Green Mobile Veterinary Services

01/05/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/04/2025

UPDATE*UPDATE: We have reached capacity for this session! Please contact the clinic via text message to be added to our Wait List.

UPDATE: This session is filling up quickly! A confirmation will be sent to those attending via email/text message in the next week.

To Our Bovine Clients:
We are excited to invite you to an upcoming talk (refreshments served!) hosted by our very own Dr Green about cattle health and wellness. This informative session will cover a range of crucial topics, including calving, neonatal/calf scours, and overall health tips for your calves.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, February 1st

Time: 1 - 3 pm

Location: PG Golf and Curling Club 2601 Recplace Drive, PG

Dr Green will share valuable insights and practical advice to help you ensure the health and well-being of your calves. Whether you're a seasoned cattle owner or new to the field, there's always something new to learn!

Topics to be covered:

Best practices for successful calving

Identifying and managing neonatal/calf scours

Essential health tips for raising strong and healthy calves

Latest techniques for calving and neonatal resuscitation

Don't miss this opportunity to gain expert knowledge and have your questions answered by Dr Green and meet Dr Whitehead! We look forward to seeing you there and supporting you in providing the best care for your herd.

Please RSVP by Monday, January 20th to confirm your attendance. You can reply to this post or give us a call or send a text message to 250-640-3784.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We can't wait to share this valuable experience with you!

01/01/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from Green Mobile Vet! 🎉

As we welcome 2025, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our clients and their beloved pets/animals for trusting us with their care. It’s been a privilege to be part of your pet/animal’s health journey this past year.

Here’s to a new year filled with happy, healthy critters. 🐾💚🧲

Thank you for letting us be part of your family’s story. We look forward to continuing to serve you and your furry friends in 2025!

Cheers to a pawsome new year! 🥂🐶🐱🐴🐄🐐🐑🐖🐓🐩🦙
~

12/31/2024

Although protein is normally listed as a nutrient, horses actually have a requirement for amino acids, the building blocks of protein, rather than for protein itself.

Protein is the least efficient energy source for your horse, so high protein does not automatically equal high energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and fiber are more readily digestible energy sources, so chances are a horse with too much energy is being fed more calories than the animal truly needs.

As always, remember that all horses have different nutritional needs based on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine the correct protein and energy requirements for your equine friend based on your horse’s individual situation!
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/22/2024

Water is a vital resource for horses year-round, but its importance becomes even greater during the winter months. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for horses to support digestion, overall health, and especially for preventing colic, a potentially life-threatening condition.

In winter, horses may drink less water due to cold temperatures, or water sources might freeze, limiting access. Reduced water intake increases the risk of impaction colic, a condition that occurs when food material becomes lodged in the horse’s digestive tract. This is exacerbated by the dry, fibrous nature of winter forage like hay, which contains less moisture compared to fresh pasture grass. Without sufficient water, the digestive system slows and cannot properly break down this material, potentially leading to blockages.

Encouraging adequate water consumption is critical. Horses should normally drink 5-12 gallons of water daily, and ensuring the water is warm enough—between 45-65°F—can help encourage drinking. Studies show that horses are more likely to consume warm water during cold weather. Using heated water buckets or tank deicers can prevent freezing and make water more appealing.

Fun Fact: Research shows that horses drink almost 40% more water per day if given warm water (45-65 °F) instead of near-freezing water. (Kristula and McDonnell, 1994)

Electrolytes or salt supplements can also stimulate thirst, prompting horses to drink more. Offering soaked hay or adding water to feed can provide additional hydration. However, soaking hay or feed isn’t recommended in environments where these items would freeze solid before being consumed by the horse.

Preventing dehydration in winter is a proactive measure to safeguard against colic. Regularly monitoring water intake and ensuring clean, accessible, and palatable water is essential. By addressing these needs, horse owners can help maintain their horses’ health and comfort throughout the colder months.

If you have questions or concerns about your horses' winter water intake, contact your veterinarian.

12/20/2024

This holiday season, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the thoughtful treats and gifts you've shared with us. Your generosity and kindness truly warm our hearts. We are incredibly fortunate to have such fantastic clients who make our work not only rewarding but also so enjoyable.

Your continued support and trust mean the world to us. We look forward to serving you in the coming year.

From all of us here at GMVS, we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments.

Thank you once again for making this season so special! PS: THIS PIC DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE TREATS WE'VE CONSUMED...😁

12/17/2024

As the cold winter weather trudges on, Dr. Sarah Reuss, AAEP Vice President and a horse owner herself, shares the following advice to keep your horse safe during extreme weather.

