Westwinds Mobile Veterinary Services

22/01/2025

Caslicks? Yay or Nay?

We’ve had a few social media questions regarding Caslicks (Vulvoplasty) and we wanted to break them down a bit more for our mare owners!

Who?

Caslicks are common in many parts of the world particularly in performance mares and broodmares.

Why?

Mare’s have 3 barriers to protect the uterus from environmental infection - the v***al lips being the first one. Depending on the angle of the v***a some mares can be at risk for f***l contamination/infection. They are also used to treat v***ar trauma, pneumovagina, vaginitis, infertility, fetal infection and the aspiration of air and f***s.

What?

During a Caslick’s procedure the v***al lips are sutured closed 🪡 It is typically performed in a stock with local anesthetic 💉

✨ An important note to remember casicks MUST opened before foaling and be sure when you sell a horse that has had a Caslicks done that you disclose that to the new owners. ✨

Where?

We perform Caslicks at Westwinds! Reach out to us today and let’s discuss your mare!

📞 250-617-3210
💻 https://westwindsmvs.usw2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login

21/01/2025

🐾 Please SHARE 🐾

Would you like to join our Westwinds Team?!

We are hiring a Registered Veterinarian Technician!! 🐴 🐶 🐱 🐮 🐷🐔🐭

Are you a compassionate, dedicated RVT with a passion for animals and a desire to make a real difference?! Our growing mixed animal practice offers both onsite and mobile services, providing a dynamic, unique and rewarding environment for veterinary professionals like you!

➡️ Why Work With Us? ⬅️

Diverse Caseload 🐎🐕🐈‍⬛ 🐖🦙🦃
From small animals to large farm animals, every day is different!

Flexible Work Options 🏥🛻
Enjoy both clinic and mobile work, allowing you to expand your skills in various settings.

Supportive Team 👩🏼‍⚕️👨🏽‍⚕️🧑🏻‍⚕️Work alongside experienced veterinarians and staff who value collaboration and continued learning.

Competitive Compensation 💵💰
We offer a competitive salary, benefits package, and opportunities for career advancement.

Qualifications:
〰️ Must be a licensed RVT in good standing.
Previous experience in a veterinary clinic or mobile setting preferred, but not required.

〰️ Excellent communication and organizational skills.

〰️ Compassionate, patient, and able to work well in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:
〰️ Assist with exams, diagnostics, and procedures for a variety of animals.

〰️Perform lab work, administer treatments, and monitor anesthesia.

〰️Provide client education and build lasting relationships with pet owners and farmers alike.

〰️Travel to mobile appointments when needed.

If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career where you can truly make a difference, we’d love to meet you!

Apply Now:

Send your resume to ⬇️
💻 [email protected] or call
📞 250-617-3210 for more details.

19/01/2025

Say CHEESE!

February is DENTAL MONTH in our small animal clinic!!! 🦷

For the entire month save 15% on all dental services for both cats and dogs! 🐱🐶

Click below to book 💻

https://westwindsmvs.usw2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login

Or call us at 250-617-3210 📞

16/01/2025

Horse clients!! 🐴

Some important dates coming up! We will be in Vanderhoof January 31, at Rocky Hill Ranch February 7th and doing a full lameness day with Dr. Forster at Crossroads on February 21!

You can book online at 💻

https://westwindsmvs.usw2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login

Or call us 📞

250 - 617 - 3210

16/01/2025

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (A FOAL) 🐴

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated — however, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of the foal:

• Consult with your veterinarian well in advance of the birth. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours and ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available.

• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.

• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

• Time each stage of labor, to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines, and you should contact your veterinarian for more information specific to your situation. Good luck!

15/01/2025

The PG Humane Society has their “Tails of Triumph” celebratory party tomorrow!! 🐾

“Following a month long initiative dedicated to providing second chances at life for vulnerable animals in the Prince George region; this day will see 50 local difference-makers stop by the 1st Avenue location at various times throughout the day, all striving towards the collective goal of raising $40,000 to help them rescue even more animals!”

Our goal is to raise $1500.00 - if would like to make a donation or for more details please visit ⤵️⤵️

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/prince-george-humane-society/p2p/Tails-Of-Triumph/team/westwinds-veterinary?



