Vital Signs

Temperature: 99.5-101.5F
Pulse:

• Foals: 70-120 bpm
• Yearlings: 45-60 bpm
• 2yr. olds: 40-50 bpm
  
• Adults: 30-40 bpm

Respiration: 

• Resting Adult: 8-16 breaths per min

Gut Signs:

• Normal: Mixture of gurgling/grumbling sounds
• Abnormal: No gut sounds, sand on a beach sound

Dehydration/Pinch Test: 

• Skin should recoil in less than 1 second
  

Capillary Refill Time: 

• Normal refill time is 1 to 2 seconds. 
  

Mucous Membranes (gums):

• Moist Pink: Healthy normal circulation. 
  
• Very Pale Pink: Capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss or anemia. 
  
• Bright Red: Capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock. 
  
• Gray or Blue: Severe shock, depression and illness. 
  
• Bright Yellow: Associated with liver problems.
  

HOW TO: 

• Check Pulse: 1) Listen to your horse's heart beat (lub-dub) by placing a stethescope behind his left elbow.                              2) Use your forefinger to press against your horse's artery under his left jawbone.

• Do a Pinch Test: Pinch the skin in the middle of your horse's neck for a second or two, then count how long it takes for the skin to recoil. 
• Check CRT: Press a finger against your horse's upper gum for several seconds, then release and count how long it takes for the white spot to turn pink again.
  

Resources:
http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/healthVitalSigns.shtml
http://extension.psu.edu/animals/equine/news/2013/know-your-horse2019s-vital-signs
http://texashelp.tamu.edu/005-agriculture/pdf/understanding-vital-life-signs-in-horses.pdf
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/25888/checking-the-vitals-abdominal-sounds