6. Mar. 2017 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Senior Horses, Upcoming Events, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Horseman’s Day

The Annual Hunter Stallion Station Horseman’s Day will take place on Saturday, March 18th!

All horse owners and horse lovers are welcome to attend this free event that will feature presentations on Managing the Aging Horse and the Hoof and Body Relationship.

Be sure to RSVP so we can be sure to have enough of that delicious barbecue our guests enjoy. Click here to reply online, or call the HSS Clinic at (916) 687-6870.

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18. Jan. 2017 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Upcoming Events, Vet Tips / 0 comments

The Importance of Equine Performance Exams

By Dr. Kristen Philpott

Spring is just around the corner, and with the longer, sunny days come shedding coats and more riding opportunities.

To get ready for more activities, now is the prime time to have a Performance Exam done on your horses!!

These exams are great for horses of all athletic capabilities, not just show horses. Poor performance is an issue that may be holding you and your horse back from your utmost potential!

Come join us at Hunter Stallion Station on February 22nd at 6pm to hear a presentation on what you can expect from a Performance Exam and why you should schedule one for your horse!

Please RSVP online or give us a call at (916) 687-6870 so that we have enough snacks for all!

 

20. Dec. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Equine Emergency First-Aid Kit

Thank you to everyone who showed up and braved the cold for our equine emergency seminar!!

We had a great presentation, discussion and lots of great questions! We’ve had several requests to post the recommended items for an emergency kit. Below is a brief list that we recommend, and it’s always helpful to have a smaller version of this kit available to go out on trail rides or kept in your horse trailer for those emergencies that pop up while riding!

Stay safe this holiday season!!

 

 

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16. Nov. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Be Prepared for Equine Emergencies

Oh No! I have an emergency with my horse, what can I do??

As a horse owner, that sentence has likely crossed your mind a time or two. There are numerous occasions that can lead to an equine emergency, and are certainly stressful for you and your horse.  When you encounter a possible emergency situation, it is best to remain calm and contact your veterinarian for further advice. Remember that during these situations your horse can be stressed as well so make sure to keep yourself safe at all times.

Come join us at Hunter Stallion Station on December 7, 2016 at 6 pm for a short educational seminar on what the most common emergencies are and what you can do for your horse while you are waiting for your veterinarian to arrive.

equine-emergencies

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16. Nov. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Vet Tips / 0 comments

EHV-1 Alert

hm-outbreak-featureThere have been 7 recent cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy that have been confirmed in California. Four of the cases participated in a horse show in Las Vegas, NV on October 24-29, 2016.

EHV-1 can cause four manifestations of disease in horses, including neurological form, respiratory disease, abortion and neonatal death. 

It is important to learn the signs of this virus, and to take precautions to protect your horses.

Signs of EHV-1:  fever, nasal discharge, hind end weakness, diminished tail tone, lethargy, urine dribbling, head tilt, leaning against a fence or wall to maintain balance, and inability to rise.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), after infection, the incubation period may be as short as 24 hours, but is typically 4-6 days, and can be longer. EHV-1 typically causes a two-phase fever peaking on day 1 or 2 and again on day 6 or 7. With respiratory infections there is often serous or mucoid nasal and ocular discharge, but not a lot of coughing. There may be some persistent enlargement of lymph nodes under the jaw. With the neurologic form there are typically minimal respiratory signs, with fever (rectal temperature greater than 102 degrees F) being the only warning sign. Neurologic disease appears suddenly and is usually rapidly progressing, reaching its peak intensity within 24 to 48 hours from onset of neurologic signs.

Your horse has been exposed if it has been in close contact with a confirmed case of the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) within the last 14 days.

 

November 15, 2016 Update

There were no new clinical EHV-1 horses moved to quarantined isolation today at the LAEC (Los Angeles Equestrian Center). Currently, quarantined isolation is home to twelve (12) horses. To date, there have been seven confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus – 1 Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), one of which was euthanized due to the severity of the disease. The six neurologic cases and four confirmed EHV-1 positive horses continue to show improvement and remain in isolation. In addition, two febrile horses in isolation have twice tested negative and will continue to be monitored in isolation.

Enhanced biosecurity measures are in place in all barns under quarantine and all horses’ temperatures are monitored twice daily. CDFA veterinarians, livestock inspectors and USDA animal health technicians continue to monitor the quarantine and incident situation on-site and will provide additional updates as they become available.

Recommendations for Participants at Equine Events

CDFA reminds horse owners traveling with horses to participate in an equine event, that there is always disease risk when horses of unknown health status are commingled for a show or competition.  CDFA strongly recommends that horse owners practice proper biosecurity when attending an equine event.  Compliance with basic biosecurity practices is an important factor in reducing risk of exposure to all contagious equine diseases.  Basic biosecurity measures to decrease potential disease spread at equine events include:

  • Limit horse-to-horse contact.
  • Limit horse-to-human-to-horse contact.
  • Avoid use of communal water sources.
  • Avoid sharing of equipment unless thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses.
  • Monitor your horse for clinical signs of disease and report any temperature over 102°F to a veterinarian.

Don’t forget to vaccinate against this disease! All USEF shows require proof of vaccination against EHV in the last 6 months prior to any show. Give our office a call at (916) 687-6870 to schedule a vaccine appointment to make sure your horses are protected!

