Cranberry Creek Equine Veterinary Services

15/08/2024

🚨 ALERT🚨 Eastern Equine Encephalitis

As most of you have heard there have been several young horses lost in our area due to the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus. A disease transmitted by mosquitoes and which has a greater than 90% fatality rate. It has been confirmed that those that the equine community have lost were unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.

Luckily, the vaccines we have available are very protective provided they are used in the appropriate manner. This means that:

Foals receive a 3 dose series: first dose is given at 4-6 months of age, followed by a booster 4-6 weeks following the first dose and a 3rd dose at 13 months of age).

Adults (whose vaccines have lapsed or with unknown history) receive a 2 dose series: the second dose is given 4-6 weeks after the first. Then given annually after.

If you are unsure of your horses vaccination status please reach out and we can help you decide what the best course of action is for your particular horse and situation. We are recommending anything under the age of 2-3years old receive a booster as a precaution.

Also consider fly sheets and masks as well as fly spray to deter mosquitoes as much as possible.

For more information on the disease please visit AAEP.org or contact us.

https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/

01/08/2024

As the temperatures and humidity climb please keep in mind how these factors can affect your horse. Especially during exercise.

Consider some of the following:
* Riding first thing in the morning or later evening
* Decrease the intensity of your ride. (There are SO many things you can work on at the walk!)
* Shorter ride times
* Lots of walk breaks
* Consider water and sponge bath breaks if needed

Follow this link to learn more about heat stroke in horses: https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke

28/03/2024

REMINDER! We are closed Good Friday and Easter Monday. We will of course be covering emergencies.

HAPPY EASTER!

28/03/2024

Thank you Dr.Labelle for this post! Luckily our animals don’t look directly at the sun ☀️

08/03/2024

Our Friday was a success because, really, does anything feel more productive than this?!?

04/03/2024

Thank you Burwash Equine Services and to the many supporters for helping highlight how wonderful equine veterinary practice can be!

08/02/2024

We want to thank everyone who came out to join us last night for the first talk in our Client Education series! We had a great time, wonderful snacks and good company, we hope to see everyone again in two weeks for our talk on Choosing Supplements!

28/01/2024

Because learning is always a good idea! And understanding out magnificent horses in more ways is something we can get behind!

Now Available 👋 Free course for youth from our friends at . This offering runs until March and includes approximately two weeks’ worth of material and fun activities for kids to access whenever they like, 24/7.

At the end of the course, a certificate of completion is awarded. The on-demand format gives ample time for students to learn at a leisurely pace.

Register Here: https://thehorseportal.ca/2024/01/free-youth-course-on-the-language-of-horses/?fbclid=IwAR23RtgSlElHzH2Zsy8HtXVGHd8bWuiqmUd_QP299p6tii5BbBbsN5xS3ds

Equine Guelph |

22/01/2024

22/12/2023

Happy Holidays to all our friends- two and four legged! We hope your holidays are full and merry. Here is our team enjoying a wonderful holiday party: we decorated Amazing Gingerbread houses and vet clinics and followed the sugar with a great dinner out at The Vault in Manotick. A special thank you and shout out to Julianna Banana for the fabulous Gingerbread House Instruction and homemade gingerbread! We had so much fun working with you!

13/12/2023

Are you suspicious of your horse having stomach ulcers?

We are very excited to be adding a gastroscope to our list of available diagnostics 🤩

Please reach out to us for more information or to schedule an appointment!

09/11/2023

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

As we head in to what is usually our slower season we want to think ahead to having some client education meetings again early in the new year.

We want to know what YOU want to talk about 😊

Please post below a topic or two that you would like to learn more about!

28/09/2023

This can be a tricky thing to do! We hope these tips will help.

14/09/2023

Sounds like an interesting talk! Anyone in the mood for a little Evening Equine Education? BYO Cocktail or Mocktail!

06/09/2023

Heat got you feeling like this?

