C. Kent Thames, DVM

01/09/2025

When you have bulls to test in 29 degree weather and your client wants to keep Mrs. Amy warm 😍

01/09/2025

Normal Vitals for Horses
Temperature—-99-101 degrees
Pulse Rate—-28-44 beats per minute
Respiration—-10-24 breaths per minute
Mucus Membranes—-moist, pink in color
Capillary Refill Time—2 seconds or less

01/08/2025

Horse Protection Act goes into effect February 1st and this is why we don’t like it!!

01/07/2025

Info on the Horse Protection Act that goes into effect February 1st and why we disagree with it!! Contact your Representatives

4430 likes, 362 comments. “Unpopular Post… Just Facts”

01/06/2025

“Psst, hey, time to get on the schedule for Spring Shots.”

01/05/2025

Manure happens, so what can we learn from it….
Your horses manure can give you a load of information about what’s happening inside their gut.
Watery Diarrhea—-something is wrong and needs a Veterinary exam promptly.

Soft / cow patty——indicates something is amiss, particularly in the hind gut, the water to fiber ratio is too high, there are many causes and a Veterinary exam is needed.

Formed——indicates your horse is well hydrated and sufficient in fiber within their diet.

Hard, dry , dark—-not normal and can be an indicator of dehydration, indigestible fiber is too high in the diet.

01/05/2025

“The horse knows. He knows if you know and he knows if you don’t know.”
Ray Hunt

God help me to know!

01/04/2025

Just a few of the Wildlife patients Dr Thames has seen. There's many more that we didn't get pictures of. Never a dull day around here!

01/04/2025

Me too Sheldon, me too 🤣🤣🤣

01/04/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/01/2025

Clinic Topics—-what interests you? Let me know in the comments!!!
Trail Obstacle Clinic
Fear Free Riding
Ranch Riding
Horsemanship
Your Horses Back(assessment/exercises)
Barrel Racing Clinic
Dressage
Western Dressage

12/30/2024

Weather forecasts for the second week in January is below average temperatures lasting into late January with possible winter snow/ice. Are you prepared? Are you supplied with ample hay, feed and bedding? Do you have ample water storage containers? Are your shelters in need of repair? Is your Emergency Kit and Colic Kit supplies in date and sufficient?

12/29/2024

Book now for February thru April for your Spring Vaccinations and get a discount on your bill. All you need to do is text Amy at 803-323-7789
New Clients that book an appointment get an extra surprise 😊

12/27/2024

🎇🎆🧨🎇🎆. Fireworks will be going off next week. Monday will be the day to make sure you’re prepared. If you’re a client and need some “I don’t care” meds for your horses. Let us know
Text 803-323-7789