Epona Equine Veterinary Services Ltd

01/28/2025

Congratulations to our very own Kayleigh McDonald on this huge accomplishment!! 🥳

I am so so so thankful & honoured to have been awarded the 2024 Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur award 🫶🏻✨

*warning - long sappy post ahead*

In January 2019, with only a few months of college left to go in my degree, I had a dream of owning my own business. One where I didn’t feel I had to stick inside a box, one where I could really help make a difference for other business owners & help bring their visions to life. I knew nothing about starting a business, but I knew I wanted to make it work. So I set out on the journey of entrepreneurship, to make my dream, like all of those of my clients, come true.

Fast forward to now, celebrating 6 years of Prismatic Creative Co this month, I am so excited & privilieged to look back at the last 6 years and see everything I’ve accomplished personally & see the successes of each and every one of my clients. While entrepreneurship is tough, and certainly not for the faint of heart, it’s the most rewarding journey.

I want to extend a huge thank you to the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce for hosting these awards each year that highlight the amazing businesses within our community. I want to thank Wedler Engineering LLP for their generosity for sponsoring this award & recognizing young entrepreneurs. A huge thank you to my friends & family who have continuously supported & cheered me on every step of the way, as well as the partnerships I’ve made with others within my industry that allow us to boost each other up. And last but certainly not least, thank you to each and every business owner who trusted me to help make their vision a reality ❤️ Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 💖

Cheers to 6 years of Prismatic Creative Co 🥂✨

01/24/2025

Congratulation to our RVT Jessica, the first among our staff to complete her AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants Online Certificate Academy course!

Each of our support staff members is enrolled in the AAEVT's Online Academy Program, granting them the designation of AAEVT Certified Equine Veterinary Technician or AAEVT Certified Equine Assistant. This program is designed to transform equine technicians and assistants into critical assets of the equine veterinary team.

We're excited to soon have a team full of certified equine technicians and assistants! 🎉 👏🏻 🐴

The AAEVT would like to congratulate our recent AAEVT Online Academy Graduates!!
Andrea Davey, Medicine Technician - B.W. Furlong & Associates, Oldwick, NJ
Jessica MacKay, BC, Canada
Clarisse Stradtman, Connecticut
Whitney Downs, Manhatten, MT
Sharleen MacDonald- Walkerton Equine Clinic, Ontario, CAN

If you are a Practice Manager, Technician and/or Equine Assistant you might consider honing your equine skills through the AAEVT Online Certificate Program. Check out the offerings here - https://aaevt.org/online-certificate-program/

01/10/2025

We are thrilled to again be a sponsor of the Spotlight Equine Vet Practice in Canada event being held this weekend in Cochrane AB! 🐴🩺

Did you know only 4.9% of veterinarians in private practice are equine veterinarians? This event helps support the future of the equine industry in Canada by encouraging young veterinary students and tech students to consider a career in equine medicine. We’re helping to be a part of the solution for the equine industry!

12/16/2024

The holidays are just around the corner! 🎄 While our team will be taking a holiday break, a veterinarian will be on call for all current client emergencies over the entire holiday season!

The last day to pick up prescriptions before our office is closed for our holiday break is Monday December 23rd. Please allow our staff 24 hours to prepare your prescription so be sure to order in advance THIS WEEK! 💊

During our holiday break, text messages, emails and Facebook messages will NOT be monitored. If you think your horse is experiencing an emergency, please CALL and LEAVE A MESSAGE ☎️ A veterinarian will return your phone call within 10 minutes. In case you don't have us on speed dial, our number is (250) 218-6610.

❄️✨ Holiday Hours ✨❄️
✩ December 16 - 20th: regular office hours
✩ December 23rd: last day of regular office hours & to pick up prescriptions
✩ December 24th through January 1st: OFFICE CLOSED, veterinarian available 24/7 for emergencies
✩ January 2nd: regular office hours resume

Our entire Epona Equine team is wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday Season & a 2025 full of happiness & health 🐴🌟🎄🎁

11/14/2024

Dr. Plaxton will be coming up Nov 18th and 19th and will have Prostride available for joint injections. Prostride is a great alternative to steroids, especially for metabolic horses that may be more at risk for laminitis with steroid injections. Please let us know if you would like to book an appointment.
250-218-6610
[email protected]

11/11/2024

Just a reminder we are closed today for Remembrance Day. Please call and leave a voicemail if you have an emergency. Lest we forget 🇨🇦

11/01/2024

We have just ONE in-person spot left for our Nutrition & PPID talk happening on November 30th! If you'd like to attend, please email us ASAP to get your name on the list! Open to the public 🐴

We currently have two ways you can attend our talk on November 30th: in-person & via Zoom. If you would like to have Zoom access to our event, please email us to get your name on the Zoom attendee list!

