Conley & Koontz Equine Hospital, Inc.

Conley & Koontz Equine Hospital, Inc. Mission Statement: Provide the highest quality equine medical and surgical service for our patients to benefit the caring horse owner.
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A full service equine hospital. We provide 24 hour emergency service, equine surgery performed by a board certified equine surgeon, neonatal care, sports medicine, ambulatory medicine, reproduction, preventive medicine, wound management, shock wave therapy, digital radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, arthroscopy,laboratory, etc.

Our friend John Huffered and Triumph Stables with Morgan Horse Magazine. He’s never looked happier!
08/29/2025

Our friend John Huffered and Triumph Stables with Morgan Horse Magazine. He’s never looked happier!

🏇 Strong joints = strong performances! Performance horses put extra stress on their joints. From subtle stiffness to vis...
08/28/2025

🏇 Strong joints = strong performances!
Performance horses put extra stress on their joints. From subtle stiffness to visible swelling, early care prevents long-term damage.

Ask us about:
🔹 Joint injections
🔹 Advanced therapies
🔹 Preventive joint support plans

Keep your athlete comfortable and competitive.

School has started in the Midwest which can only mean one thing – its football season.🏈  Everyone understands how touchd...
08/27/2025

School has started in the Midwest which can only mean one thing – its football season.🏈 Everyone understands how touchdowns work in football, but few people know how to score points in the battle against EPM.🐛 Lets break it down with a football analogy.

🌟Dr. Gran’s disclaimer: I try really hard to live in a “football free” bubble, but am making a single exception in an effort to discuss this very important topic. Please do not try to initiate football conversation with me though, because I don’t really care who wins the World Series of American Football🌟

Here we go. Stick with me for a minute. 👩‍🏫

Columbia City’s🦅 first home game is this Friday against Plymouth. There are some players on the team that are called “defenders” (how am I doing so far?). Their job is to prevent the offenders on the other team from getting to the end zone. If the offenders get to the end zone, magically points will show up on the score board.6️⃣ If the defenders do their job, there will be no points.0️⃣ Plymouth points will make CC work harder. You with me?

The nervous system of the horse works the exact same way. 😆 Every time the body “sees” EPM organisms, it makes antibodies in the blood to protect itself. Sometimes, the organisms get past the antibodies into the nervous system (end zone). When this happens, the nervous system makes its own antibodies.
• Offenders = EPM organisms🐛
• Defenders on the field = antibodies in the blood🩸
• End zone = nervous system
• Points in the end zone = antibodies in the spinal fluid

Before we discuss this in relation to testing for EPM, lets answer some questions:
• Are there always defenders on the field? No – but once they’ve seen the offense they are!

• Are there always points in the end zone? No

• How do we know if the offenders have crossed into the endzone? Points!

When we test for EPM we have 3 options:
1. We can find the organism. The organism is in the nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The only way to find it is necropsy, which is not ideal for future riding purposes. This is the only 100% confident way of diagnosing EPM. 💯

2. We can find evidence that the body has seen the organism. We look for evidence that CC has seen the Plymouth offense and has built a defense to fight them. We test antibodies in the blood. This is a “serum titer”.🩸

o If the defenders are there, has Plymouth crossed into the endzone? Not necessarily!
o If the antibodies are there, has the EPM organism made it to the nervous system? Not necessarily!

3. We can find evidence that the nervous system has seen the organism. We look for evidence that the Plymouth offense has crossed into the endzone (points). We test antibodies in the spinal fluid. This is a “CSF titer”.

o If there are points, has Plymouth crossed into the endzone? Yes
o If there are antibodies in the spinal fluid, has the EPM organism crossed into the nervous system? Yes

So lets go back to our questions from above:
o Are there always antibodies in the blood? No – but once they’ve seen the EPM organisms they are!
o Are there always antibodies in the CSF? No
o How do we know if EPM organisms have crossed into the nervous system? Look for antibodies in the CSF

