I think most vets will use temp if they feel it will add to the
picture or if they fill the horse is in stress. It's quite common in the SE for
the vet to take a temp at the check in and I've seen it at checks also.
T
Susan Garlinghouse wrote:
Is there any feeling by today's vets that there is any knowledge about the
horse's condition to be gained by temp readings during hard work?
Could this be another tool to indicate an impending problem?
I can only speak for my limited experience at my whopping one ride vetting
<g>, but at Coso Junction Jam, the head vet Fred Beasom specifically
discussed using temps as a diagnostic tool when necessary. It just wasn't
called for that weekend, as presumably a horse with an elevated core body
temp would show other concurrent signs of trouble as well---hanging pulse,
high respiratory rate, etc, plus the weather was quite cool that weekend.
It was definitely an available parameter, though. The AERC vet handbook has
a very clear discussion of using temp as a warning sign and cause for
treatment/elimination.
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM
