Daily Health Evaluation
Every day, twice a day you have an opportunity to actively manage your project’s health! Every feeding, look at each of these items and correct them as needed. This type of daily management will help to avoid many health issues with your project! The difference between tending to a health issue early or late is huge!
| EVALUATE | IDEAL | NEED TO FIX |
|---|---|---|
| PROJECT’S ATTITUDE | Happy, Eager, Curious, Interested in you & the food! | Sad, Sick Looking, Lethargic, Disinterested in Food or Activities in the Pen |
| PROJECT’S PHYSICAL CONDITION | Standing Square, Walking Easily, Tail up, Eyes Clean, Nose Clean, Skin is Good Color & Temperature | Limping, Tail down, Eyes or Nose is Weepy, Rash, Sun Burn, Coughing, Itchy, Limping, Swelling or Bleeding Scratches or Cuts, Breathing is Hard or Thumping & Labored |
| PROBLEM | YES/NO | QUESTION (IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, ALWAYS TAKE A PICTURE FOR YOUR ADVISOR) | RECORD YOUR FINDINGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIMPING | • Which leg? Front or Rear Left or Right • Is the joint swollen or cut? • Do you see any cuts / scrapes / bruising / bleeding? • Is anything stuck in the foot or leg? | ||
| SWOLLEN BODY PART OR JOINT | • What is swollen? • Is it hot to the touch? • Is it red or pink in color? • Is it the same temperature as the other body parts? | ||
| SNOTTY NOSE | • Is the discharge clear, cloudy, yellow or green? • Is it runny or crusty? • Is it hard for your animal to breathe? • Is your animal lethargic or acting normal? | ||
| WEEPY EYES | • Is the weep in both eyes? • Is the weep clear, cloudy, yellow or green? • Is it runny or crusty? • Are there flies on the eyelid? • Is your animal lethargic or acting normal? • Penn-G or LA-200 antibiotic can be rubbed into the eye | ||
| COUGHING | • Is the cough dry or wet or congested? • Is your animal lethargic or breathing hard between coughs? Also known as Labored Breathing. • Do you hear a thumping, wheezing or gurgling sound? | ||
| FEVER | • Is your animal lethargic and stretched out? • Is your project panting? • Does the skin look hot and red? • Is the skin hot to the touch? • Is the body red all over or in one location? • Is water available? Will they drink? • Is the weather hot? Above 75 degrees. • Is shade available or are they in direct sun? • With a digital thermometer, lubricate the tip and take the temperature. Record the temperature.  | ||
| BLOOD | • What is bleeding? • Can you see where the blood is coming from? • Is it old and dried? • Is it still bleeding? • Is the blood a trickle or pumping out? • Is your animal active or lethargic? | ||
| CUTS | • What is cut? • Is it bleeding? • Is the blood old and dried? • Does the cut look fleshy or gaping? (The skin is loose and flapping like it needs stitches to hold it together?) • Is your animal active or lethargic? • Can you see if there are any other cuts? • Can you tell what made the cut? If it is the pen, fix the sharp edge immediately after the animal is cared for. | ||
| SCRAPES | • Where is the scrape? • Are there several scrapes? • Are the scrapes in one place? • Is there a rash or insect bites in the center of the scrape? • Is the animal fighting with other animals? • Is the skin itchy and the animal is rubbing one spot? | ||
| RASH | • Where is the rash located? • Can you see any insect bites or sunburn? • Did you feed anything different? • Is the weather different? • Is there adequate shade or full sun? • Take the temperature & record the findings. | ||
| ITCHY | • What is itchy? • Is it everywhere? • Can you see an injury or insect bite? • Did you recently shave or groom the animal? (Freshly cut hair can irritate skin if not removed promptly after grooming.) • Did you change feed, bedding, topical lotions or sprays? | ||
| BITES | • Where are the bites? • Is it from an insect? • Is the bite(s) from a pen mate or a dog or horse? If it’s a pen mate, put in divider panel or move your animal to another pen if the bites are bad or the fighting continues. | ||
| LUMP | • Where is the lump? • How big is the lump? • Compare the size to a dime, nickel, quarter, ping-pong ball or golf ball? • How many lumps? • Are they everywhere? • Can you see an injury or insect bite? • What color is the center of the lump? • Is there a red ring around the lump? • Is it hard or soft to the touch? • Is it hot or warm to the touch? (Is it warmer than the nearby skin?) • Is it sensitive to the touch? |
If you discover any ailments, injuries or anything that requires help, take a picture with your phone and contact your advisor. Pets-n-Projects have articles in the Health and Feeding section that may be helpful in treating issues.