Is it halftime yet? 🤕

The moral of the story is, we rarely get the opportunity to do a necropsy to confidently test for EPM. But looking only at serum titers does not tell us very much either! The best way to accurately diagnose a horse with EPM is to look at CSF titers. Basing a diagnosis on serum titers only leads to inaccurate, and consequently delayed, diagnosis on neurologic horses, as well as unnecessary treatment. There are several techniques to collect spinal fluid (CSF), one of which is a standing cervical centesis (see image below). This procedure is done under the same sedation many horses have received before for dentals, sheath cleaning, etc. The correct spot is identified with an ultrasound, and a needle poke later, fluid is collected. As far as the horse is concerned, its no more traumatic than a blood draw.

So after all that….make sure you’re advocating for an accurate diagnosis for your horse. If EPM is a concern, please pursue a CSF tap. If you need help or more information, just reach out to us!

Also, GO EAGLES!!🦅🏈

**Going back in my football free bubble** 🙃

Also, who do I talk to about making CSF and nervous system emojis?

08/26/2025

IBRF Event Veterinarian 👇 269-924-5140
Call her & setup your appointment!

Today we got to celebrate one of our favorite patients, Gus. Following an accident, he had just shy of a four month stay...
08/25/2025

Today we got to celebrate one of our favorite patients, Gus. Following an accident, he had just shy of a four month stay getting countless bandage changes and even more carrots;)

Today, he was released for physical therapy at home. We are sad to lose our buddy, but so happy for his family to have him back 🤍

We’re here to provide immediate care when it matters most.
08/24/2025

We’re here to provide immediate care when it matters most.

Ears up, it's communication time! 🐴 Did you know horses speak volumes through those attentive ears? Ears pricked forward...
08/23/2025

Ears up, it's communication time! 🐴 Did you know horses speak volumes through those attentive ears? Ears pricked forward indicate interest, while pinned back can signify irritation or aggression. One ear forward and one back often suggests the horse is dividing its attention.

❌ False! Our on-site digital radiography provides us with instant, high-resolution images, saving time and enabling fast...
08/21/2025

❌ False! Our on-site digital radiography provides us with instant, high-resolution images, saving time and enabling faster treatment.

We have 2 confirmed West Nile horses in Allen County.  The vaccine for this disease is highly effective.Any horse that l...
08/19/2025

We have 2 confirmed West Nile horses in Allen County. The vaccine for this disease is highly effective.

Any horse that lives in northeast Indiana should get vaccinated twice a year for West Nile. If they have never been vaccinated before, or if it’s been a while, they will need a 30 day booster after the initial injection.

If you have questions about whether your horse should be vaccinated (they should) or if they are up to date, please contact your veterinarian.

Our comprehensive equine care services embody our commitment to the well-being of all horses. Whether competitive athlet...
08/19/2025

Our comprehensive equine care services embody our commitment to the well-being of all horses. Whether competitive athletes or beloved pets, our practice is here to ensure a lifetime of health and happiness. https://bit.ly/3Zsv67Z

From pain management to improved mobility, equine acupuncture is a valuable tool in veterinary care.👉 Interested in lear...
08/17/2025

From pain management to improved mobility, equine acupuncture is a valuable tool in veterinary care.👉 Interested in learning if your horse is a good candidate? Schedule a consultation with our team! https://bit.ly/3Zsv67Z

🏆✨ Show season is in full swing! Before you hit the road, make sure your horse is performing at their peak. A wellness a...
08/15/2025

🏆✨ Show season is in full swing! Before you hit the road, make sure your horse is performing at their peak. A wellness and soundness exam can catch minor issues before they become major problems—and keep your athlete safe in the ring.

✅ Pre-competition health checks
✅ Soundness and lameness exams
✅ Travel and vaccine readiness

Book your performance wellness check today!
📞 (877) 499-9909


Address

2249 S 500 E
Columbia City, IN
46725

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18774999909

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