We will be taking a waitlist for the in-person session 🌟

📧 Email: [email protected] 📧

11/01/2024

Happy Halloween from all of us at Epona Equine 🎃

10/29/2024

Interested in learning more about navigating the equine breeding season? Sign up for the free webinar happening tomorrow through the American Association of Equine Practitioners!

Don't forget to sign up for this week's Horse Owner Education Webinar!

This Wednesday (Oct. 30), join AAEP member veterinarian and board-certified theriogenologist Dr. Dale Kelley for a one-hour webinar discussion that will cover the basics of reproductive biology of the horse, the logistics of breeding season, and what to expect when breeding your mare.

Registration is FREE but required. Attendees are also encouraged to submit their questions in advance through the registration form. A recording of the webinar will be available if you miss the live event.

Register here: https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CHkvKjmpTlGOiPMbwhEtBA #/registration

This informative session is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

10/22/2024

Now open to ALL! 🐴

We still have some space available for our upcoming PPID & Nutrition Talk with guest speaker, nutritionist Shelagh Niblock!

We'll have refreshments and light snacks + some amazing door prizes - it's an event you won't want to miss, especially if you're curious about learning more about equine nutrition as a whole as well as PPID and how to feed those horses with it.

🔔 Please RSVP no later than November 5th, 2024 to ensure you're able to attend this exciting event! RSVP via email to [email protected] 📧

📅 Date: Saturday November 30th, 2024
⏰ Time: 10am - 12:15pm
📍 Location: Crown Isle Silver Room, 399 Clubhouse Drive

Day Schedule:
⁕ 9:45am: Doors Open
⁕ 10am - 10:45am: Fundamentals of Equine Nutrition with Shelagh Niblock
⁕ 10:45am - Short Break
⁕ 11am - 11:30am: PPID & Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) with Dr. Annie Guillemaud and Dr. Elizabeth Riddett
⁕ 11:30am - 12:15pm: Feeding for PPID with Shelagh Niblock

10/18/2024

Have you ever heard us talk about EOTRH and wondered what it’s all about? We’re here to talk about it! 🦷🐴

Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis is a painful condition commonly seen in older horses. It typically affects incisors and canines but can also affect cheek teeth. Just like the name suggests, the enamel of the teeth is resorbed, and cavities develop. The tooth continues to resorb, and the teeth become unstable, often breaking and exposing very sensitive pulp cavities. In an effort to stabilize the brittle teeth, the cementum (a type of tooth material that lies under the enamel) grows, and the tooth becomes misshapen. The roots become round and bulbous, placing lots of pressure on the jaw bones. Although this condition in not cancerous, you can think of this like a space-occupying tumor. The gums around these teeth recede, exposing sensitive root tissue, and often there is an accumulation of tartar, and bacteria cause more resorption.

The cause of EOTRH is not well understood. We do know that horses with PPID (Equine Cushing's disease) are more severely affected. It is a progressive disease, meaning that the teeth get worse and worse over time. If EOTRH is noticed in a couple of teeth, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the incisors are affected.

These horses are painful. EOTRH is a chronic pain, which can change a horse's demeanor. Often, they will change their eating habits, preferring softer feeds and avoiding hard treats like carrots. The "carrot test" is an easy way to test for incisor pain at home. Offer your horse the chance to bite off a piece of a large carrot with their front teeth. If they don't do it, it's very likely their mouths hurt.

Because these teeth are painful, the best treatment is to remove them. We extract all the incisors. Usually this can be one in one long day; sometimes we need to split it into two appointments. A common concern is how these horses will manage to eat with their teeth removed - rest assured that these horses are able to eat grass and hay just fine, provided the grass isn't too short and hay isn’t in a small hole hay net. As they are healing from the extractions, they will need to have softer feed and have their mouths rinsed out twice a day. Once they are all healed, most horses eat more than before and act happier - although their tongues may stick out. Many owners comment how much happier their horses are after extraction.

