Hill Country Equine

12/12/2023

Don’t forget to grab your Christmas treat at the front desk before you leave! There’s also one for your horse🎄❤️

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas from our Hill Country Equine family to yours. Hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Christmas holiday.

09/29/2022

Lameness evaluations are such a work of art.



🎥 Krystal Kotzur - Equine Photography

08/09/2022

Good information on snake bites.

Did you know snakes reach their highest numbers in August and September, when their babies are born?

Snakes commonly found in the United States, like copperheads and rattlers, can cause serious injury to a horse. Equines are at the top of the list of sensitivity to snakebites, and are followed in order by sheep, cows, goats, dogs, pigs, and cats. Horses almost always get bitten on the muzzle, and the spread of the venom containing enzymes, peptides and neurotoxins can be fatal. The resultant swelling can be so extreme that the nostrils almost close and breathing can become difficult or impossible. Shock is the most common problem following snakebites and prompt treatment is necessary.

If you know or suspect that your horse has been bitten by a snake, call your veterinarian immediately. Better to have a false alarm than to play catch-up later in a crisis situation.

Talk to your horse doctor about the likelihood of snake attacks in your area and seek guidance regarding the best preventative and treatment options.

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Related resources:



"Snakebit!," written by Dr. Kenneth L. Marcella: https://aaep.org/issue/snakebit



Snakebite vaccine guidelines: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines/snake-bite

01/20/2022

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HORSE IS CUT OR BLEEDING?

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing, and maintaining your presence of mind could save your horse's life. The graphic shows some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency; how you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances, and on the advise you will receive from your veterinarian.

Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/guidelines-follow-during-equine-emergencies

01/20/2022

With the significant weather change coming, it never hurts to study up on signs of colic.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

Colic is not a disease; it is merely a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is — the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:
• alert your veterinarian immediately;
• remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings;
• don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs;
• walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself — but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe;
• keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start. Consult your horse doctor for more information.

More information about minimizing the incidence and impact of colic is available on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/colic-minimizing-its-incidence-and-impact-your-horse

01/20/2022

As we get geared up for breeding season here is some good information about foaling a mare out. Give us a call for your breeding and foaling needs.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR MARE IS EXPECTING

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 your four-legged bundle of joy:

• Read this article about caring for the foaling mare and newborn: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery
• Consult with your veterinarian to make a plan well in advance of the birth.
• 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. Good luck! And if your foal has already made their grand entrance into the world, please share a picture with us!

01/20/2022

Lots of good info on the two main metabolic disorders we see the most.

IS YOUR HORSE 15 OR OLDER? Read on!

With each passing year, horses are living longer lives and many survive easily to 25 years of age or older. While this is good news, it also means that horse owners need to be aware of changes occurring with age, so they can preserve the health and quality of life of their equine friends throughout middle age and the geriatric years.

For example, Equine Cushing’s disease is one of the most common diseases of horses greater than 15 years of age. This syndrome is better defined as Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) because it reflects the location within the brain that is abnormal, and the clinical signs are associated with abnormally elevated hormone concentrations in the blood.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is another endocrine disorder that can affect mature horses and shares some of the same clinical signs as PPID. Although the two disorders feature some striking clinical similarities — most notably a predisposition to development of chronic laminitis — the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case and successful management requires proper diagnosis by a competent veterinarian first.

Our understanding of both conditions, especially EMS, is incomplete and subject to continuous evolution, but sufficient information is currently available to highlight some important similarities and differences for the interested horse owner. Consult your veterinarian for more information and work with them to develop the best wellness practices to ensure a healthy life for your mature horse.

Additional information regarding the older horse’s care and nutrition is available on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/older-horse-special-care-nutrition

12/29/2021

Said no horse person ever! 😂

10/05/2021

A quick and easy way to get bot eggs off of your horse is to use an eyebrow shaper tool. Pick up a pack at your local grocery store or Walgreens/CVS.

07/02/2021

Shockwave therapy. What is it? How does it work? Here is a great rundown of just that. We love our shockwave therapy here at Hill Country Equine and have seen it work in big ways on a wide range of issues from minor to big tears to kissing spine. The shockwave machine is something we love and use.

07/02/2021

We'd like to welcome Ms. Lauren Mooney to our Hill Country Equine team!! She has been interning with us this year and has been a great help to the clinic. You'll be seeing even more of Ms Lauren!

06/30/2021

Making horses feel their absolute best on these beautiful summer days!!

06/24/2021

Join us!!!