Kenneth L. Marcella DVM Inc

03/12/2024

Spring is in full baby bloom over here! 🌸🪻🌼

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy and safe holidays!!

09/18/2023

We had 2 small kittens in an old hat dropped off at our clinic door today. Anyone in need of potential barn cats -give the office a call

07/31/2023

We are happy to report lower Union hill is back open! Our office will be much easier to access now.

07/29/2023

WHERE’S WALDO(Dr. Marcella)???

Ever wonder what Dr. Marcella actually does when he is out of town working an FEI event? Check out the most recent blog post on https://klmspeaks.com/
Learn a little about the cool town where this image is taken from. The horse show that is held there and the responsibilities and duties of an FEI veterinarian.

07/03/2023

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday and fun, but safe celebrations. Remember that for some animals, especially horses, fireworks don't mix well so, exercise your American right of freedom of expression but be respectful of those sensitive animals around you.
I also want to let everyone know that, after a short time to address a few technical issues, KLM Speaks is again up and running. Look for articles this coming week on the Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak in California and Texas, the equine herpes deaths and quarantine at my old practice area - the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, and an in depth look at the numerous breakdowns and deaths from the spring racing season in Lexington, KY.
To sign up-
1.) Go to www.KLMSpeaks.com
2.) Sign in and create your password
3.) Subscribe
4 ) Login in and tap on KLM
Have a happy 4th!

KLMSpeaks

06/27/2023

Please check all prescriptions you may need with the Fourth of July holiday quickly approaching. Our office will be closed the 3rd and 4th as the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year. We will have emergency coverage as normal.

We hope everyone has a relaxing safe holiday!

06/08/2023

KLMSpeaks is up! Look for articles this weekend addressing the skin bumps, hives and allergy problems that have popped up these last few weeks and a discussion of Colitis (G.I. problems of the large colon including the effects of Potomac Horse Fever) that is also more prominent recently.
To sign up-
1. Go to www.KLMSpeaks.com
2.sign in and create your password
3. Subscribe
4. Login and tap on KLM

After spending the last few months being on call with our new format-being on call fewer weekends but, when on, covering a larger area for more practices so that all the vets involved can have a better "work-life balance" and hopefully remain in equine practice - as this has been given as the biggest reason vets are not entering equine practice or for leaving after just a few years, I am even more convinced that the new norm is for horse owners to become as knowledgeable about horse care as possible. Being two hours away from a horse with an eye injury or a colic or having 3+ emergencies all at the same time further pointed out to me the need for owners to be able to intelligently and confidently help their horses until help arrives-or to keep problems from happening in the first place which puts a value on improved equine management.
KlMSpeaks will hopefully help teach horse owners what they need to know. We plan to continue to add new material, to expand to videos in a "horse owner's essentials" section that will show you how to correctly wrap a foot or a leg, how to examine and stain an eye, how to do a good physical exam, how to give an intramuscular injection and lots more. We will continue to post interesting cases in a question/answer format, and there are plans for a "office hours" section that will be a weekly answer to one of your submitted questions.
I welcome your input and comments as this idea continues to evolve.

KLMSpeaks

05/15/2023

The feature article in this month's 'Chronicle of the Horse' is titled "Where are the Equine Vets?" and it is a deep dive into the crisis facing horseowners- the lack of equine practitioners. The problem is here, it is real and it is not likely to change anytime soon, according to the author. The article talks about a number of things that might be done to help the situation but one thing that is not mentioned is education.
I feel that horseowners can, and should, learn everything that they can about their horses to be able to know what is an emergency and what is not, to be able to provide accurate and detailed information about their horse's problem to a busy emergency vet who is trying to decide which horse needs to be seen first, and to be able to provide the best early care for their horse until veterinary help arrives. Taking better care of horses in general and being able to prevent problems is also likely to become more and more important, given the current state of equine veterinary support.
To provide a platform for this education and information, and to be able to address routine lameness and medical problems, to tackle local issues such as the recent concerns about Potomac Horse Fever in our area, to discuss what is happening with race track death, to update you on the UGA research done at the Biltmore endurance ride earlier this month and to provide some fun facts, obscure but potentially useful information, strange cases, and crazy stories from my 40 years in practice, I'd like to introduce the pre launch of my blog website. To find out more, visit www.klmspeaks.com and enter your email to subscribe to our emailing list. More to come...

04/25/2023

With the recent confirmed Potomac Fever cases in our area we are offering the vaccine.
The vaccine is one step of prevention,however many horses do not have a strong antibody response to the vaccine so it must be boosted 3-4 weeks after the initial dose. The vaccine is not 100% effective but it will reduce the severity of clinical signs in affected horses. In addition to vaccinating your horse you can also do your best to limit their exposure to snails and acquatic insects. We traditionally have not had the appropriate fly species in our area and have not had problems with PHF but it is suspected that changes have occurred. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water in pastures and consider limiting grazing access to waterways, turn off night lights around stables and pastures as insects infected with N.risticii may be attracted by the light. PHF is not transmitted from horse to horse but an affected horse means that there is a risk from the nearby environment.There is no human contact risk.

contact the office to set up an appointment for the vaccine and booster and call the office if you have an questions

04/20/2023

02/23/2023

Dr. Marcella will be in Jacksonville, Florida over the next 2 days at the American Endurance Ride Conference annual meeting. Dr. Marcella will be giving lectures at the veterinary continuing education portion of the meeting and at the general meeting as well. As always, the office will be open and emergency coverage is available.

