Cherry Creek Equine

03/02/2025

Today is , a day created to bring attention to equine welfare and the plight of unwanted and neglected horses. It's also a great time to recognize all of the equine veterinarians who give selflessly of their time and resources to aid horses in need. THANK YOU for all you do to make a difference in your community!

Want to help celebrate today's observance? Though not everyone has the space and resources to adopt an equine companion, there are many charitable groups that you can support who devote their work to protecting these magnificent animals. One of them is the AAEP's own charitable arm, The Foundation for The Horse, an organization dedicated to improving horse welfare through veterinary education, research and help for equines at risk. By supporting the Foundation, you can help us transform the health of horses around the world!

To learn more about the Foundation and to donate, visit: https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/

02/27/2025

Hoof care isn’t just for horses

02/24/2025

🤣🤣🤣🤣

02/11/2025

This supplement was advertised as being drug free, but wasn’t.

02/10/2025

This wasn’t a typical lump. Most throatlatch masses are benign, but it sure paid this horse to find out!

02/01/2025

01/21/2025

Here’s what killing a bacterium looks like

A real image of an immune cell (purple) eating anthrax bacteria:

This visual showcases the microscopic battle waged by our body’s defenses against harmful invaders.

Anthrax bacteria, commonly found in soil, are known for their resilience.

Their spores can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to activate. Once inhaled or ingested, the bacteria come to life and multiply at a rapid pace, posing a significant threat.

This image not only highlights the sophistication of our immune response but also serves as a reminder of the enduring danger posed by anthrax and other resilient pathogens.

Image: Camenzind G. Robinson, Sarah Guilman and Arthur Friedlander, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

01/11/2025

It’s important to have antibiotics work when we really need them to.

Here's how you and your veterinarian can be good antimicrobial stewards and preserve the long-term efficacy of antibiotic use in horses.

12/20/2024

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency—even during the holidays. Are you prepared to act?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse if necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.

12/15/2024

A drawing is worth a thousand words. How horse hind limb mirrors human feet

Tip toeing into Monday on your P3 like 😎
I love this diagram. Isn't it crazy to see how high up the horses leg their "ankle" is 🤯

11/01/2024

Hope we’re rid of the bugs until spring!

Finally!

09/28/2024

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in. The swelling will be extreme, hot, very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your horse doctor will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

09/27/2024

I have had a number of questions recently about the voter initiative to create a new level of veterinary practitioner in Colorado. In my opinion, it is a bad idea, because it will allow poorly trained individuals to perform surgery and make medical choices that they don’t have the knowledge to make….

Letting non-vets diagnose and perform surgery poses risks with questionable benefits

09/12/2024

Almost all of the horses in our practice are currently immunized against West Nile virus. If you are unsure about the status of your horse, please contact us!

An unvaccinated Tennessee Walking Horse mare in Douglas County, Colorado, recently tested positive for WNV.