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source, just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being in a stall, now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure they have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well-fitting blankets are great but be sure that horses do not get sweaty under them, or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold and covered is worse that dry, cold and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!!!) to double check.

7. Entice your horses to consume extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. The tips of your horses' ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting on a waterproof, jumper-style ear bonnet or other waterproof ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your horses safe this winter, contact your veterinarian for advice.

12/10/2024

UPDATE (12/20/2024)
We are currently experiencing an outbreak of Equine Influenza, Equine Herpes Virus Type 2 + 5, Equine Adenovirus, which has led to several cases of Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia caused by Strep Zooepidmicus in affected horses. Equine influenza and these others viruses are highly contagious respiratory viruses that can spread rapidly among horses, especially in environments where they are in close contact.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Persistent coughing

Nasal discharge

Fever

Lethargy

Loss of appetite

Visit our website for more information!
https://greenmobileveterinary.ca/what-about

*GMVS offers in-clinic, same day testing for Strangles and Herpes Virus*

12/09/2024

International Day of Veterinary Medicine shines a light on the important role veterinarians play, not only in animal health, but also in human health and welfare​​​​​​​​​​.
Veterinarians do more than just take care of our pets; they’re involved in groundbreaking medical research that benefits both animals and humans, work tirelessly to improve animal welfare, ensure that our food sources are safe and are key players in managing public health concerns.
Their expertise spans a wide range of areas, from shelter medicine and parasitology to complex fields like epidemiology and zoonotic diseases.
Let's take a moment to thank our incredible veterinarians and veterinary teams who dedicate their lives to ensuring the health and well-being of animals in our region.

12/06/2024

12/01/2024

🎄 Christmas Shenanigans Alert! 🎄

Our GMVS team knows how to have a blast! We traded in our stethoscopes and scrubs for ugly sweaters and hot cocoa last night for some much-needed holiday fun. 🎅✨ From great Secret Santa gifts to epic dance moves, we celebrated the season with laughter and cheer.

Here's a sneak peek of our festive adventures:

Secret Santa Surprises: The most thoughtful gifts exchanged.

DR vs DR vs DR Showdown: Who knew veterinarians had such competitive spirits?

Carol Karaoke: Our rendition of "caroling" might not win any awards, but it sure was fun.

Check out the photos of our merry mischief! 📸🎉

Happy holidays from our GMVS family to yours! ❄️🎁

11/28/2024

Good golly, this woman has super human strength!! April taking care of business right now💪💪

11/19/2024

We love a good series as much as the next person—especially one as dramatic as Yellowstone! But let’s set the record straight about one scene that made us yell “NEIGH-way!” at the screen.

In a recent episode, a horse was given an injection of Banamine (a common anti-inflammatory drug) *in the muscle*. While it might look cool and cowboy-chic on TV, here’s the deal: 🆃🅷🅸🆂 🅸🆂 🅳🅰🅽🅶🅴🆁🅾🆄🆂🅻🆈 🅸🅽🅲🅾🆁🆁🅴🅲🆃 in real life and could land your horse in serious trouble.
What’s the Problem?
Banamine (flunixin meglumine) is a fantastic drug for reducing pain and helping colics *when used correctly*. But when injected into muscle, it can cause clostridial myositis—a rare but life-threatening infection that produces gas in the muscle tissue. This can happen fast, turning what seemed like a harmless injection into a serious emergency.
The TV Drama vs. Real-Life Care
We get it. TV needs action, and waiting for a vet to explain safe medication practices isn’t exactly prime-time material. But in the real world, Banamine should be given orally or as an intravenous (IV) injection—and the IV option is best left to a trained professional (like your friendly neighborhood veterinarian 👋).
The Takeaway
Hollywood may make ranch life look glamorous, but don’t take veterinary advice from fictional cowboys. Always consult your vet before giving any medication, and remember: the health of your animals isn’t worth risking for a shortcut that’s TV-only accurate.
💡 Got questions about horse care? Drop us a message, and we’ll gallop to your rescue (without the TV drama)! 🐎✨

11/11/2024

This , we honor not only the brave men and women who served but also the loyal animals who stood by them with courage and unwavering dedication. Horses, donkeys, mules, dogs, pigeons, and even cats served alongside soldiers, carrying messages, transporting supplies, detecting danger, and offering companionship in the most difficult times. Their bravery and loyalty remind us of the countless sacrifices made in the name of peace and freedom. Today, we remember them all. 🐾❤️

Lest we forget.