Walkerton Equine Clinic

10/22/2024

With the wet summer we had this year in Ontario - many found it challenging to make quality dry hay. We have been asked more and more each year about feeding wrapped haylage
If anyone is considering feeding haylage I strongly encourage them to have a discussion with their veterinarian and nutritionist regarding proper harvesting, processing, storage and risks of botulism and other diseases.

10/22/2024

AAEP is offering a FREE webinar on ‘Navigating the Equine Breeding Season: Mares’ on October 30,2024 @ 8:00pm EST
The is no cost but registration is required - to register please go to https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CHkvKjmpTlGOiPMbwhEtBA?utm_source=All+DVMs+including+international_July+2024&utm_campaign=15d6837d4b-COVID-19+Advice+for+Client+Interactions_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8fe44d02c9-15d6837d4b-44085112 #/registration

08/19/2024

Fall Laminitis 🍂
Majority of horse owners understand that spring can be a risky time for horses prone to laminitis. Introducing our equine friends to their lush summer pastures slowly or incorporating limited grazing through grazing muzzles is a normal part of our spring routine. Did you know that fall also poses an increase risk for laminitis? Usually around September - October annually we see a spike in laminitis cases.
❓How does the fall season increase the risk for laminitis?
🌧️Overgrazed summer pastures often get a spike in growth with some fall rains - these short stressed pastures although short often stockpile sugars in their short stems after a rainfall.
🥶Lower daily temperatures, shorter day length and frosty evenings causes grass to also increase their sugar storage
❓What makes some horses more prone to laminitis than others?
⚖️ Obesity is strongly related to ‘Equine Metabolic Syndrome’ a condition that stimulates insulin resistance and systemic inflammation
👵 Cushings disease (elevated ACTH) seen in older horses increases sensitivity to sugars and more prone to laminitis
🏋️‍♀️ Lack of exercise/movement can make horses more prone to laminitis through weight gain and slowed metabolism.
❓How can I reduce my horses risk of Fall laminitis?
🩸Testing any suspect horses for cushings disease (ACTH) or insulin levels before fall and managing appropriately with medication and management changes
🌱 Avoid fall grazing on short stressed pastures after fall rains or frosts
🤿 Use a grazing muzzle where appropriate to reduce grass intake for overweight horses
🕦 Adjust management to avoid grazing during early mornings after a frost or rain
🐎 Keep your horses active and fit into the fall months
If you have any questions or concerns about fall laminitis, cushings or equine metabolic syndrome speak with your veterinarian about testing and managing strategies that are best for your individual horse!

08/10/2024

Please note the clinic will be fully closed on Thursday August 15th so the team can take a well deserved day away together after a busy spring season!

For emergencies please call our regular numbers and you will be directed from there to on call coverage vet. For non-urgent requests please leave a voicemail or drop an email and we will get back to you the following day.

04/26/2024

Repro season has been in full swing around the clinic for the past few weeks with early morning mare checks and late night foalings. 🌄🎑
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This time of year is an exciting and busy time of year with the arrival of new foals and spring weather but also can be one of the most challenging times of year with loss, frustration and exhaustion. We at the Walkerton Equine clinic are so grateful for all our wonderful clients and patients that make the hard days that much better. Thank you all for being so GREAT!
Cheers to the remainder of repro season - may the fastest s***m always win 🥂😅

04/08/2024

We are so excited to invite everyone to our open house April 26th, 2024. Come learn more about gastric ulcers a common condition many of our performance horses deal with. Lunch is generously sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

We will also have a brief seminar on our new Pro-vet system by Decha. The Pro-vet system is some of the newest technology in othrobiologics - we utilize you own horses blood and process it to create a powerful healing and anti-inflammatory product that can used it to treat joints or soft tissue injuries.

Please RSVP so we can ensure we have enough food for all.

04/05/2024

03/24/2024

A Great Webinar on what to do in the face of any equine emergency. Preparation and having a plan in place is key!

Recorded March 20, 2024. This is the on-demand recording of a live webinar presented by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).Join AAEP mem...

03/16/2024

A little late sharing this this month!

03/08/2024

Happy International Women Day to all the incredible women that are part of the equine industry and veterinary profession. You are all rockstars! ✨
Ashton Colvin Sharleen MacDonald Mary Baks

02/01/2024

February is dental month! Save 10% on all in-clinic booked dental exams and power float for the month of February 🦷🪥

❓Did you know?

