Dr. Robert Ragsdale DVM, Dr.George Dyck DVM & Dr. John Roueche DVM

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Dr. George Dyck, DVM & Dr. John Roueche, DVM Mobile veterinary services for equines and farm animals (goats, pigs, sheep, llamas, alpacas, cows).

At this time, Valeree cannot access DM's on Facebook...if you are searching for a veterinarian, please call 661.259.7745

Important Info Please Read:

This is just a test...FB acting up...

Trying this again.....

Phones and internet are out. Spectrum expects to restore service by 6pm.

IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL OR TEXT 661 481 1934.

Thank you.

It is with heavy hearts that we must say goodbye to our friend and former co-worker, Linda Manchen. Most of you probably spoke to her when she filled in on Fridays before she moved to a new life in Idaho. Linda was a kind soul with a quick wit...she always made us chuckle. She loved her family and critters dearly. Heaven just got another angel. We will miss you Linda. Our deepest condolences to your family during this difficult time.

As I sit here on my second to last day manning the Large Animal Practice, I just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to all of the terrific clients I have gotten to know over the years. I am grateful to Dr Dyck and Dr Roueche for their friendship, guidance and patience. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to have learned from the best large animal doctors around!

Though Loki and I will miss coming into the office each day, it is time to fully focus on other endeavors. My work with CLEAR - Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness and Research is very important and I look forward to diving into our next film to help educate owners about canine cancer. I have scripts to write, shows to pitch and stories to tell. Though I have been reluctant to share on facebook in the past, please feel free to keep in touch at Zippery Zoo Productions or at Stacey Zipfel Flannery to see what Loki and I are up to.

I want to shout out to a few very special folks who have become dear friends .... you know who you are and I love you to pieces. I look forward to meeting over lunches rather than over the counter, LOL.

Valeree will be starting on 5/24 and Jessica will still take Fridays. Please be patient as this desk has more moving pieces than you can imagine! Valeree is smart and capable and I am sure she can fill my shoes as I filled the very big shoes of Julie. It just takes a little time. I am around to answer questions and even fill in from time to time...so I'm not completely gone, LOL. That means Loki is around too - and let's face it, he is who will be missed the most.

Again, thank you Dr. Dyck and Dr. Roueche. I adore you both.

Loki is being sure to pass on all his knowledge to Valeree before he and Stacey leave.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Both Dr. Dyck and Dr. Roueche are extremely busy. So be aware that routine, non-emergency appts will be pushed out and not same day. Also....Dr. Roueche will be unavailable beginning 5/7 to 5/17. Please plan accordingly. Thank you!!!!

WAGONS HO…BUT FIRST…..

Now that the world is beginning to open up and travel is safer, many of you are going to want to load up the horse and travel OR even relocate from California. But before you do…your horses will need a health certificate and negative coggins test to get across state lines. Goats, pigs and other animals require a health certificate too, but for this post, I am just going to concentrate on horses.

So what is a coggins test? A coggins test is a blood test that checks for EIA or Equine Infectious Anemia which is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease. It was quite prevalent at one time hence the test to make sure problem doesn’t rear its ugly head.

In most cases, the coggins results are good for a year, so the results can cover you through multiple trips for that amount of time. This is not a hard and fast rule, some states like Oregon for example only recognize coggins for 6 months. Also, a handful of states require a permit number for entry, our office can tell you if you are traveling to a state with this additional requirement. A good resource to check out exactly what you’ll need to travel is https://www.aphis.usda.gov

A health certificate has vital information including the coggins results to help make sure horses are carrying something nasty to their destination. Though, not 100% fail proof, it does help keep track of horses on the move. Many times, the certificate will be required by barns, shows or other events. A health certificate lasts for 30 days so you will need one each time you travel outside of that window and/or to a different end destination.

