How to Listen to a Horse's Gut Sounds
- 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.