✔️ Foals should be checked at birth and frequently throughout the first year of life in order to identify congenital abnormalities of their teeth/mouth
✔️Young horses age of 2-5 years old should have their teeth checked twice annually to ensure there are no maleruption issues and that caps are being lost appropriately
✔️ After the age of 5 years your horses teeth should be checked at least once annually to correct dental alignment and diagnose any dental issues early on
✔️ Senior horses (>17 years of age) are at greater risk of developing periodontal disease. Senior horses should have at least annual dental checks and nutritional consultation as effective grinding surface tends to diminish in their 20’s

01/30/2024

Walkerton Equine Clinic - ‘Providing the same excellence in equine care that our clients and patients have come to know with a little new re-branding’ - ☺️
We are a full service equine veterinary clinic offering both haul in/in-clinic care and ambulatory care for our patients. We are pleased to offer services such as:
✔️ Lameness/Sports Medicine services (included diagnostic X-ray and ultrasound, intra-articular therapies, shockwave and class IV laser)
✔️ Pre Purchase Exams
✔️ Reproduction/Breeding services
✔️ Respiratory work up (endoscopic exams, BAL and consultation)
✔️ Veterinary Spinal Manipulation (commonly known as chiropractic therapy)
✔️ General Field Surgeries
✔️ Wellness Services such as annual exams/vaccines, in house bloodwork and dentistry
✔️ Emergency Care
✔️ In clinic patient care for on going case management (medical colics, wound management, sick foals etc)

01/27/2024

What to expect when you’re expecting equine edition!
Reshare

01/26/2024

You have decided to breed your mare this year, congratulations on the exciting journey ahead! - so what we are some important things to consider next?
1. Choosing the Stallion: when selecting a stallion there are many things to take into consideration - not just performance record and bloodline.
🐎 Ensure the stallions conformation compliments your mares conformation - our goal is to improve the next generation by taking into consideration weaknesses and flaws.
😡 Ensure the stallions temperament and the temperament of his offspring are appropriate! Do not be afraid to ask about the offspring’s trainability and success!

2. Type of semen/breeding contract: Fresh cooled semen versus frozen semen versus live cover - understanding the difference between these will help prepare you and your veterinarian regarding the logistics around your mares breeding (more about this in another post!) 🐟

3. Collection Days: If the breeding contract is for fresh cooled semen it is helpful to have some details regarding when/how often the stallion can be collected prior to your first appointment. How much notice is required to order a collection and how will the semen get to you/your farm? (Shipped by purolator or picked up in person etc.) 🚛

4. When to start breeding? 📆
- A mares gestation period is ~340 days +\- 10 days (approximately 11 months), therefore if you want a baby in May you would want to breed in June. However, not every mare will get in foal on the first try and therefore it is recommended to start as early in the season as reasonable!

5. When should you schedule your first reproduction vet visit? ❓
- Generally we recommend you try to track your mares heat cycles early in the spring (watch for signs of estrus and then count the number of days between those signs)
- schedule your first appointment a few weeks to a month prior to the intended breeding date - this allows us to do an initial reproduction exam (more on what to expect at this appointment in another post!)
- After you initial appointment you and your veterinarian can discuss details/a plan for future visits/checks prior to breeding.

01/11/2024

January Newsletter ❄️

01/11/2024

Believe it or not repro season is just around corner!
Over the next few weeks we will try to cover all things repro! Some topics that will be covered will be mare and breeding physiology, prepping for breeding season tips and tricks, what to expect at your horses repro appointment and what to expect when you’re expecting!
✅Mare Reproductive Physiology 101
☀️Horses are reproductively Seasonal Polyestrus - meaning they only have estrus(heat) cycles during certain times of the year (long sunlight days) and will have multiple cycles during that period.
🤔In order to achieve a longer and earlier breeding season in North America we can encourage mares to come into estrus(heat) sooner through artificial lighting.
💡Adding ‘day light’ length to the end of normal day length can be done by a 200watt light bulb. Day light length should be 16 hours in duration in order to stimulate estrus, but it won’t happen over night.
🗓️It can take 75 days of a light program before a mare is cycling properly - therefore if you want their first heat cycle to be mid-February the lighting program should be started December 1st.
🤰Mares that are in foal but intended to be bred back early should be included in the lighting program as well as it will stimulate their hormones and follicular waves and assure they are ready to be bred back earlier in the season.

12/22/2023

Reposted from AAEP ✍️
Water remains as important for your horse in cold weather as it is in the summer. As a matter of fact, decreased water consumption in the winter is thought to be the primary inducing factor for impaction colic — although there are other predisposing factors such as poor hay quality, lack of exercise, internal parasites and dental problems.

Impaction colic is essentially constipation and most often includes the accumulation of hard, dry f***l material in the colon. The usual signs of impending impaction colic are depression, a decreased appetite, and decreased production and dryness of manure.

Studies demonstrate that you can increase your horse’s winter water consumption if you provide access to heated water, but ONLY if that is the only source of water available. As always, if you have any questions about preventing colic in your horse, your local veterinarian remains your best source of information!