Signs That Your Horse is Sick

Sometimes it’s hard to know if your horse is really sick because your horse can’t just tell you that there is something wrong or that it feels bad. But just because your horse can’t tell you there’s something wrong doesn’t mean that your horse isn’t trying to tell you in another way that something is wrong.

Horses communicate very well in their own way so if you learn to read horse body language you’ll know if something is wrong with your horse even if your horse can’t tell you that there is something wrong. Here are the most common signs that your horse is sick:

• Your horse isn’t eating or drinking and even refuses treats.
• Your horse is standing in an odd way or shifting its weight to favor one foot.
• Your horse is sweating even though it’s only standing in the stall and hasn’t been running or exercising.
• Your horse’s coat is dull and dry.
• Your horse’s gums and eyelids are pale white or very red. Normally, the horse’s gums and eyelids should be a healthy pink.
• Your horse has a high temperature. Normal temperature for horses is between 99 and 101. If your horse has a temperature higher than 101 your horse might be sick.
• Your horse is behaving differently. You know your horse better than anyone else. If your horse is normally happy and cheerful but seems depressed to you then your horse might not be feeling well. Watch your horse’s behavior carefully if you start to notice a change.
• Your horse is breathing fast. This can be tricky to measure, but to count your horse’s breaths per minute watch the horse’s ribs and use a wristwatch to see how many breaths the horse takes per minute. Normally, a healthy horse will take anywhere from 8-16 respirations per minute. If the horse is breathing faster than that then something might be wrong.

If you think that your horse might be sick you should always call your vet right away. Minor illnesses in horses that are left untreated can become serious illnesses very quickly so it’s better to call the vet and be wrong than to not call the vet and have your horse get very sick.