🤍🐾🐶

09/01/2025

Long post warning! 📝📝

Do you know what the Calcium Phosphorus ratio of your hay is? Your supplements? Your pasture? 🌾

Ca:P is one of the most important nutrition components in the equine diet - especially for broodmares and growing horses.

According to Oklahoma State University a ratio of 2:1 is ideal for young horses with mature horses being able to tolerate up to a 6:1 ratio.

Diets that contain higher Phosphorus should always be avoided - or it will inhibit Calcium absorption - but Phosphorus is still an essential mineral and crucial to growth, skeletal health, energy transfer and cell health.

Diets with excess Calcium are usually tolerated well so long as the Phosphorus is balanced. Calcium is a major structural mineral aiding in muscle function, blood clotting and enzyme activity.

If you do not have your minerals balanced it can lead to issues like nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (bone disease caused by too much P and not enough Ca. Calcium is removed from the bone, which can result in brittle, weak bones. Often manifests in shifting lameness in early stages (Oklahoma State)

Balancing these two minerals is also crucial for broodmare health. Mares fed an inadequate amount of Ca actually experience a decrease in bone density, as calcium is removed from bone to supply adequate minerals for the foal through milk (Oklahoma State) and it is thought to be linked to congenital abnormalities like OCD lesions and ALD.

So where do you go from here? If you have young horses (or mature horses) we definitely recommend testing your hay and getting a detailed nutrition panel done. You can drop hay samples off at the clinic and we can help you get the ball rolling for healthy horses ! And stay tuned as we shed some light on more crucial minerals - zinc and copper are next!

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/minerals-for-horses-calcium-and-phosphorus.html

07/01/2025

Some good info on equine vision! 👀

Is your horse’s nighttime vision better than your daytime vision?

When comparing equine vision to human vision, the horse has a smaller visible spectrum (see image) which means they see a smaller range of colors than we do. However, horses have a structure in the back of their eye—called the tapetum lucidum—that humans do not have. This enhances vision in low light conditions and allows a horse to see better in the dark than a human does. However, reflections from the tapetum lucidum can also blur images and lead to poor depth perception at night.

Dilation of the pupil allows all species to see better in the dark. This process takes longer in a horse (45 minutes) than it does in humans (25 minutes). So, when a horse is asked to do something in a dark environment, it’s important to allow their vision proper time to fully accommodate.

Overall, the nighttime vision of a horse is better than the nighttime vision of a human. However, the horse’s nighttime vision is NOT better than the daytime vision of a human. Anytime you are asking your horse to function in a dim light situation, give them time to adjust. And if they are fearful, be patient and try to understand how things look from their perspective!
•
Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

04/01/2025

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.
•
Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

03/01/2025

The Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine has an excellent article on Navicular Syndrome. We’ve attached it below and wanted to summarize it for our clients! 🐴

“Navicular” goes by three names. Navicular Syndrome, Navicular Disease and Caudal Heel Pain. Because of the complexities and variables of the ailment, “Navicular Syndrome” is the most accurate term.

The Navicular apparatus is made up of 5️⃣ structures:

〰️ The navicular bone
〰️ The deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) that glides down the back of the leg, over the navicular bone and then attaches to the coffin bone, or P3
〰️ The navicular bursa, that acts as a cushion in between the navicular bone and the DDFT
〰️ The collateral sesamoidean ligament (CSL), that attaches the navicular bone to the short pastern bone, or P2
〰️ The collateral sesamoidean impar ligament (CSIL), that attaches the navicular bone to the coffin bone, or P3

The ONLY structure above that can be seen on radiographs is the navicular bone. The other 4 require ultrasound or MRI as they are soft tissue. And the hoof capsule prevents ultrasound within the hoof.

MRI is the “gold standard” for diagnosing navicular issues and the article gives examples of a good research study that looked at MRI navicular diagnostics for horses without any radiographic abnormalities 🐴

There are many different treatment paths for navicular issues but a few of them include coffin joint/bursa injections, long term anti-inflammatory pain medication, Osphos and corrective shoeing. Every horse needs to be treated on an individual basis and there is no one size fits all for NS - it often requires a collaborative effort between yourself, your veterinarian and your farrier.