09/01/2022

I regret to inform all our clients that Dr. Amanda Calvird is no longer associated with KLM Equine. While we wish Dr. Calvird all the best in her new endeavors, whatever they may be, her unexpected, and unplanned for departure has created some staffing issues here at the practice. We will be actively pursuing a new hire and, in the meantime, working to do all we can to continue to provide veterinary service to all your horses. There are two remaining FEI horse shows, at the end of September and the beginning of October, that I have to work. Contracts for these shows were signed in the spring when I expected to have associate vet help here at the practice. While that has obviously changed, I am still old school- if you sign a contract you honor it- so I will be at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for those weeks . Check your schedules and let the office know if you anticipate needing veterinary work ( especially anything related to your upcoming competitions) done before that time and we will do everything possible to make it happen. Anyone running a business these days can relate to the problems with staffing and turnover and the challenges that we all face. Hopefully we will find a motivated, committed individual that will help us continue to serve our clients and maintain the standard of care that you can expect from KLM Equine. Anyone with questions, issues or concerns can always contact me here at the office.

06/18/2022

I wanted to send a shout out and sincere thanks to Dr. Amanda Calvird. With the Covid lock down and other changes to FEI (Federation Equestrian International) over the last few years, there are fewer active FEI vets than ever and a big demand for their services. Also FEI vets must work a certain number of events per two year cycles in order to maintain their * ratings. So, while I have been away working FEI jumping and Endurance events, Dr. Calvird has really stepped up to take care of things at the practice making sure that our clients and their horses always have the best care possible. Thank you so much! Your veterinary skills continually improve and your kindness and compassion are unmatched. Thanks for bringing there.

06/18/2022

I have been working an FEI jumper show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and the temperatures here have been brutally hot, as they have been in Georgia as well. Time to review some hot weather tips because this heat is not going away for awhile-
1. Fresh, cool water. The average horse in hot weather will drink 10-14 gallons of water daily. Always check to be sure the troughs or buckets are clean and refilled frequently.
2. Electrolytes. I could write an entire post on this subject and anyone interested can call the office and request an article that I wrote on elec trolyte supplementation in depth but suffice it to say that as horses sweat they lose sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium and these electrolytes are very important and must be replaced. Daily supplementation should ge done by mouth (paste used for performance horses like endurance competitors), in the feed or in the water. I have a few recipes for electrolytes you can make yourself or recommendations for mixes that you can purchase if anyone is interested.
3. Reduce workload in the heat. Seems simple but it's show season so it can be hard to back off your training and competition plans. Consider riding earlier or later in the day and know when to give your horse more rest.
4. Move the air-horses cool by evaporation and better air movement means better evaporation. Be sure your fans are cleaned ( no point in making your horse breath dust) and working correctly. Upgrade old fans periodically
5. Shade is your horse's friend. At home or at shows find it or create it. There are all types or natural and commercial materials to create shade or block sun
6.hose your horse. This helps with evaporation as well and scraping the water off as you hose has been shown to be the quickest and most efficient way to cool a horse ( this deserves an entire post as well).
7. Keep your saddle and leg protection off your horse for as long as possible and remove them as soon as possible after competition.

Watch for signs of increased temperature (above 102F), droopy ears, profuse sweating, high respiratory rate, elevated heart rate, sluggishness, tacky gums. If you note these signs your horse may be experiencing heat stress and may need extra help cooling.
The bottom line with intense hot weather is that if you are feeling the heat then your horse is too. Remember these tips and keep both you and your horse chill.

06/07/2022

Our summer staff is working hard on coggins forms.
Hope everyone is having a great summer so far.

05/03/2022

Hope everyone is enjoying this nice hot weather.

We have a few temporary changes in the office as Erin, our afternoon office help is out due to recovering from knee replacement. Jennifer will be working remotely in the afternoon until Erin returns, please be patient as we are very busy.
Tomorrow Jennifer will be out of the office due to previous obligations. The doctors will be working their already scheduled calls and will be available through the emergency line if needed for an emergency. Jennifer will be back in the office Thursday as normal.

04/01/2022

Happy first day of April!!
Next week Monday- Friday Jennifer will be out of the office on vacation with her little office helpers. Both doctors will be working like normal and Erin will be in the office 12:30-4pm. If you have any emergencies please call the office like normal and follow the voicemail instructions to page the vet on call. Thank you for your patience in advance.

02/14/2022

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Spring is just around the corner, be sure to watch for vaccine reminders in your email. Our office staff is working very diligently to color in the coggins. 😃

01/04/2022

Due to an emergency with Jennifer’s father in Ohio she will not be in the office this week. Erin will be in the office like normal at 12:30 and the doctors will be running calls like normal.
If you have an emergency please call the office and press zero to page the vet on call. Thank you

12/31/2021

Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Celebrate with your family and friends and let's make 2022 a special year!

12/24/2021

Happy Holidays from the staff at KLM Equine. Jennifer, Dr Calvird, Erin and I want to wish all our clients, their families and their horses a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons with wishes for a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year

11/25/2021

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

06/11/2021

Just wanted to let horseowners know that there have been 2 positive cases of Potomac Horse Fever diagnosed in horses living along the river in Ball Ground. While we generally do not see PHF in our area, weather and other factors can sometimes make it possible for it to show up here. The attached information should give you a better idea of the disease, its transmission, clinical signs and management. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns and vaccination will be available for any horses that may be at risk