Willow Creek Equine Veterinary Services

08/28/2024

Hoping this is the last time we need to post this for awhile!

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Though fall is right around the corner, the summer heat continues to hold strong. ☀️

Therefore, it's imperative that we are able to recognize signs of heat stress and stroke in our equine companions.

Signs of heat stroke may range from mild to severe and life-threatening; they may include the following:

1) Temperature as high as 105 to 107 F
2) Rapid breathing, rapid pulse
3) Stumbling, weakness, depression
4) Refusal to eat or work
5) Dry skin and dehydration
6) In severe cases, a horse may collapse or go into convulsions or a coma

Exercise is a major source of body heat, and horses with a compromised ability to sweat (Anhidrosis) are especially at risk of overheating, even in cooler weather with a small amount of exercise. Horses with heavy muscling, excess fat or in poor condition will also be more prone to problems. (Keep in mind that strenuous exercise on a hot, humid day can lead to issues in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.)

Foals are at risk in hot weather as well. While the mare may be fine, her foal may get sick from being out on a hot day, as foals usually cannot take as much heat as adult horses. Does this mean you should not work your horse on a hot day? Not necessarily. It just means you should take precautions and use your common sense.

Remain vigilant in recognizing dehydration and signs of heat exhaustion, as heat exhaustion can advance to heat stroke quickly. Above all, be kind and attentive to your horse’s need. If you feel hot, your equine friend feels even hotter. So, if they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cold bath, and a break in the shade.

08/27/2024

Tuesday Truth!

08/26/2024

Great information! Those mosquitos aren't gone quite yet.

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Summer and fall are the peak time for arbovirus infection as these diseases (which include Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE], West Nile Virus [WNV], Western Equine Encephalitis [WEE] and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis [VEE]) are transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes and biting insects.

With more states reporting cases of West Nile Virus (28 cases have been reported in August as of today), this is your reminder to keep your horses up to date on vaccinations with the guidance of your veterinarian to best protect your equine friends from infection.

Learn more about West Nile Virus and find downloadable resources on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/west-nile-virus

08/24/2024

Saturday morning funny!

08/23/2024

Thanks for the nomination!

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Official 2024 Community Voting Awards Platform for Reading, PA. Where the community votes for their favorites every year.

08/21/2024

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As fall draws closer, many horse owners are busy securing their fall and winter hay supply. If you are considering purchasing round bales for your equine companions—due to their cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals— remember that there are a few things to consider when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism toxin. This toxin is produced when "Clostridium botulinum" is exposed to the right environmental conditions — such as when forage materials are baled and stored while still damp, or when they include the carcasses of dead animals, like birds and mice.

Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Do you have a feeder to place your round bales in?
Round bales not placed in a feeder can create more waste, which means your horses may not be meeting their nutritional requirements.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this fall and winter!

For more information on botulism, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwcuRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV5P3MHpvOoAOGsW2VwZTo-v_0pkILq8xN-reSg_yb3W01gGW_lfk0Nrnw_aem_Pp0WTnTG0S7pEH-BcTMV1g&_search=botulism

08/19/2024

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Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that is primarily transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies—which means that your animals are at risk even if they never travel or live in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine and no treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwR-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZp1fQwBC7LYpAzA3W2a5XUaYAd6gDO2mEtuHOjAAGJ_f4rvTxFRfg2_Lg_aem_Hacd9FBStUOI0FJdJHLmXA&_search=EIA

08/18/2024

Willow Creek Equine Veterinary Services would like to wish a fond (temporary!) farewell to Dr. Kendra Fake. Our awesome mare is ready to foal out and will be taking some time off for her maternity leave. We wish her and her growing family the best of health for the rest of 2024 and eagerly anticipate her return in early 2025. Dr. Kylie Dunham will be taking over for Dr. Fake and is available for all your patient concerns.

08/02/2024

Scan this QR code to sign up for this excellent, timely webinar

07/31/2024

We know times are hard. Inflation is soaring and so are prices. Please read this excellent message about why. Willow Creek Equine Veterinary Services does our best to deliver prompt, efficient, reasonably priced care on the farm. For significantly discounted care, come see us at our new haul in facility!

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Our clinic was sent this unsigned letter today.

Do you wonder why equine vets are leaving the profession at staggering rates, and there is an extreme shortage? This. Right. Here.

