Digital Pulse

I recently sold a horse and the vet had mentioned increased digital pulse in all 4 feet.  At the time I really didn’t know what that meant or why it was important.  After doing some research It became obvious that I should really know my horse’s normal digital pulse along with his heart rate and temperature.  Knowing these key vitals could help me identify the early onset of laminitis or other illnesses and allow me to seek treatment before it’s too late.  In this post, I want to discuss the digital pulse. How to find it and why it’s important.

What is the digital pulse?

Two main Arteries run down the back of the horse’s leg. At the fetlock one runs the medial side (Medial Palmer Proper Digital Artery) and one runs down the lateral side (Lateral Palmer Proper Digital Artery).  These arteries supply blood to the structures of the foot, including the Lamellar arteries.  On a healthy horse, the blood disperses throughout the foot and then travels back up the leg through a network of veins. You might notice the same thing I did, these arteries have the word “Digital” in them. Hence, the Digital Pulse!  The digital pulse is the pulsing of blood through the Digital Artery.

Why is the digital pulse important?

In a healthy hoof, the heart pumps blood through the Digital Arteries and into the structures of the hoof.  The pressure of the blood pumping then pushes the blood back out through the veins and back to the heart.  If the hoof is healthy, it may be difficult to feel the digital pulse because there is little restriction on the flow of blood.  

One of the first signs something could be going wrong within the hoof is a strong digital pulse.  Swelling within the hoof capsule will restrict the flow of blood.  The heart pumps blood into the artery but when that pressure reaches the hoof it becomes restricted and the artery ‘pulses’ as it stretches from the pressure.  Some people describe this as the throbbing you feel with a headache or after smashing a finger. It’s not the speed that increases but the strength.

Know your horse’s ‘normal’ digital pulse.  Some horses may have a stronger pulse than others so it’s a good idea to know what it feels like when nothing is going wrong. If you find it difficult to feel the pulse, this is normal.  It should be hard to find.

If you are checking your horse’s digital pulse and find that one leg is stronger, it may be signs that the hoof has an abscess or bruise.  Some type of inflammation is taking place that is restricting the flow of blood.  If, on the other hand, two legs or all four legs seem to have an increased digital pulse, your horse may be experiencing the inflammation that could result in laminitis.  In either case, quick action can limit the damage caused by inflammation. 

Reading the Digital Pulse

The image above shows 3 locations where you should be able to find the digital pulse. Remember, it may be very difficult to find and this is a good thing. It means that the blood flow within the hoof is good.

To read the pulse use your index and middle finger. Your thumb has a pulse all its own and you run the risk of actually feeling your own pulse when using your thumb. Start at the uppermost location indicated on the image and try each location until you find the best place to take your horse’s digital pulse.