How to Listen to a Horse's Gut Sounds

This procedure evaluates the condition of the large intestine (colon) but not the small intestine or stomach.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Stethoscopes
• Women's Watches
• Local Horse Magazines
• National Horse Magazines

1. Practice listening to gut sounds (abdominal auscultation) when your horse is healthy to determine and get used to what sounds normal for your horse.
2. Place a stethoscope on the upper right quadrant of the abdomen (flank).
3. Listen 3 to 5 minutes for a complete cycle of sounds.
4. Repeat for each of the lower right, upper left and lower left quadrants.
5. Listen for a decrease or increase in frequency and intensity of gut sounds; this may indicate a problem.
6. Call your veterinarian if changes in gut sounds accompany other signs of a physical ailment, such as distress, pain, diarrhea, fever or loss of appetite.