$150,000-$200,000 of veterinary school student debt is common. Equine vets have lower salaries and longer, less predictable work hours compared to small animal colleagues. We love horses so much that we have dedicated our lives to helping them. Yes, we absolutely do need to have that "almighty dollar" to pay our student loans, stock our truck with meds and equipment to help the horses that horse who colics at 11pm (right when we are climbing into bed!), and to pay our wonderful, dedicated employees who deserve to be compensated for their hard work.

Wellness/preventative care services (annual exams, vaccinations, dentistry) are the bread and butter of an equine general practice. The revenue from those services is the reason that we are able to financially support having 3 trucks stocked and ready to go, with one of our three veterinarians always on call 24/7/365 to help our current patients in an emergency. If everyone ordered vaccines from a magazine and never involved their vet in preventative care, only calling in an emergency, vets would need to charge 10x as much for emergency services just to keep their practice afloat. (Not to mention that the annual exam is so important, and always saves money in the long run when we can catch problems early.) Please use your vet for routine care if you expect them to be available for emergencies.

Do you wonder why veterinarians end their own lives at 4 times the rate of the general population?

After dedicating our lives to helping horses, spending 8 years studying in college and vet school, sacrificing family time to be out on cold rainy nights tending to emergencies after already long, hard days, and then being told we don't have a heart and don't really want to help animals....THAT is the problem.

I considered just throwing this letter in the trash without giving it much thought. Our clients are wonderful, appreciative, and I know that we make a difference in their horses' lives, so I can shrug it off. But what if the person who received this letter was in mental distress after losing a patient that they tried everything to save, and this letter pushed them over the edge to quit, or worse? The reason I decided to post this is because this is not an isolated incident. Reviews like this are posted every single day directed at all types of vet practices, or it's an off-handed comment at the barn about vets just being in it for the money. If you hear those comments, please don't let it go- speak up for your vet's sake. This has GOT to stop. Or there will be none of us left.

07/30/2024

Tuesday Truth!

Give them a shout out here!

07/29/2024

GASTROSCOPY WEEK IS HERE! There is only one spot left, so if you've been waiting to investigate your hors's gastric ulcer status, your time is now! Treating for gastric ulcers is EXPENSIVE! So is ignoring them or not healing them with over the counter cure alls from the internet. To help people overcome medication costs associated with treating for gastric ulcers, our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim have put together a really cool program for this summer. If you suspect your horse has gastric ulcers and you've been putting off diagnostics and treatment, call us with any questions and book an appointment ASAP! Limited opportunities are available to qualify for the FREE Gastrogard! Call 610-926-4838 TODAY!

07/24/2024

Timely information......Gastroscopy week is only 5 days away!

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HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

07/24/2024

Last chance for big savings if your horse is on Legend! Call 610-926-4838 TODAY to stock up!

07/24/2024

GASTROSCOPY WEEK IS ALMOST HERE!Treating for gastric ulcers is EXPENSIVE! So is ignoring them or not healing them with over the counter cure alls from the internet. To help people overcome medication costs associated with treating for gastric ulcers, our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim have put together a really cool program for this summer. If you suspect your horse has gastric ulcers and you've been putting off diagnostics and treatment, call us with any questions and book an appointment ASAP! Limited opportunities are available to qualify for the FREE Gastrogard! Call 610-926-4838 TODAY!

07/19/2024

Not everyone needs to own a trailer, but everyone needs to have a plan!

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07/17/2024

GASTROSCOPY WEEK IS COMING!Treating for gastric ulcers is EXPENSIVE! So is ignoring them or not healing them with over the counter cure alls from the internet. To help people overcome medication costs associated with treating for gastric ulcers, our friends at Boehringer Ingelheim have put together a really cool program for this summer. If you suspect your horse has gastric ulcers and you've been putting off diagnostics and treatment, call us with any questions and book an appointment ASAP! Limited opportunities are available to qualify for the FREE Gastrogard! Call 610-926-4838 TODAY!

07/15/2024

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Happy National I Love Horses Day! 🐎

Whether you're an equine veterinarian, horse owner, or both, it's the love for the horse that drives the passion for what we do.

Thank you to all of the dedicated horse doctors and veterinary professionals who care for the equine companions that hold a special place in our hearts.

07/12/2024

Great information for our Paint and other color dilute horse breed owners!

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The summer heat and sun won't be letting up any time soon, so make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.