If you suspect EOTRH in your horse, book a dental exam as soon as possible - your horse deserves it! 🦷

While not related directly to EOTRH, this upcoming free webinar is talking all about the importance of a complete oral exam. Sign up online here: https://shorturl.at/AD90C

10/16/2024

This week is National Veterinary Technician Week and I am so grateful for my incredible staff! Dr. Riddett and I couldn't do our job nearly as well without them!

Jessica is our Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT). To achieve this she had to go to an accredited Veterinary Technologist school and pass the National Veterinary Technician exam. She also has to maintain 15 hours of Continuing Education each year but with her keen desire for learning she has exceeded that. We are so fortunate to have Jessica's technical skills in our practice.

Kayleigh is our amazing assistant, website designer and social media expert. She came to us with many years of experience in the veterinary field and a degree in marketing so she has many skills that we value.

Brooke is our incredible receptionist/assistant. She keeps the practice running smoothly. She not only does all the office tasks but also doesn't hesitate to jump in the truck when we need extra help. I'm not sure what I would do without her.

All three of our employees are members of the AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants. They are working towards an online Certification through this organization and as part of that, they recently attended a radiology event in Kentucky. We can't wait to see what else they learn through this program.

Thank you to all of you. I am so grateful to have you as part of the team.
Annie

10/14/2024

At Epona we are grateful this Thanksgiving for all of our amazing clients!! Wishing you and your 2 and 4 legged family members a wonderful holiday weekend! We will be closed Monday October 13th except for emergencies. Please call and leave a message if you need us. 🐴🦃

10/11/2024

WOW! You all are so excited for this upcoming talk that we are already half full and it's only been 5 days! 🤩 🎉

If you're interested in joining us on November 30th for our free PPID & Nutrition Talk with guest speaker, nutritionist Shelagh Niblock, be sure to RSVP today!

We'll have refreshments and light snacks + some amazing door prizes - it's an event you won't want to miss, especially if you're curious about learning more about equine nutrition as a whole as well as PPID and how to feed those horses with it.

Spaces are limited & priority will be given to Epona Equine clients until October 20th, 2024. Non-clients are welcome to register after October 20th should space still be available. Light snacks & refreshments will be provided for all attendees!

🔔 Please RSVP no later than November 5th, 2024 to ensure you're able to attend this exciting event! RSVP via email to [email protected] 📧

📅 Date: Saturday November 30th, 2024
⏰ Time: 10am - 12:15pm
📍 Location: Crown Isle Silver Room, 399 Clubhouse Drive

Day Schedule:
⁕ 9:45am: Doors Open
⁕ 10am - 10:45am: Fundamentals of Equine Nutrition with Shelagh Niblock
⁕ 10:45am - Short Break
⁕ 11am - 11:30am: PPID & Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) with Dr. Annie Guillemaud and Dr. Elizabeth Riddett
⁕ 11:30am - 12:15pm: Feeding for PPID with Shelagh Niblock

10/07/2024

You're Invited! 🎉

Save the Date for our upcoming Equine Nutrition & PPID Seminar with guest speaker, nutritionist Shelagh Niblock!

Spaces are limited & priority will be given to Epona Equine clients until October 20th, 2024. Non-clients are welcome to register after October 20th should space still be available. Light snacks & refreshments will be provided for all attendees!

🔔 Please RSVP no later than November 5th, 2024 to ensure you're able to attend this exciting event! RSVP via email to [email protected] 📧

📅 Date: Saturday November 30th, 2024
⏰ Time: 10am - 12:15pm
📍 Location: Crown Isle Silver Room, 399 Clubhouse Drive

Day Schedule:
⁕ 9:45am: Doors Open
⁕ 10am - 10:45am: Fundamentals of Equine Nutrition with Shelagh Niblock
⁕ 10:45am - Short Break
⁕ 11am - 11:30am: PPID & Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) with Dr. Annie Guillemaud and Dr. Elizabeth Riddett
⁕ 11:30am - 12:15pm: Feeding for PPID with Shelagh Niblock

PS. We’ll have door prizes 🤩

10/05/2024

In case you missed it in our newsletter, Dr. Guillemaud will be on the North Island October 16-18th. If you haven't contacted us already and would like to be added to the list let us know!
250-218-6610
[email protected]

10/01/2024

In August, Kayleigh, Brooke & Jessica attended the AAEVT Imaging event at SpyCoast Farm in Lexington Kentucky, and recently they got to practice the skills they learned! Check out these action shots 🐴 🩺 🩻

09/30/2024

Just a reminder we are close today for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. If you have an emergency please call and leave a message and the vet on call will return your call.