Paton and Martin (8.5 hours) and Moore & Company (8.75 hours) are the two closest MRI’s to Westwinds. If you are struggling to get control of NS with your performance horse feel free to reach out to us and we can help you build a plan!

https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2020/09/11/navicular-syndrome/

01/01/2025

Calving is a rewarding time of year, but when an emergency hits, beef cattle producers must act fast. 🚨 Find our Calf 911 checklists and videos so you know:
✅ when to intervene
✅ how to resuscitate a newborn calf
✅ when and how to administer colostrum
✅ how to recognize and treat dehydration
✅ what records are important to keep

CLICK HERE FOR ALL RESOURCES: https://www.beefresearch.ca/calf911

01/01/2025

2024 we’ve got no regrets - 2025 we have a lot of expectations!

Wow 2024 was one for the books! We opened up our brand new Small Animal Clinic, built the cattle haul in area and did some major upgrades in our barn. We now have new flooring in the equine exam/surgery room, new stalls and an equine isolation unit - it has a negative air system and is air lock sealed to the barn!

In 2024 we built on our relationships with veterinarians across Western Canada and we’ve already got some cool collabs set up for 2025!

Through every year one thing stays the same - we have the absolute best clients and we are so grateful you choose us to help you care for your animals. We are with you every step of the way - we celebrate your wins, cheer on your successes and mourn alongside you when things take a turn.

Thank you for trusting us, letting us be a small part of your journey and for being the largest part of ours! You are the best!

From your team at Westwinds, thank you and Happy New Year 🥂

PS: Horse friends - we’ve got a new equine therapy tool coming your way 😉

30/12/2024

Let’s talk nutrition! 🐴

Did you know that Westwinds offers hay testing?? We can even do blood tests to capture a moment in time of the vitamin/mineral levels your horse has in their system and give you a combined mineral panel from IDEXX Reference Labs .

In the Prince George area we often identify deficiencies in Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc and Copper and there’s things you can do to balance that out but we recommend starting with a hay test and working from there.

If you ever want to go on the path of dialing in your performance horse's nutrition it can mean a lifestyle change and is never simple, but a consult is an excellent place to start!

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas ❤️🐴

We hope your holidays are filled with peace, friends, family and four legged critters!

Love from your team here at Westwinds!

22/12/2024

You asked and we will provide!! A few weeks ago we wanted to know some of the topics you’d like to see Westwinds cover! So we’re going to go over them throughout the winter! ❄️

This includes topics like ⬇️⬇️
Vacc protocols for barns
Caslicks (yes we do them!)
Hay analysis/nutrition panels (we do both!)
Arthritis
Navicular
Cushings PPID and Winter Laminitis
F***l Water Syndrome
Wolf Teeth
Respiratory Issues
Alfalfa
Ulcers
PSSM/other muscle disorders

AND last but not least - joint injections, lameness and regenerative therapies - except this topic is extra special because it will be getting an entire evening dedicated to it in January!!

20/12/2024

Looking for that last minute stocking stuffer?

We might have a few ideas!

Check out our new swag! The toques are cozy and the hats are SHARP!

🎁🎄

20/12/2024

Foaling season is right around the corner! Is your foaling kit stocked and ready to go?

If this is your first foaling or you don’t know where to start, the graphic lists a few essentials for you to include. Having these items ready several weeks before your mare’s due date will mean less stress and scrambling at the last minute trying to acquire what you need.

As always, your veterinarian is your best source of information. Consult your horse doctor for additional recommendations and for training on how to properly use these tools to assist your mare during and after delivery!

19/12/2024

A pet is a big commitment - not a pretty present!

We know it's super cute to put a critter under the tree at Christmas but we just want to remind parents that if you give an animal as a Christmas present it’s estimated that up to 30% of gifted pets end up in a shelter.

If you’re thinking about adding a new four legged friend to your family - be sure to take your time and research the perfect breed, age, demeanor for your family and recognize the financial commitment a new dog or cat comes with. When you make that big commitment we are here to help you along the way!

& big shoutout to the PG Humane Society who has their “Home for the Holidays” program on right now! Lots of wonderful dogs and cats looking for foster homes this Christmas ❤️