Maple Veterinary Services

02/19/2024

Have you been curious about what happens during a dental equilibration (float)? Would you like to learn how teeth health impacts your horse’s overall health and performance? Or are you trying to decide if your horse needs its teeth examined?

This webinar would help answer those questions. Equine dentistry is a field quickly expanding in veterinary medicine with many exciting new innovations over the last ten years, come join the fun!

Midwest Veterinary Dental Services is a highly trained referral group of veterinarians specializing solely in dentistry, so they are a wonderful resource. Check out this webinar February 21st to learn about teeth!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/JEP1cBbFQgHZQ7AU/?mibextid=WaXdOe

Attention all horse owners! 🐴

Are you curious about equine dentistry and how it impacts your horse's health and well-being?
🦷 Join Dr. Molly Rice DAVDC-Eq for a special online educational event: "What Every Horse Owner Should Know About Dentistry." this Wednesday, February 21st at 7pm!

Whether you're a seasoned equestrian or new to horse ownership, this event is for you! Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to expand your knowledge and provide the best care for your equine companion.

Reserve your spot today:
https://form.jotform.com/240473502454148

02/15/2024

SPRING PREPARATION TIPS

It may not seem like it, but spring is fast approaching!

Here are some things to get ready for summer fun and events and make your spring much smoother:

1) Book a vet appointment now. Vets are few and far between, so book your spring vaccine appointments now. Most vets book out 6-8 weeks for their spring appointments, so calling several months ahead of time will ensure you can get all your required services before show season begins.

2) Help condition needle shy horses. If your horse is afraid of needles, begin working with it to decrease anxiety around these necessary procedures. This will make everybody’s experiences better and safer, you, your horse, and your vet. A great resource is BEVA’s “Don’t break your vet” series

https://youtu.be/MRAIdnQmzak?si=jK-JLYqLzR7phF5S

Enjoy preparations for summer fun!

12/25/2023

Thank you to our wonderful clients, who have made our first year back home so fulfilling! May you all have a wonderful holiday season full of love, family, and happiness. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2024!

11/08/2023

Good tips on blanketing and herd dynamics for seniors horses and underdogs.

https://www.facebook.com/100090452254713/posts/273286062363134/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

Preparing your senior horse for winter (part 3 of 3).

🐴 Assess your horse's herd rank 🐴

Senior horses may fall in ranking within a herd and become prone to getting pushed off the feeder. Observe herd dynamics and make housing changes before winter to ensure your senior horse can freely access the hay feeder and waterer. Remember, fermentation of forages in the hind gut produces heat that helps horses stay warm in the winter. Therefore, it is crucial your senior horse can access the feeder to help maintain their body temperature and prevent weight loss.

Very old horses may struggle to keep warm regardless of the amount of forage they receive. These horses might benefit from wearing a well-fitting, waterproof blanket. When blanketing, do not "set it and forget it." Make it a daily routine to check the fit and integrity of the blanket, which includes removing the blanket and making sure
💦 your horse is staying dry.
🩹 there are no rub marks or sores.
🐴 your horse is maintaining their bodyweight.

11/06/2023

Check to see if your senior horse’s food is fueling them. Are they dropping grain, or quidding (dropping balled up hay)? Pick up that blanket, can you see the ribs or do they have a nice layer of muscle and fat over them?
How much grain and hay should they have?

https://www.facebook.com/100090452254713/posts/272705472421193/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

Preparing your senior horse for winter (part 2 of 3).

Consider your forage options 🌱🌾☘️

Healthy, adult horses should eat about 1.5 to 2.5 percent of their bodyweight in forages daily. If your horse is on pasture, remember to slowly transition them to preserved forage (e.g., hay) over the course of two weeks as grazing season comes to an end. Gradual changes in diet allows microbes in the horse's hind gut time to adapt, which can help prevent colic.

When selecting forage for winter, be mindful of your senior horse's needs.

🦷 Horses with worn or missing teeth may not be able to effectively chew, swallow, and digest mature, long-stem forage. Feedstuffs of smaller particle size such as hay cubes or pellets may be more manageable for these horses, especially when soaked.

🌱 The ability to ferment fiber and absorb nutrients may decline as your horse ages. Very mature, stemmy hay is high in fiber and can be harder for some senior horses to digest. Alfalfa or immature grass hay is easier for seniors to digest and is higher in digestible energy and protein, which can help maintain body condition and muscle mass.

🐴 Routinely assess your horse's body condition score throughout the winter and adjust your feeding program as needed.