So….if planning to travel, be sure not to forget these documents. Results of a coggins usually take 2-4 business days. There is an overnight test, but it is more expensive and who needs the stress, right? So be sure to make an appointment for a blood draw and exam about a week to week and a half from your travel date….especially in the spring when the doctors are extremely busy.
When the doctor comes out, he’ll pull blood and ask for required information and in some cases will take 3 photos (mug shots) of your horse. Be prepared to give the following:

- Your name, address, phone and email
- If different from your home, the address when the horse is located
- Name, address and phone number of where the horse is going
- Hauler name, address and phone number if you are not hauling yourself
- Horse’s name, breed, gender and age
- THE DATE YOU WILL BE LEAVING – the paperwork cannot be completed without this bit of information.

Once completed, you will receive a hard copy of the health certificate and coggins results which MUST accompany your horse (s).

Happy Traveling!

All good things must come to an end...

As of May 20, Stacey and Loki will be moving on to other things. COVID put a hold on a couple of projects she had cooking with her production company, but now as life gradually returns to normal (?) she intends to focus on ZipperyZoo Productions and her work with CLEAR. She will be around to fill in here and there, but not full-time.

That said...if you know of anyone interested in taking on the challenge, have them send a resume to [email protected]. Applicants must be computer savvy, have good phone skills, be able to multi-task, be able to think on their feet and have good problem solving skills. A general knowledge of livestock and SCV is a bonus.

Just a quick FYI...the floodgates have opened and the doctors are slammed. So please plan accordingly. Routine appts are booking out 2 to 3 weeks so that there is time during the day for any emergencies that pop up. Also please keep in mind that coggins tests can take up to 4 days for results, so if you are planning to travel, please plan ahead.

A friendly reminder, especially if you are planning to move...
1 Microchip your pets
2 If your pets are already chipped, be sure to update your contact information.
It is super important and easily overlooked.
Have a great day!

Happy Tuesday everyone. Just a quick reminder...the large animal (aka ranch call/farm animal) side does not make appts via email. We get far too many messages from labs etc that we don't want an appt to get overlooked. Thanks!
Please feel free to call us :-)

To squelch any rumors out there...neither Dr Roueche or Dr Dyck have COVID. Both are just fine.

As someone who mans the phones and talks to numerous clients in a week, I feel I need to put some helpful advice out there. I love animals, all of them (well, maybe snakes not so much) and I am tempted to take in any critter that needs help, but one thing I have learned is to do my research. It hurts my heart to have to tell a client that a doctor is unavailable or doesn’t treat a particular type of animal. I know the panic and desperation one feels when their fur, feather or scale baby is sick. That said, I strongly urge folks to do a little digging before they take in an animal in which they have very little experience.

For example:

- Pigs are adorable however, there are not a lot of veterinarians that treat them. They also don’t stay as small as people think and their upkeep can be costly.

- Goats are equally adorable, but are not as hearty as they are rumored to be. They do get sick and as with pigs, not a lot of veterinarians treat them.

- Cattle may require special equipment (chutes come to mind).

- Chickens, which have become quite popular in recent years, actually require and veterinarian that specializes in birds in most cases (Avian).

- Reptiles also require a veterinarian with specialized training (Exotic).

- Breeding horses (esp artificial insemination) is not for the faint of heart…it can be very expensive and plenty can go wrong.

- Miniature Horses can colic just like their larger counterparts, but treatment can be more difficult.

Those are just a few examples.

That same research applies dog and cats. Some dogs and cats are predisposed to certain diseases, so knowing what to look for can be the difference between catching something early or heartbreak. Some breeds are gorgeous, but need a lot of patience and work. Some breeds are high energy, some have no energy at all. It is always best to know what you are getting into!

Lastly…location, location, location. As many are leaving the area, whether it be for a different address within California or in another part of the US, I strongly suggest researching veterinarians in the part of the country you plan to move. If you have farm animals, will a mobile vet come to the area you have chosen? If you have small animals, what are the veterinary clinics like and how close are they to your future home? Is there an emergency hospital nearby? Oh, and remember that if crossing state lines…you will need a health certificate and for horses and donkeys a coggins test (allow 4-5 days for results), goats may need scrapies. As every state has different requirements, a good resource for info is www.aphis.usda.gov.

