HORSE HEALTH CHECK: 4) MUCOUS MEMBRANES

Your horse’s mucous membranes include his gums, his nostrils and his eyelids. These areas (as discussed briefly in the previous posts) can all provide helpful clues about the health of your horse. In essence, we want all of these areas to be a nice salmon pink colour. If you notice any of the following colour changes to the mucous membranes call your vet immediately:

• Pale pink – this suggests shock or an infection like biliary.
• Red – this suggests toxicity.
• Blue/purple – these indicate low oxygen levels.
• Yellow – this suggests issues with the liver.
• Red streaks or red spots (petechiae) – these suggest serious infections (e.g. AHS).