A must know for all horse owners! The why, where, and how.
The digital pulse can be a good indicator of any issues brewing in your horse’s hoof. Being able to correctly find the digital pulse can help you identify any pain or inflammation. This is especially important for horses and ponies prone to laminitis or those that suffer from Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Insulin Resistance (IR) and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID).
The digital pulse reflects the blood flow in the hoof. A faint or non-detectable pulse suggests the blood flow is normal. If there is a strong or ‘bounding’ pulse, it suggests inflammation, or a disruption of the blood flow may be present. There are four locations to find the digital pulse, but I’ll explain one location and the steps below!
1. Squat down at the side of your horse, do not sit down in case you need to move out the way quickly!
2. Using your middle and index finger, place them on the outside or inside of the leg, just below the fetlock. See photo below!
3. Using a firm pressure, wait until you find the pulse (practice makes perfect!)
4. Now, here’s the important part – you need to determine whether your horses’ digital pulse is normal or not. This is why it is helpful for you to know what is normal for them, however it can be tricky to find the pulse on a healthy leg. On the other hand, it can be easy to tell there’s a problem if you can feel a strong bounding pulse with little effort!
Eloise Campion Equine Sports Therapy
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