Valley Equine Hospital

02/15/2023

02/15/2023

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Valley Equine….

11/02/2022

Thank you for showing up and making our first Educational Event and Dinner more awesome. Dr. Valerio and Dr. Fishenfeld did a great presentation on Colic. We hope we answered all your questions. A big thank you to our local feed store, Silva’s Hay and Grain, for the donated gift certificate door prize. Do you have any suggestions on topics you would like us to present in January? Let us know in the comment section below.

10/31/2022

Have A Spooktacular Halloween from all of us at Valley Equine.
Our wonderful vet techs this year decided to dress up like Adolfo, our facilities manager. We think they did an excellent job!

09/09/2022

Welcome to our practice!
Dr. Fishenfeld grew up as a working student at a barn in San Juan Capistrano, California helping ride anything from off the track thoroughbreds to green auction ponies.
She received her Bachelors in Animal Science at California Polytechnic University, Pomona where she was President of her Intercollegiate Equestrian team. She earned her DVM at Western University of Health Sciences, where she received the California Thoroughbred Scholarship & the Clinical Excellence Award in Large Animal Internal Medicine.
She completed her animal chiropractic training at Animal Chiropractic Education Source based in Meridian, Texas.
Her professional interests include lameness, chiropractic, endocrinology, and ambulatory internal medicine.
Dr. Fishenfeld is just as much a people person as an animal person, and looks forward to helping clients embrace their horses inside and out from many perspectives that she has collected throughout her lifetime as an equestrian.
In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, friends & family, socializing, mentoring upcoming equestrians, and riding her horse, “Stanley”.

08/07/2022

HOOF ABSCESSES EXPLAINED

Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.
(The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.)

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

Read more about hoof abscesses on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/hoof-abscesses

07/06/2022

Think about getting your horse vaccinated.

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection with "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck, and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses. Classic signs of the disease include sudden onset of fever as high as 106 degrees F, thick yellow nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes under the jaw.

Transfer from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to things such as contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS! (Sounds familiar, right?)

It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease, and the primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.


If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.
**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/issue/understanding-equine-strangles


And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

07/04/2022

Stay safe and enjoy your day

04/28/2022

Make sure you are applying with the manufacturer for these great rebates on prescription products listed; purchased from your vet! boehringerIngelheimEquineRebates.com

04/28/2022

Great Information!

The show season + warmer weather combo results, amongst other things, in a lot of traveling horses and most horse owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animals across state lines and enter them in a competitive event (or even board at someone's barn).

But if you’re thinking, “My horse doesn’t travel, does it still need an annual Coggins test?” — the answer is: YES.

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 horse's blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that produces a persistent infection — which means that infected horses become lifelong carriers, as there is no vaccine and no treatment.

EIA is transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies, so your horse is at risk even it never travels or lives in a closed herd. If a horse becomes infected, the clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically, from an acute infection with slight to high fever for a few days and perhaps small hemorrhages, to progressive weakness, weight loss, depression, and disorientation. EIA also has an inapparent form; affected horses might only show a slight fever for a day or be totally without clinical signs of the infection.

If a horse tests positive for EIA, they will serve as a lifelong source of disease transmission to other equids; at that point the owner can only choose between quarantine and isolation for the rest of the horse's life (minimum 200 yards away from all other horses), or humane euthanasia.

Take-home message: a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, but it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don't take place.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia

01/27/2022

Everyone…rebate is back, but for a limited time (January 1 - April 15, 2022). Place your order today and stock up!

01/19/2022

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR MARE IS EXPECTING

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated; however, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of your four-legged bundle of joy:

• Read this article about caring for the foaling mare and newborn: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery
• Consult with your veterinarian to make a plan well in advance of the birth.
• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.
• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.
• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.
• Time each stage of labor, to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines and you should contact your veterinarian for more information. Good luck! And if your foal has already made their grand entrance into the world, please share a picture with us!

01/14/2022

Foggy morning start here at Valley Equine - time to get the round pen built!

12/21/2021

Friendly reminder to get your medications purchased and rebate submitted. The mfg offer expires 01/01/2022 (see form for medication and rebate details).

12/10/2021

Let’s have some fun!

11/24/2021

Another great article from the AAEP

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) on the other hand 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 and 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.

Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lymphangitis-frustrating-condition

11/15/2021

Construction has began on Valley Equine’s new round pen! Why a round pen? Round pens provide a controlled, confined area to assess the horse’s natural movement without hinderance which is useful when evaluating soundness, temperament, emotional behavior etc. More pictures to follow soon!

11/15/2021

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

11/11/2021

Happy Veterans Day

On this Veterans' Day we want to take a moment to thank all the brave men and women who served our country and who continue to serve.

In honor of the animals who assist their human partners in the armed forces, we hope you'll enjoy reading the story of Nelson, pictured below with his soldier.

Nelson was a real war horse who served in the Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery during World War I by pulling the medium-calibre guns and howitzers which were deployed close to the front line. Nelson's handler and driver was Alfred Henn, who kept a photograph of the war horse he had cherished as a young soldier until his death in 2000, at the age of 103.

Speaking before he died, Alfred recalled Nelson's unflinching bravery despite only having one eye. With Alfred riding him, and the full weight of a gun carriage behind him, the noble horse galloped directly into the gunfire. Nelson was Alfred's only confidant amid the horror of battle, and also had an uncanny sense of danger that served both soldier and horse well.

Horses were a valuable commodity during WWI, but it's said the terror they shared in those days forged incredible friendships between the animals and their humans. It was a very physical relationship, and soldiers and horses often slept together in the mud to ward off the cold.

Source: Daily Mail

10/29/2021

Did you know....Dr. McCormick and Dr. Valerio are ANCCE approved veterinarians, providing our Pure Spanish Horse (P.R.E.) community with inscription services? It is a great honor. Thank you USPRE.

10/25/2021

Happy Monday!