Notes on Diseases of the Horse: Cause, Symptoms and Treatment

TEMPERATURE OF CATTLE.—Normal temperature is from 101.8° to 102° F. Compared with the horse, the daily variations are small.

TEMPERATURE OF SHEEP AND GOATS.—In these animals the greatest variation in temperature occurs, viz.: 100.9° to 105.8° F. In the majority of cases the temperature probably will be between 103.6° and 104.4° F. The cause of this variation is unknown.

TEMPERATURE OF SWINE.—The average temperature is 103.3° F., varying from 100.9° to 105.4° F.

TEMPERATURE OF THE DOG.—The dog is subject to important variations depending on the external temperature; it varies from 99.5° to 101.7° F., although in some localities it is as high as 100.9° to 101.3° F. Feeding will increase the temperature, and it is also higher towards evening.

PULSE.

PULSE FEELING.—Pulse are usually taken at the lower jaw; its character there being better marked than at other convenient situations. The artery may be felt underneath the lower jaw, just in front of the fleshy part of the cheek. On passing the fingers of the hand over the spot, two vessels can be distinguished lying closely together; one, the duct which conveys saliva from the parotid gland into the mouth; the other, the artery which supplies the face with blood. The middle finger should be applied so as to gently press the artery against the inner surface of the bone. The ball of the thumb should not be placed on the outside of the jaw, lest the operator might mistake the pulsation of the artery of his thumb for that of the patient’s artery.

Very frequently the indication of the artery of the fore-arm is the one adopted. This vessel is on the inner side of the fore-arm, and may be felt by inserting the hand, from the front, between the breast and fore-arm, and feeling for the slightly prominent head of the bone just below the elbow joint.

The pulse can be felt at other parts of the body, but those mentioned are more practical.

PULSE.—The pulse in the horse, as in other animals, is of great importance; it tells the number and the force of the heart beats. When taking pulse endeavor to keep the animal as quiet as possible, for if you excite him, you will find the pulse increased several beats, and after standing some time it will again fall. Pulse varies in different animals; slower in heavier horses, quicker in highly nervous animals. It may vary five or ten beats per minute, and the animal still be in perfect health. There are various kinds of pulsations, as the result of certain diseases, the quick, slow, large, hard, soft, frequent and infrequent. The strong, full pulse may be present, and consistent with good health; exercise will change the pulse to a considerable extent. But if the animal is suffering from disease, and then the pulse is of a wiry character, it is characteristic of the sthenic type of inflammation. Suppose an animal has been standing in the stable, and is attacked with lymphangitis, the pulse is full, bounding, wiry, characteristic of inflammation of the bowels, punctures of the feet, inflammation of the joints, etc. The weak, small pulse is indicative of debility, showing inflammation of an esthetic type. It may occur in influenza and catarrh. The oppressed pulse is characteristic of congestion and inflammation of the lungs; you would think the heart had great difficulty in propelling the blood forward. The throbbing pulse is characteristic of inflammation in certain parts. In laminitis there is, perhaps, the best example of the throbbing pulse, beating quickly, with a peculiar throbbing sensation, especially in any inflammatory action in the vascular structures of the feet, making the circulation difficult. A slow pulse is characteristic of cerebral disease, but if only twenty-eight or thirty you may say at once it is cerebral disease; if it is accompanied by a comatose condition, then it is indicative of this disease. The intermitting pulse is found where the animal has suffered from some debilitating disease, as influenza, distemper, catarrh, etc. Although it must in some cases be looked upon with suspicion, it is not generally very alarming, but if there is a change for the worse, and this pulse, it is unfavorable. The fluttering and almost imperceptible pulse indicates great change in the system, as in the latter stages of enteritis (inflammation of the bowels), pleurisy, pneumonia, etc., especially in enteritis; if a case where the pulse is forty, fifty or sixty per minute, and changes, and runs up to eighty or a hundred and becomes indistinct, it is indicative of approaching dissolution. These are the varieties of pulse, and due to the manner in which disease attacks the various organs. You may meet with a case at one hundred and twenty-five where it may recover, but higher than this will no doubt prove fatal. The pulse in the young is much more rapid than in the adult animal; that of a foal at birth beats one hundred to one hundred and two per minute, while that of a calf will go to one hundred and thirty per minute. In old age the pulsation becomes reduced and the arteries much weaker. The pulse rate in large animals is less than in smaller ones, as for instance, an elephant’s pulse rate is from twenty-five to twenty-eight beats per minute. The more rapid the pulse, the greater the quantity of blood in circulation.

THE NORMAL PULSE THROBS PER MINUTE OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS—

Per Minute. The horse 36 to 42 Cattle 45 to 50 Sheep and goats 70 to 80 The dog 70 to 80 Swine 90 to 100

By taking the pulse we can form some idea of the character of the disease.

ABORTION IN MARES.

CAUSE.—Quality and quantity of food, poorly lighted, ventilated or drained stables, mare falling or slipping, sprains, kicks, hard, fast work or eating poisonous vegetation.

SYMPTOMS.—Mare will show signs of colic, the outer portion of the womb will be swollen, and if the colicky symptoms continue there will be a watery discharge and the membranes covering the foetus or foal will become noticeable. The animal strains when lying down or getting up.

TREATMENT.—Place the animal in comfortable quarters and blanket if chilly. When colicky pains are present treat the same as for spasmodic colic. To stop the straining and labor pains, give Tincture Opii one ounce, placing in gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun every two hours. One to two doses, however, are generally sufficient as the mare will either abort or the dangerous period will have passed. Keep the animal quiet and feed good nutritious food and pure water with chill taken off in small quantities but often. Disinfect the mare’s quarters thoroughly. A good general tonic should be used in this condition, one that will strengthen and assist nature to throw off impurities from the blood, such as Sodium Hyposulphite, eight ounces; Potassi Iodide, one ounce. Make into eight powders and give one powder two or three times a day in drinking water.

ABSCESS.

CAUSE.—Bruises and injuries. Abscesses are also seen in complications with various diseases, perhaps the most common being distemper, laryngitis, etc.

SYMPTOMS.—Symptoms will vary, of course, according to the development of the disease. It may not be noticed at first, but upon careful examination small tortuous lines will be observed running from the point of irritation. In many cases a swelling is noticed which is hot, painful and throbbing and enlarges rapidly. In two or three days the soreness and heat gradually subside, but the abscess continues to grow. The hair falls from the affected parts and in a short time the abscess discharges, and the cavity gradually fills up and heals by granulation.

TREATMENT.—In all cases hasten the ripening process as much as possible by applying hot water packs or hot bran, flaxseed or vegetable poultices. It will usually be found a safe plan to encourage the full ripening of an abscess and allow it to open of its own accord, as it will heal much better and quicker and you take no chances of infection with an instrument. When opened do not squeeze the abscess to any extent, but press gently with clean hands or cloth, to remove the clot, and after this simply keep open by washing the abscess with a three per cent Carbolic Acid solution or Bichloride of Mercury, one part to one thousand parts of water. When an animal has abscesses it is well to give the following blood purifiers or internal antiseptics: Hyposulphite of Soda, eight ounces; Potassi Iodide, one ounce. Mix well and make into eight powders and give one powder twice daily in drinking water, or place in gelatin capsule and administer with capsule gun. This prescription will prevent the absorption of impurities from the abscess into the blood.