When you suspect colic, you’ll need to be able to give your horse’s vital signs — temperature, pulse and gut sounds — to your vet. We’ll tell you how to gather this vital information.
How to take your horse’s temperature:
Use a glass or electronic rectal thermometer (available at tack/feed stores, and through veterinary-supply catalogs). If you use a glass one, tie a string with a clip on the end to the thermometer’s end loop. Shake down a glass thermometer; activate an electronic one. Lubricate the tip with a dab of K-Y or petroleum jelly.
Tie your horse and gently insert the thermometer into the anus the depth of about two inches. Clip a glass thermometer to his tail for security. Hold the thermometer in place. Wait about two minutes for a glass thermometer to register; 30 seconds for an electric one (listen for the beep). Remove the thermometer and record your reading. A normal temperature range is between 99 and 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to take your horse’s pulse:
Place your horse’s left front foot forward (if he’s standing) and place the head of the stethoscope against his chest wall just beneath the left elbow. Then, push the scope as far forward under the elbow as possible. Listen for the sound of the heartbeat and count the number of beats in a 15-second period. Multiply that number by four to determine the number of beats-per-minute (bpm). An average resting heart rate is between 30 and 40 bpm.
How to listen for gut sounds:
Hold a stethoscope against your horse’s lower flank for at least one minute. Move the stethoscope higher on his flank and listen again. Move to the other flank and repeat. Normally you’ll hear two to four soft bubbles/gurgles per minute, and one loud grumbling sound every two to three minutes. If his gut sounds are louder or more frequent, he may be experiencing mild colic. If you hear nothing and you know your stethoscope is working, he may be experiencing severe colic. Silence indicates no gut movement.