Choptank Equine, LLC

Choptank Equine, LLC Emergency after hours services for current clients.
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Large animal, equine focused veterinary service offering general and emergency medicine as well as chiropractic, acupuncture, dentistry, reproduction, lameness and rehabilitation services for horses. Dr. Caitlin Harris provides on farm services for a range of large animals including horses, mules, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, sheep and goats.

Did you know that a horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation...
11/14/2024

Did you know that a horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation when the outside temperature drops to approximately 50°F?

As the temperatures start to drop, especially overnight, it's important to remember that cold weather prompts special considerations for your horse's diet and care. This is particularly important when it comes to the older members of the herd!

Credit AAEP

To the veterans and active duty service members we thank you for your service.
11/11/2024

To the veterans and active duty service members we thank you for your service.

Not sure we want to add these up 😂😂What’s your number?
10/30/2024

Not sure we want to add these up 😂😂
What’s your number?

Well worth the watch. This incredible video dives into the horse/human relationship in a way I haven’t seen before.  Gra...
10/26/2024

Well worth the watch. This incredible video dives into the horse/human relationship in a way I haven’t seen before. Grab some friends, snacks and your drink of choice and settle in.
Highly recommend this video to really anyone who has any interest in horses at all.

When you think you have your ducks in a row when, in fact, these are your ducks,and they’re not in a row. But they’re su...
10/22/2024

When you think you have your ducks in a row when, in fact, these are your ducks,
and they’re not in a row.

But they’re super cute
😂😂

Happy Friday!We hope everyone gets to enjoy a few days of some warmer weather. Have a great weekend!
10/18/2024

Happy Friday!
We hope everyone gets to enjoy a few days of some warmer weather.
Have a great weekend!

10/17/2024

Pastures, nonstructural carbohydrates, and frost 🌱🍂❄️

Because it is that season, I want to discuss horse pastures and nonstructural carbohydrates, specifically as they relate to the beginning and end of a grazing season. Let’s begin by breaking this down by each topic before we add them all together:

Nonstructural carbohydrates, often abbreviated as NSCs, are comprised of water soluble carbohydrates (simple sugars and fructans) and starch. This class of carbohydrates is an important source of energy for the horse and they are digested and absorbed in the foregut, leading to an increase in blood glucose and insulin. As a result, high levels of NSCs in the diet can be an issue for horses with metabolic concerns specifically related to insulin dysregulation such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), Cushing’s (PPID), and laminitis/founder. While NSCs can be more consistent and documented in manufactured concentrates, more variation is observed in pasture or hay due to outside factors such as plant maturity, time of day, and weather conditions.

In pasture plants, NSCs are produced via photosynthesis, a process in which sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide generate glucose and oxygen. A separate but complementary process known as respiration is responsible for breaking down the glucose created during photosynthesis and releasing that energy for cellular use. As a result, increased photosynthesis leads to an accumulation of NSCs and increased cellular respiration leads to a decrease of NSCs. There are many weather conditions that can alter the balance between these processes in plants.

So how are these two factors connected to frost and the swing in temperatures observed in the spring and fall when horses are either being introduced to or removed from pasture? Well, when temperatures fall below 40°F, the enzymes involved in cellular respiration become significantly less active. And when temperatures fall below freezing, the enzymes can become denatured, stopping respiration altogether. This means low temperatures can lead to an accumulation of NSCs in the forage which can be problematic for grazing horses.

As a result, it is important to look at the nightly lows, and if these temperatures are sustained for more than a few hours, change your management practices accordingly, especially for glucose-sensitive horses. Furthermore, a hard frost occurs when temperatures drop below 28°F for more than four consecutive hours and will not only result in NSC accumulation but also marks the end of the growing season. While current recommendations allow grazing to resume 7 days following a hard frost, pastures require a minimum height of 3” to 4” going into the winter to support pasture productivity the following grazing season. Since grasses will no longer grow after a hard frost, continuing to graze can put undue stress on the pasture.

Additionally, sudden changes in the diet that would occur from removing horses from pasture abruptly, keeping horses on dried forage for 7 days, and then reintroducing horses to pasture, could lead to digestive upset or other health problems and the process will be time intensive for owners. When shifting the diet, even between different forages, it is critical to plan intentional transitions that allow the gut microbiota to sufficiently adapt. While the transition back to pasture can be accelerated in the fall compared to beginning grazing in the spring, it should still be done with care.

I hope this information is helpful as you make decisions on horse management and grazing this season!

- Dr. DeBoer

It’s veterinary technician week! Please help us in honoring our very own vet tech Marley Kuechler. Her skills and expert...
10/14/2024

It’s veterinary technician week!
Please help us in honoring our very own vet tech Marley Kuechler.
Her skills and expertise help keep our team running smooth, thanks for all you do!
Help us make her feel special this week!

This boy has a pretty exciting career as an upper level event horse, but recently he’s been having some major back pain....
10/09/2024

This boy has a pretty exciting career as an upper level event horse, but recently he’s been having some major back pain.
His owner spared no expense getting him checked out and treated, however he remained very sore. She was almost considering retiring him if she couldn’t get him comfortable again.

This is him during his second electro acupuncture treatment and we are thrilled to report he’s back to his happy self and loving to jump again !!

Sometimes our conventional methods don’t do the trick and we are so happy we can help fill those gaps and keep horses and riders doing what they love!

Another local clinic is accepting donations for those affected by the hurricane at their clinic office. If you’re able a...
10/04/2024

Another local clinic is accepting donations for those affected by the hurricane at their clinic office. If you’re able and interested anything helps.

