Iron Horse Equine Medical and Surgical Services

11/20/2024

This is a great explanation of why you shouldn’t always believe what you see on 📺 If you have any questions about administration of banamine or any other medication, please contact our office or your vet at IHE

Yellowstone fans that are real horse people got a little confusing information on the Sunday, November 17, 2024 episode. This popular show appears to take pride in its western production on being very authentic - yet some how they had a BIG mistake with treating a horse with intramuscular Banamine.

What is the BIG deal? In this Yellowstone episode a horse was administered Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) intramuscularly. Yet the nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory is only administered orally (in the mouth) or intravenously (in the vein). Remember Banamine is never recommend to be administered to horses any other way.

Why not? Banamine causes muscle damage when injected intramuscularly! There are spores of bacteria known as clostridium that can rest in healthy muscle; however, the bacteria may awaken if the muscle becomes damaged from an IM injection particularly when Banamine is administered this way. This may cause clostridial myositis - which is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Post injection signs of a problem would be swelling and a painful injection site with gas underneath the skin. The bacterial toxins may migrate into the bloodstream causing depression, colic, fever and a lose of appetite. Treatment by a licensed DVM is necessary if you make this mistake. Supportive care, antibiotics, and possibly a surgical excision of the infected injected site may be necessary.

This episode of Yellowstone was a good reminder - what is entertaining may not always be real and correct. Check with your equine veterinarian if you are unsure how to administer Banamine.

11/08/2024

We are on ER at this point. Please be aware that travel conditions may limit our responses though even for emergencies.

11/08/2024

PSA:
For our staff safety,
Our CSR staff may work remotely and non-urgent appointments may be rescheduled during storms/ poor road conditions

10/31/2024

In case you missed it, here is our email letter to clients about why we are opposed to Prop 129. Please vote NO on Colorado Proposition 129.

10/31/2024

As silly as it sounds, the "carrot test" can be used to help diagnose tooth aches in our equine companions.

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EORTH) is a dental condition that affects the incisors of middle-aged horses and older. As the name suggests, it acts by both resorbing the teeth and then producing large amounts of cementum (a hard substance that anchors the teeth into place).

Clinical signs such as difficulty chewing, teeth discoloration and painful gums are highly suspicious for this disease, but you can also offer your horse a carrot to assess how comfortable they are biting down. If it seems painful for them while biting the carrot, they could have EORTH!

Your veterinarian can do an oral examination and take dental radiographs to confirm the diagnosis. This is a progressive disease so there is no cure, but there are management strategies that can improve their comfort.

If you are concerned that your horse may have EORTH or is experiencing oral pain, contact your veterinarian so that they may further evaluate and suggest treatment options.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

10/26/2024

Hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC) in horse hay refer to the non-structural carbohydrates that are easily broken down in the small intestine, providing quick energy. HC includes ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESC) and starch, which together make up the simple sugars and starch content in hay. For horses with metabolic issues, such as insulin resistance or laminitis, it's essential to monitor HC intake and select hay with HC levels below 10%. 🌿🐴

To learn more about reading a hay analysis, check out our article:
🇺🇸https://madbarn.com/how-to-take-a-hay-sample/
🇨🇦https://madbarn.ca/how-to-take-a-hay-sample/

10/26/2024

ISO our newest full time veterinary support staff member!

Who is our ideal candidate? Easy, it's whoever will be happy and successful on our team. Most likely, that candidate will be able to take a joke when it comes to Colorado weather and road conditions. They will have the confidence and experience to work independently but will also be prepared to ask for help from a colleague and work on their weaknesses when needed. They will be kind and compassionate with our patients, their owners and staff, willing to admit a mistake, and quick to offer praise or acknowledge effort. We are looking for a credentialed technician who can use the degree to the fullest.

Do you want to learn more? Send us a DM!

10/23/2024

Equine endocrine disorders such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) feature some striking clinical similarities, most notably a predisposition to the development of chronic laminitis. However, the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case.

The graphic below describes some key differences to be aware of between the two diseases.

If you have questions or concerns about your horse in regard to EMS or PPID, contact your veterinarian so that they may further evaluate them.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

10/19/2024

💙 Thank You to Our Amazing Team! 💙

As Veterinary Technician Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible techs, assistants, and support staff here at Iron Horse Equine. Your hard work, dedication, and compassion are the backbone of everything we do.

From assisting with patient care, performing diagnostics, ensuring smooth operations, and bringing comfort to our clients, you are vital to not only our practice but to the entire veterinary industry. Techs, assistants and veterinary support staff play an irreplaceable role in the health and well-being of animals, and we are proud to work alongside such talented individuals.

We couldn’t do what we do without each and every one of you. Thank you for everything you do for our patients, their owners, and our team. 💙
Let’s continue to celebrate the incredible work you do, every single day. 🐴

10/17/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Alexis C., Customer Service Representative ✨

We’re thrilled to introduce Alexis C., one of our dedicated Customer Service Representatives at Iron Horse Equine! Alexis is always eager to learn and passionate about supporting our team and clients. Here’s a bit more about her:

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"Every time I learn new things, I feel inspired! I love learning about horses and gaining new skills with them. The information empowers me with my own horses."

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"I love helping all of our clients, but I especially love watching/assisting in procedures I haven't seen before. I love to learn!"

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"I think I would be a quarter horse! I'm very 'go with the flow'. I'd love to hit the trails and relax or the get to business in the arena."

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"I love to learn new equestrian skills, and disciplines! I'm always excited to try something new with my horse Jericho!"

