Horizon Equine Veterinary Services

Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. A day to honor and cherish the memory of beloved horses who have touched our lives. If you have any special memories or stories you'd like to share about those special horses, I'm here to listen.

"While time will fade these hoofprints, while the ones left on my heart will never disappear." - Shannon Fleury.

Today is World Mosquito Day. Mosquitoes are great vectors for transmitting several equine diseases including the West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Western Equine Encephalitis. Make sure your horses are protected by getting them vaccinated.

Are you familiar with blister beetles? If you plan to purchase or feed 3rd and 4th cutting alfalfa it's good to keep an eye out for this toxic insect which has been making more of an appearance in Iowa fields this year than usual.
Check out the ISU Extension site for more info:
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/ashley-dean-erin-hodgson-meaghan-anderson/watch-alfalfa-blister-beetles #:~:text=Blister%20beetles%20are%20an%20occasional,when%20accidentally%20consumed%20in%20feed.

Did you know we recently celebrated 5 years in business?! Thank you all for sharing your horses with me and for all the referrals. Time flies when you're having fun! 😊

Don’t forget small horses need dental care too! 😊 Miniature horses and donkeys can be more difficult to do dentals on on due to their smaller mouths but they often need it the most due to high frequency of dental abnormalities.

We have been treating a number of ponies and miniature breeds recently, so thought we would share an interesting case each week in August
Did you know that because of the size of their heads and comparatively large size of their teeth, ponies and miniature breeds are prone to a number of dental conditions, such as overcrowding and tooth root infections?
Check out this skull from a young miniature pony with some of the outer bone removed, showing the size of the teeth compared to the size of the head.

I’d like to introduce my new veterinary assistant, Tucker Randall! Tucker is originally from Nebraska and will be starting his 3rd year of veterinary school at Iowa State this fall. He has an interest in equine and mixed animal practice. It’s been great having his help this summer! Fun fact, Tucker got to meet the great American Pharoah (pictured here). 🙂

https://thehorse.com/1120766/colic-referral-the-tragedy-of-the-waiting-game/?fbclid=IwAR0-uwUSlCVDq5O9RWqQg6wHlXUO60fD0_QMEoPa5ZMM-Nw5fPhrrx_E-FI
Every horse owner dreads going out to the barn and finding their horse colicking. This could include signs like laying down, rolling, not wanting to eat, or just acting "off". Having a plan in case of this common equine emergency can help your vet make the best recommendation for your horse and also help you by not having to try and scramble for options when you're distressed about your sick horse. This includes having a plan to be able to transport your horse to a referral hospital if needed. Having an emergency vet fund for your animals can be helpful or consider something like insuring your horse or using a program like "ColiCare" from Smartpak.

Colic Referral: The Tragedy of the Waiting Game – The Horse Timely decision-making could be the life-saving factor for colicking horses.

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

Are your horse's teeth looking a little scary?? 😉 Fall is a great time to get your horse's yearly dental exam and float performed before these cold temps are here to stay.

It's West Nile Virus season with several reports of equine WNV cases in our neighboring states. If your horse hasn't had their WNV vaccine yet this year its not too late to get on board. 🦟💉

equinediseasecc.o

One frustrating thing as a veterinarian is trying to reverse the thought that “he’s not sore/lame that’s just how he’s always moved”. Finding the source of pain can often be challenging and time consuming because there are so many variables and the only clues a horse can give us is their behavior and movement. Every day in “practice” I’m striving to listen to the horse and learn more skills to help the horse. Dr. Dyson’s work continues to inspire many.

The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain: Shifting the Paradigm of How We See Lameness The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain is a film that dares to challenge the way we look at "badly behaving" horses, and promotes the notion that lamen...

Love this post by Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic. They have one smart clinic cat! 😉

5 Preventable Reasons for Unplanned Vet Visits - Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic Tuesdays with Tony - This week, Tony goes over some of the most common causes of horse emergencies that could be prevented.

What a race! 😁

Rich Strike wins the 148th Kentucky Derby!

Although photos and videos can't replace an examination, they can be helpful as a veterinarian to get a better idea of what the problem is, how soon it needs to be seen, and what we need to bring to the call to treat the problem.

5 Tips for Taking Photos to Send to Your Equine Veterinarian – The Horse Are you preparing to send your veterinarian a photo of your horse’s most recent injury? Consider these tips first.

Stay warm out there! 🥶

Hope everyone is safe and well after the storm last night!

😅👻

TWO DAYS TO GO!

To celebrate the animals we love so much, Equine Network is launching "Horse Week," brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim. Starting Sunday, Oct. 3 and through Saturday, Oct. 9, riders and horse lovers of every level and discipline will be able to stream educational and inspiring content from any smart device by tuning into www.horseweek.tv.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR HORSE? The ARL’s Second Chance Ranch is now offering one-time veterinary assistance to horse owners who are dealing with temporary financial hardships but who want to keep their horse. This program was made possible through a generous grant from the ASPCA and is available as funding allows. To apply, just fill out our Equine Help Request Form at https://bit.ly/3hUn3Lm.

Need hay assistance? We may be able to help with that, too. Please contact our Second Chance Ranch team at [email protected] or (515) 473-9112.

Fall will be here before we know it. Good tips for choosing hay to stock up on.

Selecting Hay for Your Horse: Fact vs. Fiction – The Horse Here are a few common myths about horse hay, how these myths came to be accepted and, finally, the truth.

Horses are amazing athletes!

I mean, my horse definitely would have spooked at that! 😅 Did anyone watch any of the equestrian Olympic events? Congrats to team USA bringing home the silver in dressage and show jumping! 🥈🥈

Sumo statue removed from Olympic course over concerns it spooked the horses - National | Globalnews.ca The wrestler’s wedgied backside was the first thing in sight for horse and human as they came around a turn.

Do you know the signs of "Equine Cushing's" or PPID? If you notice any of these symptoms its time to schedule a time to get your horse tested.

PPID: An Endocrine Disease – The Horse Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or equine Cushing's disease) is caused by an enlargement of the pituitary gland's middle lobe which results in an overproduction of hormones that regulate bodily functions.

"Tail traction" is commonly used as part of your horse's chiropractic adjustment. Cool to see more research supporting the principles of chiropractic. Please don't try by yourself at home though! I like to make sure and adjust the spinal column first. Also the angle and degree of force used is important and should be done by someone properly trained.

Study: Tail Stretching Could Reduce Back Pain by More Than 80% – The Horse Scientists found that a professional’s light, steady, straight pull at a slightly downward angle relieved pain at several sites along the equine spine.

I've been checking a lot of microchips due to working a horse show last weekend. Microchips aren't just for show horses though. They can be a useful form of official identification for any horse. Inexpensive and quick and easy to implant too. 👍

Microchipping Your Horse – The Horse Register and track your horse with this important identification tool.

Is your horse's Coggin's current for any interstate travel you might be doing for summer shows and trail riding?