For more information, visit the following sites:

CDFA: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
AAEP: http://www.aaep.org/info/horse-health?publication=753

 

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24. Aug. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Keeping Your Horse Healthy

Why Does My Horse Need to See the Vet
Even When He Isn’t Sick??

While your horse may be healthy, it is important to have an annual wellness exam performed by your veterinarian. This exam allows us to evaluate not only your horse, but any concerns or questions you might have about caring for your horse.

We often combine this exam with a vaccine appointment, as we create a specialized vaccine plan for each horse. We also address parasite prevention, nutrition, dental care and any other concerns that might show up during the exam.

Seeing you and your horse yearly also establishes a Veterinary Client Patient relationship which allows us to treat and diagnose your horse, and make sure that we take the best care possible of your horse.

Come join us at Hunter Stallion Station on September 7, 2016 at 6pm for a short educational seminar on the importance of wellness exams and what preventative measures we can take to keep your horse happy and healthy! RSVP and learn more HERE.

SeptOct2016 Fecals Vaccine transNew Client Coupon

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22. Aug. 2016 / by /   Vet Tips / 0 comments

Equine Wellness Exams

 Keeping Your Horse Healthy

Hunter Stallion Station will host the second workshop in their Equine Health series on Wednesday, September 7th.  Click here to RSVP or call (916) 687-6870.

Este evento gratuito sera presentado en Español el dia 8 Septiembre por Marcela de Lira Gonzalez.

Be sure to take advantage of the New Client and Wellness Services coupons for September and October!

Here’s the details:

Wellness Exams Flyer

 

15. Jul. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Equine Ulcers: Should You Be Concerned?

By Dr. Kristen Philpott
Hunter Stallion Station


What is an ulcer?

Ulcers are an area of inflammation in the horse’s stomach lining, that can advance to an area of the stomach lining being eroded away.

IMG_2652There are four different grades of stomach lining when referring to ulcers:
Grade 0 – Healthy stomach lining with no ulcers
Grade 1 – Mild ulcers, smaller lesions that show damaged tissues
Grade 2 – Moderate ulcers, larger lesions
Grade 3 – Extensive lesions, some with deep ulceration and bleeding

What causes my horse to get ulcers?

There are many many risk factors for horses developing ulcers, these include (but are not limited to): competition, training, traveling, hospitalization, change in herd dynamics, unfamiliar environments, weaning, stall confinement, lay ups/rehabilitation, changes to/or an inconsistent feeding schedule.

Shouldn’t my horse’s stomach be protected against its own stomach acid?

A horse’s stomach has two different linings of it, the top portion is unprotected against stomach acid, and is where we commonly see ulcers forming. The bottom portion is protected against the stomach acid, however we can still see ulcers/lesions in this section due to increase in the production of stomach acid.

How do I know if my horse might have ulcers?

Horses can show a variety of signs, ranging from obvious to very subtle. They can often show signs of intermittent colic, have behavioral changes, become resistant to cinching up the saddle, show weight loss, have changes in the consistency of their manure, grind their teeth, or have poor performance. If you have a foal, be on the look-out for signs of intermittent colic especially right after nursing, diarrhea, excessive salivation, grinding teeth, or laying down more frequently than normal.

How do we confirm if my horse has ulcers?

The only way to know for sure is to perform a gastroscopy exam. This allows us to pass a camera through their nose down their esophagus and into their stomach. Once we are in the stomach, we can look around and see if there are ulcers on the stomach wall. We can also travel through the stomach into the first part of the small intestine to ensure that there are no lesions there.

Does the gastroscope exam hurt my horse?

They might feel some discomfort as the tube is initially passed, but once the tube is in the stomach they do not feel it.

We do sedate them with a short acting sedative to ensure that they are standing still.

Can my horse eat normally before the exam?

No, your horse will need to be fasted prior to the exam. Ideally, we have all food removed at 5pm the night prior to the exam, with no breakfast the morning of. We then perform the exam as one of our first appointments of the day so they just get a little delay in breakfast!

Okay, so my horse has ulcers, now what?

Treatment consists of Gastrogard (which is Omeprazole). This drug causes the acid secreting cells in the stomach to slow down production of stomach acid. Depending on the severity or location of ulcers, we might add in Sucralfate which helps to coat the stomach to and treats the ulcers in the glandular, or lower, part of the stomach.

We might also make feed changes such as: adding more hay to their diet, splitting up their grain meals, adding small amounts of alfalfa to their diet or adding a slow feeder hay net so that they can snack throughout the day.

Do I have to treat my horse for the rest of its life?

We recommend using a preventative dose of Omeprazole during times of stress to help prevent ulcers from reoccurring.

Continuing any diet changes that we might have made is also encouraged to help keep the ulcers from returning.

How do I schedule my horse’s gastroscope exam??

Give us a call at (916) 687-6870 to schedule your exam!

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9. Jun. 2016 / by /   General Equine Veterinary Topics, Upcoming Events, Vet Tips / 0 comments

Why Does My Horse Colic?

Hunter Stallion Station Equine Veterinary Clinic is hosting a seminar series on the important topic of Horse Colic.

Every horse owner knows they may have to experience their horse suffering from this challenging condition.

Be prepared with information in advance!

Click here to learn more and RSVP for the first in this seminar series that will take place on Wednesday evening, June 15th at Hunter Stallion Station Equine Veterinary Clinic.

Colic Seminar 1

 

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