The devastation inflicted by the recent hurricane, Helene, is almost unimaginable. So many need assistance for not only ...
09/30/2024

The devastation inflicted by the recent hurricane, Helene, is almost unimaginable. So many need assistance for not only themselves but their animals.
If anyone is looking for a reputable way to donate/help AAEP has organized the following.

We are devastated to see the disastrous effects of Hurricane Helene that have impacted thousands of people and equines far and wide. Please join The Foundation for the Horse, the AAEP's charitable arm, in aiding the victims of the hurricane with a donation to help those affected.

The Foundation for the Horse works directly with equine veterinarians on the ground to make sure supplies, hay, feed and veterinary care are provided to animals in need.

Pictured is an example of the devasting effects the residents of Hendersonville, NC have suffered during Hurricane Helene.

If you would like to join us in aiding those affected, donate at: https://membership.aaep.org/FFTH/Shared_Content/Donation-Pages/Give-Now.aspx?ItemId=DISASTER_RELIEF&SourceCode=GiveNow&fbclid=IwY2xjawFnmcNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaHxoC1eLyh3A4yhmAjxmWHPmr_MlVVwcEAQlS7eG9dEchYSrXaPsyTwdQ_aem_XLRekJJPklcJ9rVpFvH-Tg

Fall vaccines💉It's that time of year, time for fall vaccine appointments. This means boosting vaccines, dentals, parasit...
09/23/2024

Fall vaccines💉

It's that time of year, time for fall vaccine appointments. This means boosting vaccines, dentals, parasite and body condition talks heading into fall and winter.

We recommend boosting EWT and West Nile as we move into fall in accordance with the AAEP vaccine recommendations, and with the recent west Nile case in Kent county, in addition to anything else your horse is due for of course.

We also strongly recommend botulism vaccines for all horses, yes even those not fed round bales. We have seen cases in horses that are never fed round bales so they are not "safe.”

Continuing with our emergency theme. Your horse stepped on a nail, now what?Punctures in the hoof are considered an emer...
09/23/2024

Continuing with our emergency theme.

Your horse stepped on a nail, now what?

Punctures in the hoof are considered an emergency as there are quite a few votal structures in there that can become infected if penetrated.

Resist the temptation to pull it! If you pull it we have a much harder time figuring out if anything is affected and which ones.

While waiting for the vet is ou can apply to antiseptic to the area and do your best to keep the horse calm and still. You may also be advised to administer some pain medicine while you wait..

Penetrating hoof wounds can be extremely serious and shouldn’t be underestimated. The prognosis for successful recovery depends on quick action to identify the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection and mechanical damage to the foot, and proper aftercare. As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

Adapted drom AAEPs original post

What should you have in your first aid kit?- Basic wound cleaning supplies including gauze, betadine and clean water. - ...
09/20/2024

What should you have in your first aid kit?
- Basic wound cleaning supplies including gauze, betadine and clean water.
- Bandage material: leg cottons and vet wrap or even polos and leg wraps
- Pain medication we prefer banamine or bute. Both come in various forms and we
recommend everyone have at least one of them on hand.
- Scissors
- Stethescope
- Thermometer
- Latex gloves

Equine emergenciesDo you know what's normal and what is and isn't urgent/emergency?It's important to know your horse's n...
09/16/2024

Equine emergencies

Do you know what's normal and what is and isn't urgent/emergency?
It's important to know your horse's normal so you know when something is wrong. Some things to keep track of are posture, drinking, appetite and manure production as well as their vitals including temperature, pulse and respiration.

Posture: if your horse is standing abnormal this could be a sign of a problem. Stretching out, shifting weight and non-weight bearing on a limb can all be signs of a potential issue

Drinking: major changes is your horses drinking habits or hay/feed dunked in the water bucket may be a clue that something is wrong.

Appetite: missing a meal or eating slowly may be abnormal for your horse. This could be ab early sign of colic or dental issues. Coughing/wretching or foaming/nasal discharge could be a sign of choke.

Manure: Normal horses pass 8-10 piles of manure a day. Keep mental notes on the amount and quality of your horses manure and note changes. Things such as diarrhea or not producing any manure can be an issue and warrant a call to your vet.

Normal horse vitals:
Heart rate: 30-44 in a relaxed and calm horse
Breathing rate: 8-12 beats per minute
Temp: 99-100.5 (Some horses sit lower than 99, if down closer to 96 please call)

As always if you are ever concerned please call your veterinarian for advice.

Do you know what to do if you're horse has an emergency? Do you have medications and equipment to render aid until your ...
09/10/2024

Do you know what to do if you're horse has an emergency? Do you have medications and equipment to render aid until your veterinarian arrives? Do you know what is and isn't urgent?

The link below provides an incredibly comprehensive overview of basic first aid and what to do until your vet arrives as well as what to have on hand.

We also recommend each barn have banamine and or bute on hand that can be administered once you have discussed the situation with your veterinarian.

We will be doing a series of posts on emergency care including
1. what is and isn't urgent or an emergency
2. what to do until your vet arrives
3. what you should have in your first aid kit
4. what is considered normal

Establish normal vital signs and behaviors for your horse, detect a potential problem as early as possible, and deal with common emergencies.

We have seen a few cases already. Those with Cushings disease, insulin resistance and/or equine metabolic syndrome are m...
09/06/2024

We have seen a few cases already. Those with Cushings disease, insulin resistance and/or equine metabolic syndrome are more at risk.
It’s still not safe to put them in the pasture or pull off a dry lot or drastically change their routine.

Avoid cool/frosty morning grazing or grazing right after a lot of rain when the pasture gets very lush and don’t take those grazing muzzles off yet! These cool nights and warm days stress the grass and increase the sugar.

Give us a ring if you have any questions about management or your specific horse or if you think your horse may be at risk.

Address

Denton, MD

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+14104297347

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