Red Oak Animal Hospital-Bucyrus, KS

12/02/2025

Dr. Sutter is excited to share her article published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) focusing on the Spectrum of Care (SOC) in Ambulatory Equine Practice.

This article highlights that one-size-fits-all care doesn't always work. It emphasizes the importance of client-veterinarian-patient collaboration to develop tailored treatment plans that consider:

- Financial constraints
- Logistical capabilities
- Patient well-being

The goal is to provide the best possible care for every horse in every situation, ensuring ethical, high-quality, and sustainable veterinary service.

Read the full article for a deeper understanding of how we can continue to optimize care for our horses.

12/02/2025

She has a fresh bowl of clean water… and still chooses to be a problem for everyone.

12/02/2025

💙 Happy Giving Tuesday from Red Oak Animal Hospital! 💙

Today is all about kindness, generosity, and supporting the causes that make our community stronger. This Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to consider donating to your local animal shelter or rescue.

Whether it’s money, food, blankets, or even your time—every little bit helps give animals a second chance, a warm place to sleep, and the love they deserve. 🐾

Our community thrives when we come together, and we are so grateful for everyone who helps make the world a better place for pets in need. 💛

If you’re able, please consider giving to an organization close to your heart today.

Thank you for supporting animals, for supporting our local rescues, and for being part of the Red Oak family.

12/01/2025

A friendly reminder on our first snowy day!

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 equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!

11/27/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Red Oak Animal Hospital! 🧡

We are so grateful for our amazing clients, your wonderful pets, and the trust you place in our team every day. From our veterinary family to yours, we hope you enjoy a safe, cozy, and joyful holiday weekend!

📌 Holiday Hours:
Our office is closed today and tomorrow for the holiday. We will resume normal hours next week.

🚨 Emergency Information:
• We will have a veterinarian on call for equine emergencies.
• All small animal emergencies will be redirected to VEG (Veterinary Emergency Group) in Overland Park.
• You can reach VEG through the direct line in our voicemail, and Red Oak clients receive a free exam at VEG for emergency visits.

If your pets are partaking in the festivities, keep an eye on those sneaky snack thieves—and give them some extra holiday snuggles from us! 🐾

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂🦃
— The Red Oak Team

11/24/2025

🎄 Thank You for a Wonderful Holiday Photo Shoot! 🎄

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to our holiday photo shoot this weekend! We had an amazing turnout, and it was such a joy seeing all the festive pets, and families fill our Red Oak barn with holiday cheer. Walter also enjoyed being in everyone's pictures!

The event was such a success that we’re already considering bringing it back again next year!

Please allow us about one week to get everyone’s photos edited and returned. We appreciate your patience and can’t wait for you to see the beautiful images!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Red Oak Animal Hospital! 🎅✨

11/24/2025

Keep Your Pets Safe This Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude — and for delicious food! But some holiday favorites can be dangerous for pets.
- Avoid sharing turkey bones, onions, garlic, grapes, or chocolate.
-Keep trash and leftovers out of reach.
- Remind guests not to slip your furry friend table scraps (no matter how cute that begging face is!).
- Make sure your pet has a quiet space to relax if the house gets busy.
Enjoy a happy, healthy holiday with your pets by keeping safety in mind! ❤️

If your pet were to ingest something this Thanksgiving, we recommend you to take your pet to VEG in Overland Park, KS. You can call and talk to a Doctor anytime. 913-297-3676.

11/22/2025

Join American Association of Equine Practitioners and EDCC on Tuesday for a webinar on EHV/EHM.

In light of the current EHV-1 outbreak, the AAEP and the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) have organized a horse owner education webinar to bring you the most up to date information on this issue.

Next Tuesday, join specialists Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges (Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director and Texas State Veterinarian), Dr. Krista Estell (AAEP/EDCC) and Dr. Katie Flynn (USEF) for an informative discussion about what EHV-1 is, how to recognize it, and most importantly, how to prevent its spread.

This webinar is FREE, but registration is required. Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AnIoJrASj0vuX7Q_K87mKEjg5bxeMAkqp7fpSoOgVtVm_Zgo1g5m~AiiV7ZQ3bbmlEW2iSkeRTSAfMCYf2QhFMoprr7WRbM_MsiJRcBGT1oLj0Q

*PLEASE NOTE: the attendee limit for this session is capped at 1,000. However, all who register will be emailed a link to an on-demand recording that will become available 24 hours after the live session ends.

11/21/2025

Why Bloodwork Before Anesthesia Is So Important

Before your pet goes under anesthesia, our team recommends running pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet is healthy enough for the procedure. Here’s why it matters:

Checks Organ Function: Bloodwork helps us evaluate how your pet’s liver and kidneys are working—two organs that process and remove anesthesia from the body.

Detects Hidden Illnesses: Even if your pet seems healthy, some conditions (like anemia, infection, or early kidney disease) may not show symptoms yet.

Keeps Anesthesia Safer: Knowing your pet’s health status allows us to customize anesthesia and medication doses for maximum safety.

Prevents Complications: If the results show any abnormalities, we can adjust the treatment plan—or delay anesthesia if needed—to keep your pet safe.

Peace of Mind: It gives you confidence that we’re taking every precaution to protect your pet before, during, and after their procedure.

If you have more questions before you're pets procedure, always ask before hand! We are always happy to answer questions to help you fell more relaxed about your pets procedure.

11/19/2025

As of Nov. 18, 2025, three major equine veterinary clinics in Texas have confirmed an aggressive strain of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) linked to a recent event in Waco.
What is EHV?

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), also called equine rhinopneumonitis, is a family of highly contagious viruses affecting horses worldwide. The most important strains in the U.S. are:
-EHV-1: Causes respiratory illness, abortions, and can progress to the neurological form EHM, which can be fatal.
-EHV-3: Causes co**al exanthema, a breeding-related venereal disease.
-EHV-4: Common in foals and typically causes respiratory disease; can occasionally cause abortion or neurological signs.

Most horses recover unless neurological complications develop.

Symptoms to Watch For:
Fever, nasal discharge, cough, lethargy, weakness, stumbling, loss of tail tone, and abortion. Some horses show no signs at all.

Monitoring:
Owners—especially those whose horses attended recent events—should take temperatures twice daily. A fever of 101.5°F+ or any respiratory or neurologic signs requires immediate veterinary attention.

How It Spreads:
Through direct contact, coughing/sneezing, contaminated equipment, human hands or clothing, and from mares to foals. Horses can also carry the virus silently, with stress triggering shedding.

If you have questions or concerns please call us and we can help answer your questions. Make sure your horse is up to date on their rhino/flu vaccine to better help protect them from EHV!

11/18/2025

Why Spaying & Neutering Your Pets Matters

Spaying and neutering isn’t just about preventing litters—it’s about promoting a healthier, happier life for your pet! ❤️

Health Benefits:
- Helps prevent certain cancers and infections
-Reduces roaming and injury risks
-Can lead to calmer, better-behaved pets

🐶 For dogs: lowers risk of prostate issues, testicular cancer, mammary cancer and uterine infections.
🐱 For cats: prevents heat cycles and unwanted behaviors like spraying

Plus, spaying and neutering helps control the pet population, reducing the number of homeless animals in shelters.

👉 Talk to our team at Red Oak Animal Hospital to schedule your pet’s spay or neuter appointment today!
📞 Call us: 913-533-2370

11/17/2025

Bonnie got FAN MAIL! 📫♥️

Our Director of Patient Relations received a special surprise from our friends at Nutramax, and she is absolutely feeling the love.

Thank you, @nmx and Nutramax!