.

Upper lip

Mechanical twitch is only effective for about _________ minutes.

20-30

Foals should be placed in _______ recumbency and arms around head and rear end.

Lateral