This heat wave is hard on us and our horses! Help them manage by ensuring plentiful water, access to shade and moving air/fans.
Signs of overheating include elevated internal body temperature, reduced interest in food, rapid breathing, excess sweating and reduced energy.
Just like in humans- older and younger animals are more at risk.
If you suspect your horse is showing signs of being overheated running cool water over their body repeatedly is the most effective way to help them cool off. If you suspect severe heat stroke or injury please contact your vet.

11/08/2023

Roundworms are Tough!!! These little guys are already known to lay eggs that can survive multiple Canadian winters. The adults don’t typically bother adult (over 4 years old) horses but in young animals they can pose a real risk for colic, poor growth, and since they can migrate through the lungs and organs while developing they can contribute to lung/organ damage. Since dewormer resistance is increasing, pasture management, f***l floatation with selective targeted deworming and ideally manure removal are critical parts of parasite management.

Scientists in Russia were thawing a sample of Siberian permafrost, when they found something completely unexpected — a pair of living roundworms that were in a state of suspended animation for more than 46,000 years.

03/08/2023

A case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was detected in Lanark County.
This is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease that is very vaccine preventable. Mosquitos pick up the virus from infected birds. Horses cannot infect other horses and don’t have enough virus in their blood to even infect mosquitos.
Even without a high viral load the disease causes severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It can cause fevers, sudden onset of neurologic symptoms including wobbly, uncoordinated movement, abnormal mentation, and seizures. Eastern Encephalitis or EEE has a 50-90% mortality rate if a horse is affected!
Fortunately most of our spring combination vaccines do contain and protect against this virus. Check with your veterinarian if you are unsure about your vaccine protection

06/06/2023

Unfortunately the smoky air is continuing here for a few days. Currently Ottawa is sitting at at Air Quality Index (AQI) of 180-190. We are all feeling this irritation and our horses are as well. While Ottawa Public Health recommends humans stay inside, this doesn’t work very well with our equines!

Smoke causes irritation in the upper airways and when the particles are very tiny they can make it into the deep lung causing irritation and changes there as well. While the upper airways may clear particles in as quickly as 24 hours it can take up to 90 days for the deep lung to clear itself!

Here are some things you can do to help your horse:
-Encourage drinking: water helps ensure the airways are protected by their normal mucus coating which helps move dust out.
- Reduce overall environmental dust where possible: steam or thoroughly soak all hay, don’t sweep the barn while the horses are inside, don’t toss hay or shavings around the horses
-Assess your barn ventilation and make sure airflow is sufficient as the outdoor air quality improves to help get cleaner air into the barn
-Monitor for signs of difficulty: a normal resting respiratory rate is 12-24 breaths a minute. A rate that is increasing over 30 breaths per minute or increasing abdominal effort with breathing could indicate a problem is developing.
-Vitamin E supplementation at 2000 IU per day can help act as an antioxidant to give the body a little extra protection.
- Avoid exercising your horse in poor air quality as breathing harder means taking in more smoke particles.
-Allow 2-4 weeks of gradually increasing exercise after air quality improves to allow your horse to heal their lungs. This is especially important for horses with lung issues such as heaves!
-Call your vet if you are seeing any signs of concern!

This image below will help give a little guidance on riding activities based on the AQI
Purple horse is AQI of 200+
Red horse is AQI of 151-200
Orange horse is AQI of 101-150
Yellow horse is AQI of 51-100
Green horse is AQI of 0-50
This link will take you to more info about what exercises are appropriate at each level

https://www.starwoodequine.com/blog/aqi

05/06/2023

Please note to anyone who owns horses with equine asthma (aka heaves aka COPD aka allergies with a strong breathing focus!)
Keep a close eye on them- local forest fires are causing significant declines in air quality over the next short period. Keep your clenbuterol at the ready!

02/06/2023

A recent study in human medicine showed no evidence of long term benefits to joint inflammation from the use of non-steroidal pain medications (NSAIDS). While this study focuses on humans it creates a great point to think about for our horses. In horses we regularly use phenylbutazone (bute), flunixen meglumine (banamine), firocoxib (Previcox/ prevequine) and other related NSAID medications.

