Oak Ridges Equine Vet

01/11/2025

Has your horses' performance or behaviour changed suddenly or progressively over time?

There can be a number of reasons for behaviour changes on the ground or under saddle. A thorough exam by a veterinarian can be invaluable, and should include a thorough history about any lifestyle changes, dietary changes, dental history, and exam of the body to look for areas of abnormality.

This patient had been acting a bit different under saddle for a few weeks and happened to be due for a dental exam around the same time. On oral exam it was discovered that he fractured multiple incisors and a canine tooth!

Thanks to our friends at Northern Equine Veterinary Services, Dr. Ian Bishop and his team came in and expertly took care of this significant issue.
This guy is back to being himself!

Never ignore a change in behaviour. Horses tell us what we need to know!

12/24/2024

Wishing our clients, friends and patients a Merry Christmas and very Happy Holidays!

10/24/2024

One of our favourite ponies, and trainer. Spent the morning at Kildare Stables.

Our passion and expertise is helping show horses and beloved equine partners feel their best 💗🐎.

10/09/2024

As a part of Dr. Pope's practice, she loves sharing knowledge and teaching. She is a part of the teaching team at Canada's only Animal Chiropractic program - Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre. This program trains veterinarians and chiropractors to perform veterinary spinal manipulation therapy, otherwise known as animal chiropractic.

🌟Meet Dr. Hannah Pope, DVM – Our Featured VCLC Instructor! 🌟

We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Dr. Hannah Pope, a cherished new member of our VCLC Team! With a veterinary degree from Calgary and a strong background in mixed animal practice, Dr. Pope has honed her focus on sport horse performance and integrative equine care. 🐴🌟

Certified in animal chiropractic in 2022 (right here at VCLC!) and stepping into her role as an instructor in 2023, Dr. Pope brings a wealth of expertise to our program. As a proud Northumberland County native, she offers her specialized services in lameness, animal chiropractic and acupuncture through Oak Ridges Equine Vet, serving Northumberland County and the surrounding areas. 🌿

Dr. Pope's approach combines compassion, dedication, and a holistic perspective, making her an invaluable asset to our team. Her friendly demeanor and commitment to spreading kindness truly set her apart, and that's why we love having her with us! 💖

Join us in celebrating Dr. Pope’s incredible contributions and her dedication to advancing equine care. 🙌🐾

10/07/2024

It's a beautiful day to be on the road!
What does your office look like today?

09/15/2024

This is our office, and we love it!

🎉On September 1, 2024 we proudly celebrated 1 year of Oak Ridges Equine Vet!🎉

We want to thank all of our clients and friends for inviting us onto your horse's healthcare team. We also want to thank all the veterinarians, other equine chiropractors and farriers that we work with to keep horses happy and healthy. We couldn't do this without you!

Looking forward to another year of incredible patients, clients and challenging cases.

07/23/2024

Shockwave for treatment of Kissing Spines!

***Did you know that all shockwaves are NOT created equal?***

When choosing shockwave therapy for your horse, it is important to ask what type of machine the practitioner is using. There are two main types of shockwave therapy available out there. RADIAL✖️ and FOCUSED✔️.

So, what exactly is the difference between radial shockwave therapy and focused shockwave therapy?

✖️ Radial shockwaves, also known as soft shocks, can treat larger superficial areas. The pressure waves lose power the deeper they enter the body. This makes it a fair treatment option in humans or dogs/cats when the targeted tissue is superficial. But radial shockwave is NOT recommended by equine veterinarians as an effective treatment modality for horses. Especially for treatment of back, neck, sacroiliac regions in which deep pe*******on is required to reach the target tissue.

✔️ FOCUSED shockwaves, also known as hard shocks, pe*****te deeper into the tissue and target specific areas. This is the standard of care for equine sports medicine.

At Oak Ridges Equine Vet we offer FOCUSED extra corporeal shockwave treatment.

07/15/2024

It's a SHOCKWAVE!

We have added Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave to our services.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a non-invasive treatment used in horses to promote healing of injured soft tissue, bones, and joints. The shockwaves are waves of sound energy generated by a machine, and applied to the surface of the skin to target the underlying tissues.

What is Shockwave used for?
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Suspensory ligament injuries
- Check ligament injuries
- Arthritis in any joint
- Stress fractures
- Splint bone fractures
- Navicular disease
- SI pain
- Shin splints

We are excited to bring this treatment modality to Northumberland County, Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Durham Region and surrounding areas!

* There are differences in quality and type of shockwaves in the industry. When considering shockwave services, ensure a veterinarian operated f
Focused shockwave is used for best results *

07/15/2024

A few weeks ago we announced we were adding an exciting new service for our clients!
Any guesses on what it might be?
This is the mystery box...

The answer will be revealed later today after we treat our first patient!

06/27/2024

Let's talk Muscle Health!

In the midst of show season and increased time in the saddle this time of year, whatever the discipline, it's a good time to think about how to support our equine partners' muscles.

