⚠️ Not veterinary advice. This guide is for education on minor issues only. If you are unsure, or your animal is in pain, call your veterinarian. In an emergency, call immediately.
Heat stress in cows, goats, horses and donkeys
Should I call the vet?
Typical signs: Panting, drooling, seeking shade, reduced eating, high temperature.
Call your vet now if you see
- Open-mouth breathing
- Temperature over 105 °F (cow/goat) / 104 °F (horse)
- Staggering, collapse
What you can do
- Shade, fans, cool water to drink.
- Hose with cool water and scrape off; keep moving air.
- Don't work or move animals in heat.
- Electrolytes if advised.
When to call the vet
Immediately for call-now signs.
Normal adult vital signs (at rest)
Cow
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 100.4–102.8 °F | Over 103.5 °F or under 100 °F |
| Heart rate | 48–84 /min (calves 100–120) | Over 100 at rest (adult) |
| Respiration | 26–50 /min | Labored, open-mouth, grunting |
| Rumen | 1–2 contractions/min | None, or left side swollen |
| Cud chewing | Chews cud ~8 h/day | Stopped chewing cud |
| Hydration | Skin tent < 2 s; eyes not sunken | Sunken eyes, skin tents > 4 s |
Goat
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 101.5–103.5 °F | Over 104 °F or under 100 °F |
| Heart rate | 70–90 /min | Over 110 at rest |
| Respiration | 12–20 /min (higher in heat) | Open-mouth breathing |
| Rumen | 1–2 contractions/min (left side) | None, or left side tight like a drum |
| FAMACHA (eyelid) | Red–pink (score 1–2) | Pale pink/white (4–5) = anemia |
| Manure | Firm pellets | Diarrhea, clumps, none |
Horse
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 99.0–101.5 °F | Over 102 °F or under 98 °F |
| Heart rate | 28–44 /min | Over 60 at rest |
| Respiration | 10–24 /min | Over 30 or labored |
| Gums / CRT | Moist pink, refill < 2 s | Pale, white, dark red, purple, tacky |
| Gut sounds | Gurgles both sides | Silent |
| Hydration | Skin pinch back in 1–2 s | Tents > 2–3 s |
Donkey
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 98.0–100.5 °F (37–38 °C) | Over 101.5 °F |
| Heart rate | 36–68 /min | Over 70 at rest |
| Respiration | 12–28 /min | Over 30 or labored |
| Gums / CRT | Moist pink, refill < 2 s | Pale, dark, tacky |
| Gut sounds | Present both sides | Silent |
| Behavior | Alert, eating | Dull or not eating = urgent (hyperlipemia risk) |
Young animals differ. Learn each animal's healthy baseline and record it.
More from Should I Call the Vet?
All 51 topics · Cattle records · Goat records · Horse records · Donkey records · Parasites & toxic plants by state
Other cow topics
- Minor cuts & scrapes
- Rain rot / rain scald
- Eye irritation
- Parasites (worms / anemia)
- Diarrhea (scours)
- Urinary stones (male goats/steers)
- Lice / mange / skin irritation
- Polio (thiamine deficiency) warning signs
- Bloat
- Mild mastitis
- Pinkeye
- Foot rot
- Mild cough / respiratory (calves, kids)
- Hardware disease warning signs
- Milk fever / ketosis around calving/kidding
Keep every record in one place
Herd Papers keeps vaccines, Coggins, vet and farrier visits, weight and body condition for each animal, and reminds you before things come due.
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