We should stop and consider if these are the best options to manage arthritic pain in our horses. This is not to say that NSAIDS don’t have an appropriate place in arthritis management but they should not be viewed as a magical cure- all. This study indicates that in humans at least the use of NSAIDS does not protect cartilage and joint health.

Like all medicine use, a discussion regarding your individual horse and their needs should help you to choose the best management plan!

CHICAGO — Taking anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen for osteoarthritis may worsen inflammation in the knee joint over time, according to a new study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

11/05/2023

Happy Anniversary Ottawa Valley Hunt!!

Thanks to our sponsor, Cranberry Creek Equine Veterinary Services 🐴

06/05/2023

Evening barn chores are now aligning with the evening appearance of bats! We love to hear the spring peepers and watch the bats dance! Welcome Spring!!

What makes your barn time special?

06/04/2023

Good morning! We are currently without power at the office address. There is a power line down across the road. Unfortunately picking up medications today will not be possible until the power line is removed. Our phone lines ARE working. Please be patient as things are taking more time than usual today!

07/03/2023

Just a Reminder! We have our first education talk coming up on March 15th!

Please join us at the Marlborough Community Center (3048 Pierce Road, North Gower) from 7-8:30pm.

March 15th: Emergency Preparedness and the Equine Herpes Virus

PLEASE RSVP TO [email protected]
If you wish to attend remotely we are going to offer a Zoom Meeting pending sufficient internet access! RSVP for in person and virtual attendance please

08/02/2023

We have 2 education talks coming in March!

Please join us on March 15th and March 29th at the Marlborough Community Center (3048 Pierce Road, North Gower) from 7-8:30pm.

March 15th: Emergency Preparedness and the Equine Herpes Virus

March 29th: Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushing's

PLEASE RSVP TO [email protected]

03/02/2023

Remember even while the wind howls and the temperatures plummet there is still beauty and peace in the barn. This is the ice lining my water trough this morning. ❄️❄️❄️

So take a few seconds (not much longer or some part of you will be frozen!) and enjoy the steamy horse breath, the quiet munching on hay, the little barn things that bring us so much joy!

05/01/2023

So relevant for all our horses with Equine Asthma
Or Heaves!

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays to everyone and All of your Four Legged loves! Stay safe and warm as we come through this storm.

Even Santa knows the importance of proper veterinary care!

Here's more about AVMA President Dr. Lori Teller's trip to the North Pole earlier this month to ensure that Santa’s team of nine were up-to-date on their vaccinations, travel forms and were healthy enough to make their annual trek around the globe. https://bit.ly/3UNRQKA

23/12/2022

❄️ Keep these helpful tips in mind when managing horses during this week's cold snap. ❄️

⏰ Maintain your normal schedule if possible. Research from Virginia found that an increase in colic episodes following adverse weather was a result of sudden changes in management and not the weather itself.

⚡️ Energy needs for a horse at maintenance increase about 1% for each degree below 18°F. For example, if the temperature is -18°F, a 1,000 pound idle, adult horse would need approximately 4 additional pounds of forage (e.g., hay) daily. It is best to provide the extra energy as forage since heat is produced from the microbial fermentation of forage.

🏡 Horses must have access to shelter from wind and moisture. A horse’s hair coat acts as insulation by trapping air, but when wet, the insulating value is loss.

💧 Water should be kept between 45 to 65°F to maximize consumption. Most adult horses require a minimum of 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. Horses should always have access to fresh, clean water. Check water sources often to ensure they have not froze.

🧤 Take care of yourself! Protect yourself from the cold by wearing multiple layers of coats and pants. Ensure the outer layer is wind and waterproof. Additionally, wear insulated, waterproof boots; warm gloves; a winter hat; and a scarf or neck gaiter to cover your face.

For more information on winter care, visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/caring-your-horse-winter