Diet is key.

Important dietary components for supporting muscle are:
1) Healthy fats that contain Omega 3 which promote anti inflammatory effects. Fats can be used preferentially by muscles as a source of energy.
2) Anti oxidants such as Vitamin E and Selenium.
The best way to provide these important nutrients for your horse is in the form of a high quality supplement combination or individual supplements.
One of our favourite supplement brands is Platinum Performance - Healthy Weight flaxseed oil, Vitamin E and Selenium Yeast products.

Externally, we can support muscle development and comfort with:
1) Exercises and core strengthening rehabilitation
2) Proper saddle fit
3) Treating back or neck pain conditions
4) Treating joint pain conditions

Some treatment modalities for supporting muscle pain depending on cause and location are:
*Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT)
*Acupuncture
*Mesotherapy
*Shockwave
*Massage, and more!

Give us a call if your horse is experiencing muscle pain or you have noted abnormal muscle patterning such as loss of topline.

We are here to help!

06/17/2024

Stay tuned for an EXCITING announcement on a new piece of equipment we are adding to our practice. Coming soon!

05/19/2024

On site at the OCTRA Memorial ride this weekend judging and acting as treatment vet. Competitive trail riding is a great sport with excellent athletes, both human and horse!
Happy to be a part of this local event.

05/13/2024

You may see a new face with us this week! Peyton is a pre-vet student who is spending time with us from the University of Guelph. She nailed her first blood draw (on a horse), and is getting exposure to equine medicine in preparation for her application to vet school.
We love teaching and fueling enthusiasm in future veterinarians!
Thanks for joining us Peyton.

05/06/2024

Treating one of our cutest patients with ProStride today!

This time of year we are getting patients ready to feel comfortable and athletic for whatever job they love to do.

Give us a call to find out more about ProStride. We are thrilled to offer a natural, safer and effective option for joint injections and to have the ability to treat right at home on the farm.



Thanks to our client for capturing this beautiful, sunny moment! Thank you to ALL our clients for trusting us with the Sports Medicine needs for your equine partners. We LOVE what we do.

04/29/2024

We have a new diagnostic tool at Oak Ridges Equine Vet!

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is an on-farm blood test that can aid Dr. Pope in determining if a problem is infectious in nature. Results are available in 8 minutes! Serum Amyloid A is a protein made by the liver that elevates in high numbers in rapid response to high levels of inflammation in the body. Within 24 hours of a bacterial infection, this protein is at elevated levels in the bloodstream.

In a Sports Medicine context this tool is excellent for many purposes. For example, distinguishing between a cough that is caused by equine asthma (which is often a cause of poor performance), and infectious causes of cough such as bacterial or viral pneumonia.

In a recent case a horse with swelling and heat in the pastern region with a complex history of chronic lameness issues tested with high levels of SAA. Combined with history and physical exam findings a diagnosis of cellulitis was reached and the horse was promptly treated with antibiotics.

Having the tools to diagnose and treat horses appropriately is what makes this job so rewarding!

04/29/2024

Neck stretches are great for improving mobility and flexibility, as well as core strengthening.

DAY 2 of our stretches focus is:
Lower Cervical Flexion.

04/16/2024

We are so excited for Spring here at Oak Ridges Equine Vet!

This time of year horses are getting ready for show season and with increased exercise often comes manifestation of pain.

One common sign that I notice on clinical exams of lame horses or horses with poor performance or behavioural issues, is back pain.
Back pain can be a primary problem (Kissing Spines, Arthritis of the articular facet joints along the spinal column) or a secondary problem (pain in the back as a result of lameness in one or both of the hind limbs).

In horses with back pain, despite treatment avenues pursued, proper training/exercise and rehabilitation as well as excellent saddle fit by a professional are imperative.

All of our clients have access to the Oak Ridges Equine Vet instruction manual for passive stretching and core strengthening exercises as well as custom rehabilitation plans. We are going to release some quick guides for conditioning your horses so they are the most comfortable and athletic for the upcoming season!

DAY 1:
Core Strengthening Exercise: Sternal, Withers & Thoracic
Hold this position at each location for 3-5 seconds and repeat 3-5 times.
Repeat 4-5x weekly!



Thanks to the wonderful Dr. Sarah Campbell, DC (human and equine chiropractor) and her horse for being our models!

03/19/2024

Electroacupuncture (EAP)!
A very effective means of treating back pain by sending a small electrical current through the bladder meridian between 2 Acupuncture needles. Here, we are supporting lung, liver and kidney organ systems with 6 paired needles on the back.
This therapy works by blocking bioactive pain chemicals in the body, decreasing inflammation and activating nerve fibres.

One of my favourite patients (I have so many favourites!) received his first EAP treatment today. He has been exposed to dry needles several times and today was ready for extra stimulation.

EAP is not appropriate in all Acupuncture cases. Some horses are MUCH too sensitive for the electrical stimulation initially. The goal is gentle, effective acupuncture and less is more with our equine partners!