Animals offer love, joy and are great teachers of responsibility, but as with anything worthwhile…it pays to do one’s homework.

Just like dogs and cats, senior horses (20yrs +) should get checked out a little more frequently to make sure they stay healthy and happy. With that in mind, we are suggesting a Senior Horse Exam before the weather turns cold and rainy.

This exam would include a general exam, checking teeth and routine bloodwork. In some cases, a test for cushings syndrome might be recommended.

We are encouraging ranches to have a Senior Day and get all your older boarders checked out. Give us a call to schedule...661.259.7745.

Congrats to our first two ranches to hold a microchip clinic!! Now don't forget to register those chips! We have you logged in our database, but it is very important that you register with the chip company!

With fires becoming a way of life, now more than ever, horse owners should think seriously about microchipping.

One of the ranches we service came up with a fantastic idea! A microchip clinic! Please give our office a call if your barn would like to do the same!

We've been getting a lot of calls re smoke and horses. First we want to send out our prayers to everyone touched by these devastating fires. Our hearts are breaking.

While Dr. Dyck normally writes our articles, he is super busy but recommended the following posted by UC Davis:

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/guidelines-horses-exposed-wildfire-smoke #:~:text=Assessing%20and%20Treating%20Smoke%20Inhalation%20in%20Horses%20During,veterinarians%20on%20treatment%20of%20smoke%20inhalation%20in%20horses.

Stay Safe Everyone.

Guidelines for Horses Exposed to Wildfire Smoke ***Paulick Report coverage of this story*** The severe fires throughout California over the past three months have exposed humans and animals to unhealthy air containing wildfire smoke and particulates. These particulates can build up in the respiratory system, causing a number of health problems in...

FYI...
Dr Roueche will be out 8/24 to 9/3
Dr Dyck will be out 8/28 to 9/2

For emergency calls today...8-10-20....please call 661.465.4064. Ou provider refuses to correct the issue....so our forwarding service will be changed hopefully tomorrow. Thanks ans PLEASE share!

We are working hard to fix the phone routing fiasco...if you are having trouble getting through to our main line AFTER HOURS, try calling 661.465.4064 and it should connect you directly to our service. I have tried it multiple times and it seems to work. Thank you for your patience.

In the ongoing phone saga - After another hour with Spectrum we have determined it is our answering service. Spectrum was quite helpful. We are trying to fix this situation as we are all fit to be tied! As of now, emergencies should go directly to the on-call Dr.

Phones seem to be working though it is taking multiple rings to pick up...so don't hang up...

After an hour on the phone with Spectrum this am...I think (she says with fingers crossed) that the service will work again. Send good mojo everyone!

Our phones are down again...blame Spectrum...we certainly are! If you have an emergency and cannot get through, please call Dr Robertson, Dr Sacher or Sweetwater. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Attn: Our after hours call forwarding is down...not sure if it was the fire or the phone company....trying to fix, but we may not be reachable this evening. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have an emergency and the call does not go thru...here are numbers for other vets in tbe area:

Dr Robertson 818.614.9565
Sweetwater 661.268.8128
Dr Sacher 661.575.5330

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Please be aware that we are booking out 2 to 3 weeks. We are doing our best to make sure everyone is seen, but if the appt is routine you will be scheduled out farther. We need to reserve time for emergency calls which are coming in at a rapid pace. Please plan ahead for routine visits...floats, vaccines etc. Thank you for your patience.

Ya'll probably know the drill by now, but for those who missed it....tomorrow 5/6, Stacey and Loki will be working from home because it is Affordable Vets' clinic day. We can do everything from home except sell medications. We will be back in the office 5/7. This will continue until the COVID situation changes. Stay safe and healthy everyone!!!!