Health Indicators

• Temperature- Digital Thermometers

  Makes a sound once an accurate temperature has been measured and displays the temperature as a number.
• Temperature- Mercury Thermometer

  You need to wait for the mercury to stop moving and then read the temperature from the scale.
• How would you take a temperature reading?

  1. Add lubricant to measuring probe
  2. Lift the animals tail and insert probe into rectum
  3. Wait until hear beep or until reading has stabilised then read and record measurement
  4. Remove the probe, clean and disinfect
• Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges

  Cow- 36.7-39.3

  Cat- 38.1-39.2

  Dog- 37.9-39.9

  Horse-37.2-38.3

  Pig-38.7-39.8

  Rabbit-38.6 - 40.1

  Sheep- 38.3-39.9
• Pulse Rate

  Locate a major artery and lightly press index and middle finger against it.
• Common locations- Pulse Rate

  Cattle: Underneath base of tail

  Sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and cats: top of inside back leg

  Horse: Jaw or cheek

  Count beats over full minute or 30 seconds x 2
• Normal pulse rate values

  Cat: 120-140

  Dairy Cow: 48-84

  Dog: 70-120

  Hamster: 300-600

  Horse: 28-40

  Pig: 70-120

  Rabbit: 180-350

  Sheep: 70-80
• Respiration Rate

  Counting rise and fall of animals chest visually or placing hand on flank of animal and count that way. Count number of breaths over a minute.
• Respiration Rates Typical

  Cat: 16-40

  Dairy Cow: 26-50

  Dog: 18-34

  Horse: 10-14

  Pig: 32-58

  Sheep: 16-34
• What is CRT

  Capillary Refill Time is how long it takes for blood to return to a section of the capillary system after its supply has been interrupted.
• How to measure CRT

  Press firmly on animals gums so part of gums turn white then release the finger and time how long it takes for blood to flow back to portion of the gum and return to normal colour.
• What is considered to be a normal CRT?

  Less than 2 seconds
• Daily Routine Health Checks

  Appetite and Water Intake

  Faeces and Urine

  Behaviour

  Movement and Gait
• Weekly Routine Health Checks

  Appearance of eyes, ears, nose, mouth/teeth

  Appearance of skin/fur/feathers/scales

  Appearance of mucous membranes

  Appearance of limbs and feet

  Genitals and Anal area

  Signs of coughing, sneezing or vomiting
• Monthly Routine Health Checks

  Body Condition
• What does a WHITE mucous membrane indicate?

  Animal may be in shock or low count of red blood cells due to bleeding
• PINK mucous membrane

  Normal
• RED mucous membrane

  Sign of infection or heat stroke
• BLUE mucous membrane

  Sign of low oxygen content in the blood
• YELLOW mucous membrane

  Liver of kidney problem