11/04/2023

A great read for your senior horse and hard keepers.

https://www.facebook.com/100090452254713/posts/272068325818241/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

As horses age, changes in their health needs can affect how you care for them. Winter can be especially hard on senior horses. However, there are some steps you can take to set your senior horse up for success this winter (part 1 of 3)

👨‍⚕️ Work with your veterinarian
Before cold weather arrives, schedule a routine exam with your veterinarian. Have them assess your horse's general health, bodyweight, teeth, and soundness. Addressing any issues now can help ensure your senior horse's health starts off on the right "hoof" prior to winter. Your veterinarian can also provide recommendations for managing newly discovered or pre-diagnosed health conditions such as arthritis, heaves, or metabolic disease during the winter months.

🐴 Deworm your horse
Senior horses are more prone to parasitic infections, which can cause weight loss, diarrhea, and colic when left untreated. Work with your veterinarian to conduct a f***l egg count and develop a targeted dosing plan for your horse. Ask your veterinarian about controlling parasites such as bots or tapeworms that may not appear in a f***l egg count. Generally, fall deworming is ideal after a hard frost when the grazing season ends.

03/02/2023

Vaccine and coggins season are right around the corner. To make this season easier on you, your horse, and your vet take some time to watch these videos, which set your horse up for success!

This series “Don’t break your vet” is put together by the British Equine Veterinary Association, and is a great activity for all horses, but especially needle shy ones.

Spring and horse season are around the corner!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZLor1KlzkI9X1UpvbOxwllS1BNoLvcmR

01/21/2023

Want to help be part of MN scrapie irradification program? The board of animal health is looking for brains and LN of sheep and goats >18mo who die or are to be culled. They will pay for sampling and testing and you may be eligible for free scrapie tags while supplies last. Call 651-201-6809 to participate, or read below for more information.

We're looking for sheep and goat brains, plus a horse boarding biosecurity checklist Minnesota Board of Animal Health sent this bulletin at 01/20/2023 02:24 PM CST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Animal Bytes January 2023 Viral disease detected in horse boarding barns The B...

12/20/2022

This is not only good advise for horse owners, but can maximize gains in cattle, sheep, and goats by allowing for a more focused mineral and grain program to put your hard earned money where it’ll be the most good.

This video discusses why horse owners should analyze their hay and demonstrates how to take a hay sample. Sample handling and how to use the results are als...

12/20/2022

❄️ Keep these helpful tips in mind when managing horses during this week's cold snap. ❄️

⏰ Maintain your normal schedule if possible. Research from Virginia found that an increase in colic episodes following adverse weather was a result of sudden changes in management and not the weather itself.

⚡️ Energy needs for a horse at maintenance increase about 1% for each degree below 18°F. For example, if the temperature is -18°F, a 1,000 pound idle, adult horse would need approximately 4 additional pounds of forage (e.g., hay) daily. It is best to provide the extra energy as forage since heat is produced from the microbial fermentation of forage.

🏡 Horses must have access to shelter from wind and moisture. A horse’s hair coat acts as insulation by trapping air, but when wet, the insulating value is loss.

💧 Water should be kept between 45 to 65°F to maximize consumption. Most adult horses require a minimum of 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. Horses should always have access to fresh, clean water. Check water sources often to ensure they have not froze.

🧤 Take care of yourself! Protect yourself from the cold by wearing multiple layers of coats and pants. Ensure the outer layer is wind and waterproof. Additionally, wear insulated, waterproof boots; warm gloves; a winter hat; and a scarf or neck gaiter to cover your face.

For more information on winter care, visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/caring-your-horse-winter

12/14/2022

With kidding and lambing season approaching in weeks to months, it’s always good to make sure your kits are stocked and animals are in good shape.

Monitoring body condition sores, FAMACHAS, and getting prenatal vaccines administered will make for a smoother season.

Here’s a nice concise read to get your season going:

12/09/2022

Always a good reminder in all seasons.

In winter access to fresh, clean, unfrozen water is important. Don’t forget to check on older arthritic horses, they are prone to impactions if they get too sore to move around for water on cold days.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158127408672691&id=128570532690

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored. Many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic — and promptly seeking qualified veterinary help — can the chance for recovery be maximized.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic; although not every case is avoidable, management plays a key role in prevention and the guidelines listed in the graphic can help maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

For more information about colic prevention and treatment, consult your equine veterinarian. Additional colic information is also available on our website at aaep.org