Conley & Koontz Equine Hospital, Inc.

04/23/2025

04/23/2025

Below are some images from our gastroscopy clinic yesterday.

One of the primary complaints of both of these horses was poor performance. One of them has had a complete lameness evaluation with no success in identifying a source of a problem.

Keep in mind that poor performance that cannot be attributed to lameness or other musculoskeletal abnormalities may be caused by gastric ulcers. These are horses that would absolutely benefit from gastroscopy as part of their workup!

We are currently scheduling discounted gastroscopy clinics at boarding/training facilities. Please reach out if you would like to schedule a day at your barn, or if you have questions about whether your horse may be a good candidate for this procedure! 877-499-9909

04/16/2025

Just a reminder that our gastroscopy clinic is Tuesday next week - we still have a few appointments available!

Gastric ulcers are a common cause of performance, behavior, and overall wellness problems. Individualized treatment is imperative to complete resolution and future management.

Join us at the clinic on April 22, 2025 for a 25% discount on gastroscopy services provided by our internal medicine specialist. Call today to have top pick of appointment times!

**If you are a barn owner/manager with multiple horses, please reach out to schedule an on-site day**

04/15/2025

Don’t forget to find Dr. Bollman at the Panty Raid Futurity this weekend for acupuncture, shockwave, lameness evaluations, upper airway endoscopy, and more to get your performance horses in tip-top shape for this season!

04/11/2025

Colic surgery is certainly not on any horse owners bucket list, but it is something everyone should be prepared for. The financial commitment for this life saving procedure is significant, and owners should have a plan if their horse ends up being a candidate.

Smart Pak and Platinum Performance both offer colic insurance programs. They both have great products with good science behind them, and are great resources to have on your side should you need them.

If you have questions about either of these colic programs, please reach out.

*This is not a paid advertisement, I just really believe in these companies.*

Over 60% of owners indicated that they would pay $5,000 or less for emergency colic surgery. This is notable because the actual cost for colic surgery and aftercare can far exceed $5,000, depending on the severity. As a result, many horse owners may face a stark financial hurdle if their horse develops a life-threatening colic: https://bit.ly/3Yr5isi

04/07/2025

Gastric ulcers are a common cause of performance, behavior, and overall wellness problems. Individualized treatment is imperative to complete resolution and future management.

Join us at the clinic on April 22, 2025 for a 25% discount on gastroscopy services provided by our internal medicine specialist. Call today to have top pick of appointment times!

**If you are a barn owner/manager with multiple horses, please reach out to schedule an on-site day**

04/03/2025

For those of you who commented on yesterday's photo of the jaundiced filly...

The most common reason for severe icterus in this age of foals is Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (milk poisoning). There are other reasons as well (shout out to all the liver disease commenters), which is why a complete workup including exam and laboratory evaluation is so important. This foal was confirmed to have NI.

NI happens when a series of events fall into place perfectly. Horses do not naturally have antibodies to other blood types, but when exposed to a type not their own they will develop antibodies.

Foals have a chance to inherit either the mare's blood type or the stallion's blood type. IF they inherit the stallion's blood type AND the mare has previously been exposed to that blood type (usually in previous pregnancies) AND the foal gets adequate colostrum, the antibodies in the mare's blood (passed through the colostrum) will attack the foal's red blood cells.

The result: intravascular hemolysis (red blood cells breaking apart within the vessels). Icterus (the yellow pigment) is a clinical result of this, from bilirubin, a byproduct of the red blood cell breakdown. This is a very different pathophysiology than the most common cause of neonatal jaundice in human infants.

These foals, if caught early, can be managed with blood transfusions, supplemental nutrition, and targeted care of any secondary problems.

If a foal is considered high risk for NI (multiparous mare with previous problems, certain breeds, etc), there are methods to screen before the mare delivers as well as after. At risk foals are typically muzzled so they don't drink the mare's colostrum and are tube fed replacement colostrum. Once colostrum is no longer present (24-36 hours), the mare is safe to nurse off of!

What questions do you have?

04/02/2025

This 4 day old filly presented this morning. What’s your most likely diagnosis?

Tune in tomorrow for the answer!

04/01/2025

We are excited to announce that CKEH will now be offering services for all of our Hobby Horse friends! We know that horses are masters of the unexpected - eyes fall off, manes get frizzy, sticks break - and we're here if you need us!

296.8K likes, 3799 comments. “Nothing “hobby” about Judy’s horse ”

03/20/2025

03/17/2025

You told us you wanted less expensive uterine diagnostics and we went to work for you. We have negotiated a cheaper price with our lab and are extending the less expensive price to you. We managed to cut your prices 36%. If you would like to have us out to perform uterine cultures and cytologies, give us a call and get on our schedule.

03/13/2025

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 long stem hay) 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.

Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

03/12/2025

While we are all looking forward to warm spring days and lush green pasture, the transition from winter hay to spring grass should be planned carefully to mitigate any health risks to your equine. In other words — just because your equine friend is not obese or suffering from a nutritionally related disease, doesn’t mean you should just forget about hay entirely and let your horse eat their fill of spring grass.

Feeding high-quality hay is a good way to satisfy a horse’s urge to chew when they can’t graze and provide essential nutrients at the same time. A mature horse will eat 2-2.5% of its body weight per day; roughage should contribute to at least half of this percentage, but most agree forage should be a minimum of 75% of the horse's diet. Please remember that not all horses are made equal, so a horse's total nutritive requirements will ultimately depend on the individual's age, stage of development, metabolism and workload.

Take-home message: Before making any changes to your equine companion's diet this spring, consult your veterinarian to determine their current weight/body condition score and to formulate a balanced and nutritious ration that meets your horse’s specific nutritional needs!

02/21/2025

For anyone expecting a foal this year, this is a great review of all the things you need to know! If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call!

02/20/2025

Issues and imbalances with horses' hind hooves might be to blame for a variety of hind-limb lamenesses.

02/20/2025

🤦‍♀️

This friend sat on a stick and jammed this piece up in his crotch. He's fine, a tiny bit embarrassed, but probably didn't learn anything.

02/18/2025

Foaling season has officially arrived, let's talk about placentitis! This photo was taken of a placenta with numerous discolored plaques over the entire surface - the placenta was also quite heavy/thick.

Placentitis in mares is an inflammatory condition affecting the placenta, often caused by a bacterial infection that ascends through the cervix. This condition can lead to significant complications, including premature birth, abortion, or the birth of a weak foal. Signs of placentitis can be subtle but they often include premature udder development, vulvar discharge, and sometimes abdominal discomfort. Early detection is crucial, as prompt treatment can help manage the condition and improve the chances of a healthy delivery.

Diagnosing placentitis typically involves a combination of clinical signs, ultrasound exams, and laboratory tests. Preventative care includes good management practices, like maintaining a clean environment and monitoring pregnant mares closely, especially those with a history of reproductive issues. Owners should be vigilant during late gestation and consult a veterinarian if any abnormal signs appear. This is also a great reason to save the placenta for your veterinarian to evaluate during a post-partum exam, as it may help us get a head start on issues with your foal!