Cornerstone Equine Veterinary Services

10/24/2024

We are grateful for collaboration with Dr Huey to keep Tank managed and feeling his best!

🐎 Meet Tank, a 14 year old quarter horse and champion barrel racer. With his big personality and loving nature, he is very special to his owner. “He’s the most dependable and consistent horse I’ve ever owned. When he goes into the arena he is going to do his job and take care of me, and you couldn’t ask for a better dance partner in barrel racing.”

Dr. Huey is treating Tank for Immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK), a non-infectious corneal disease that occurs in horses. IMMK is characterized by chronic corneal opacity without corneal ulceration or significant uveitis. It is essential to distinguish IMMK from other causes of keratitis, especially involving infectious agents. Most cases of IMMK manifest in only one eye, although both eyes can be affected.

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug that is commonly used for treatment in a variety of immune mediated conditions in small animal veterinary medicine. Due to the size of a horse, oral administration of cyclosporine is not feasible and cyclosporine eyedrops or ointment do not pe*****te past the cornea and cannot get into the eye to treat Tank’s condition. This is why Dr. Huey chose Episcleral Cyclosporine Implants as treatment for Tank’s IMMK. Episcleral Cyclosporine Implants are reservoir devices placed into the eye that allow long-term release of low levels of cyclosporine.

Tank was tranquilized standing and with the use of local anesthesia, the implants were surgically placed. The procedure went very well and will allow Tank to continue living his best life. We look forward to seeing Tank and his owner continue to compete in the future! ♥️

10/10/2024

Interested in supporting fellow horse people and veterinarians who need assistance after the devastation of recent hurricanes? Consider donating to The Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

“The Foundation works with various equine veterinarians, agencies and non-profits providing emergency relief, veterinary supplies and care for horses hurt or displaced during natural disasters.”

https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/impact/disaster-relief/

09/25/2024

Please be sure your vaccinations are up to date for maximum protection! Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been on the rise and was found just over an hour from us!

The warm, late summer temperatures have brought more than lazy days outside. Late summer has welcomed more mosquitoes and signaled the start of West Nile (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) season for horses and humans.

08/02/2024

Be sure your horse is up to date on their vaccinations! Eastern Equine Encephalitis was found in a horse in Arkansas. Thanks to Zoetis for keeping us covered in great vaccines!

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they wil...

07/08/2024

Thank you to all of the talented farriers that we are fortunate enough to work with. It takes a team to keep our patients feeling their best!

It's National Farriers Week! Let's celebrate the hard work that our farriers put in daily to partner with equine veterinarians and ensure the health and well-being of our horses. Proper hoof care is essential for a sound and happy horse, so it goes without saying that a skilled farrier is both a necessity and a tremendous asset.

Don't forget to give a shoutout to your farriers this week and show them your appreciation for their dedication to their craft!

04/10/2024

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of hay or grass) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.

As always, please be sure to consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

03/22/2024

Happy Friday! We’re here for you when these things happen 😜

03/13/2024

Are you ready for allergy season? Check out this article from our friends at Platinum Performance on seasonal allergies.

Did you know that we offer allergy testing? Find out what your horse is allergic to and how to help them.

https://www.platinumperformance.com/articles/assessing-equine-allergies.html

03/05/2024

Our assistants looked a little different yesterday! They were very interested in proper dental care 😜

PSA: We do not treat goats...we just enjoy them!

03/02/2024

02/10/2024

But seriously, ask your vet 😅

...how often do you seek answers on Google or on social media?

In all seriousness, we're not saying that all Internet advice is bad. You can and should use the online resources available to your advantage—like to find good tips for basic training issues or to learn more about specific diseases. But this is your reminder that there are MANY reasons to start with your own veterinarian when you're seeking answers about your horse's health.

An Internet consultation might sound like the cheapest option at first but it cannot replace the physical exam performed by a trained and experienced veterinarian, and in the end treatment without a proper diagnoses could prove more costly and time consuming.

Your horse doctor invested a lot of time and resources in their training to be able to provide the highest standard of care to their patients—trust them to care for your horse as much as you do!

01/12/2024

Be more prepared for this upcoming winter weather with these tips from The Mid-South Horse Review and the American Association of Equine Practitioners!

https://midsouthhorsereview.com/providing-proper-shelter-for-horses-during-winter?fbclid=IwAR0PDoa5_qgoDgEYHsN5kbs3peYuPx3YcDeIUNLMe8Xvn0egRLcRlT6NxIw_aem_AV0VScPz2CFb8KLATmQGqjJMkaEAlCHJTYKIyBWdemlQHt_wiRb0hWMJBrVX8l66ZXc

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!

01/08/2024

During these cold winter days you may be thinking about offering bran mashes to your horse as a warm, comforting treat and also as a way to help prevent colic due to the higher fiber content of bran. This, however, is an outdated concept and nutritionists point out several potential problems associated with feeding bran mash too often—namely, an imbalance of the dietary calcium-phosphorus ratio that could lead to bone disorders, and a disruption of the healthy fermentation patterns in the horse’s intestinal tract.

The best way to help your horse stay warm this winter is by increasing forage 🌾 and providing shelter 🏠 during a cold snap. And as far as the risk of colic, your first line of defense is to provide plenty of water to keep your horse hydrated. 💦

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information; contact them to learn more about feeding mashes (they are typically not an issue if fed as the occasional treat) and colic prevention this winter.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/04/2024

Questions about a vaccine schedule for your horse? Ask us!

Data on the incidence of equine influenza infections indicate it might be necessary to modify EIV immunization recommendations.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!

12/23/2023

Merry Christmas to all of our equine patients and their owners! 🎄

We are closed through 12/25 but are available for emergencies to our clients.

12/18/2023

We love the benefits seen in our patients by using this product to manage joint pain.

Interested? Want to see if this would be a great gift for your horse anytime of the year? Ask us! 🎁

The study compared the concentration of Alpha-2-Macroglobulin in Pro-Stride® APS, Restigen PRP® and Alpha 2EQ® devices.