We’re so grateful for Alexis’s hard work and her attention to detail. If you’ve had a chance to work with Alexis, let us know your experience in the comments! 🐴💙

10/17/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Angie R., Customer Service Representative ✨

We’re excited to introduce Angie R., one of our dedicated CSRs at Iron Horse Equine! Angie brings passion, creativity, and an unstoppable drive to help both horses and their owners. Here’s a bit more about her:

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"Helping people and horses beyond expectations. Knowing the team and/or I have made a difference in a horse's health, the client’s life, or an improvement in the owner-horse relationship gets me all chuffed."

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"Finding and executing solutions. When things come together in beautiful synchronicity, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment!"

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"A sturdy backyard Morgan—versatile, eager to help, and always motivated by a good meal."

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"Fair warning: If you ask about my current ADHD hyperfixation, you might get an info-dump! Trust me, it’s a lot – proceed with caution!"

We’re so lucky to have Angie on our team, and we appreciate her passion for making a real difference in the lives of our clients and their horses. If you’ve had a great experience with Angie, drop a comment below! 🐴💙

10/16/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Emily H., Customer Service Representative ✨

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Emily H., one of our amazing Customer Service Representatives at Iron Horse Equine! Emily’s dedication to supporting the team and her passion makes her an key part of our practice. Here’s more about her:

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"The women who give of themselves every day so our patients can have the absolute best care possible."

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"I like supporting the team by working on behind-the-scenes tasks that help keep the office running smoothly."

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"Wild mustang. I want to know what it feels like to have those four powerful legs running out across the open range."

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"I love to sing and play music. Melodies and lyrics touch my soul."

We’re so thankful for Emily’s support and the joy she brings to our team! If you’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Emily, share your story in the comments below! 🐴💙

10/16/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Masen L., Veterinary Assistant ✨

We’re excited to introduce Masen L., one of our dedicated veterinary assistants at Iron Horse Equine! Masen brings passion, energy, and a love for patient care to everything she does. Get to know her a little better below:

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"Getting to see patients progress throughout treatment. I love seeing where they started and how far they can come in the healing process. Makes you feel good inside when you know you helped along in their healing journey!"

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"My favorite thing to do at work is either ERs or Surgery. I really enjoy the versatility of each case and the attentiveness required to be proficient in either scenario."

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"Thoroughbred! I try to bring high energy into my work, and I also love to be active and keep my feet moving!"

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"One thing I would want others to know about me is that I love the outdoors and try to get out there as often as I can."

Masen’s enthusiasm and commitment make her a valuable part of our team. If you’ve had the chance to work with Masen, drop a comment below and share your story! 🐴💙

10/15/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Jenasea W., Veterinary Assistant ✨

Today, we’re excited to introduce Jenasea W., one of our amazing veterinary assistants here at Iron Horse Equine! Jenasea brings dedication, attention to detail, and a love for the outdoors to her work every day. Here’s a little more about her:

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"Being able to make an impact not only in our patients' lives but also their owners' lives as well."

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"My favorite thing to do is lameness, especially the ones that aren’t obvious. I like taking radiographs and doing diagnostics. I also like scrubbing for injections."

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"If I were a horse, I’d probably be a quarter horse because most of them are calm and easy-going."

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"I love spending my free time outdoors whether that’s hiking, camping, trail riding, etc."

We’re so thankful for Jenasea’s hard work and passion for helping both horses and their owners. If you’ve had the pleasure of working with Jenasea, share your story in the comments below! 🐴💙

10/15/2024

✨ Staff Highlight: Meet Chelsea D., RVT ✨

We’re proud to spotlight Chelsea D., a Registered Veterinary Technician who has been with Iron Horse Equine since 2020. Chelsea’s dedication, skill, and humor bring so much to our team, and we’re excited for you to get to know her a little better!

What inspires you when working in the veterinary field?
"Improving the quality of life for the horse."

What is your favorite thing to do at work and why?
"I love working behind the scenes, especially with bloodwork and lab work, and I always aim to brighten someone’s day with a laugh! Communication and behind-the-scenes work are my strengths, and I feel like I really shine in those areas."

If you were a horse, what breed would you be and why?
"I’d say I’m like a Mustang – strong, loyal, and unique. They’ve got that distinctive tattoo (and I have a few myself), take time to build trust, and may be shorter, but they’re solid and full of strength."

What is one thing you would like people to know about you?
"I am certified in equine massage!"

We’re so grateful for Chelsea and all the work she does to keep our equine patients happy and healthy! If you’ve had the chance to work with Chelsea, drop a comment below and share your experience! 🐴💙

10/14/2024

🚨 It's National Veterinary Technician Week! 🚨

We are beyond excited to celebrate the amazing team that makes everything possible behind the scenes. Our techs, assistants, and support staff play a crucial role in ensuring the best care for our equine patients every day! 🐴💙

👉 Mark your calendars: October 13-19, 2024 🗓️

Keep an eye out this week for special highlights on our techs, assistants, and support staff—you won’t want to miss it!

💬 We’d love to hear from you! Share your favorite story about our techs, assistants, or customer service representatives (CSRs) in the comments below. Let’s celebrate the incredible work they do!

Learn more about National Veterinary Technician Week from AVMA: https://www.avma.org/national-veterinary-technician-week #:~

10/10/2024

UPDATED ASAR is standing down and Dr Whitton will not be deploying at this time.

Dr Stacy Whitton is being deployed with ASAR Training and Response to Florida to respond to Hurricane Milton and will gone 7-10+ days. Please be understanding as our customer service representatives reschedule her appointments for the week of 10/14. To learn more about thisBeyond Vet Med to learn how you can help, please follow her Beyond Vet Med page.

10/08/2024

ALL of the veterinarians at Iron Horse Equine are OPPOSED to Prop 129. Some major organizations that are also opposed include American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners. To learn more about why we are opposed, we encourage you to visit https://keepourpetssafe.com