Teton Equine Mobile Veterinary Practice

08/21/2024

Is this mini a celebrity some might ask? Or does he just like to roll in style? Regardless he’s cute and he sure attracts a lot of attention! This special little patient came to visit us this week and he sure put a smile on all of our faces! 😍

08/15/2024

Hey Teton Valley! Dr Morgan will be in the area next Wednesday, do or your equine friends need anything? Give us a call or text at
(208) 881-7753

08/05/2024

Not all wounds are created equally. This horse was attacked by another horse that got into his pasture. The poor guy was pretty beat up. A large wound was present on the neck that was severely infected and painful. Dr. Morgan explored the wound which pocketed almost elbow deep into the neck. After it was debrided and flushed out, Dr. Morgan was able to feel something sharp deep in the wound. Radiographs revealed a fractured piece of vertebrae that was serving as a source of infection. The fractured segment was surgically removed by Dr. Morgan and her team. After several weeks of hard work by the owner and rechecks with Teton Equine, the wound is healed and the horse is doing great! We are so glad this guy is feeling better!

07/11/2024

Carolyn Kollegger is known for creating meaningful portraits of people and their animals or just animals if you prefer. If you would enjoy a high quality, professionally rendered original oil painting of your beloved pet then feel free to reach out to this local artist. She offers Seasonal Specials and is currently offering a “Summer ‘24 Pet Portrait Special”, for a 9x12 original oil on canvas panel. She involves her customers throughout the painting process to ensure satisfaction! If your interested visit her website at www.carolynkollegger.com

07/10/2024

**CAUTON GRAPHIC PHOTO**
Horses love to acquire heel bulb lacerations. What happens when a horse gets its foot caught in something? Well 99.9% of most horses will kick that leg until it comes off. Unfortunately for some, what "comes off" may not only be the object they were caught up in. Therefore, it's important to ALWAYS have an equine first aid kit on hand! (contact us to obtain your complete equine first aid kit now!)

Horses have two large veins and arteries that run down the inside and the outside of their legs and provide blood supply to the hoof. If these vessels (particularly the arteries) are involved in the laceration, they will continue to pump out blood if pressure is not applied and/or a clot cannot be formed.

Therefore, if you ever find your horse in this situation, the first and most important thing to do is to apply a tourniquet to the leg in order to discontinue or slow the bleeding. BE CAREFUL when doing this as your horse may be sore and it is NEVER worth getting kicked!

Next, please take a picture of the wound (as veterinarians, we can tell from a picture (good quality), whether the wound needs attended to immediately on an emergency basis and/or needs surgery, or whether it is something that can be seen at a normal appointment time with the properly applied pressure bandage. We have first aid kits available for purchase as well as "How to" videos on bandaging and tourniquet application that can be provided to anyone who would like the information, just shoot us a text at (208) 881-7753.

07/08/2024

This is an example of a foal we treated for contracted tendons. Her legs are now straight and she is running around and playing like foals should do! However, when she was born she was painful and demonstrated trouble walking. After some medication and some specialized bandaging techniques her legs straightened out and she is doing much better. Angular limb deformities like contracted tendons can be treated and corrected for as long as it is done immediately and before 16 weeks of age. Therefore, it is extremely important to contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice these abnormalities in a newborn foal that way corrective therapy can be applied while they are growing and developing. Once this crucial time period has passed, medical management alone is usually not sufficient and the more time that passes, the less likely surgery is to be a viable option as well.

07/03/2024

Dr. Morgan Poisson suturing up a laceration on a patient's rear end! Remember, it is extremely important to vaccinate horses for tetanus on a yearly basis. This is because horses are one of the most sensitive and susceptible mammals on this earth to the tetanus toxin which resides in soil EVERYWHERE. Tetanus enters the body through the skin via abrasions and lacerations. Therefore, the only way to protect your horses against this fatal disease is to vaccinate!

07/01/2024

Dr. Morgan Poisson getting some loves from a patient of hers! We love our patients!

06/27/2024

Dr. Abby Matthaeus is administering plasma to a newborn foal. This foal was at risk of not obtaining the vital colostrum needed in order to survive at birth. This colostrum contains antibodies needed to create a fully functioning and protective immune system. It is critical that these newborn foals receive this within the first 24 hours of birth from their mothers. If they dont receive it, or receive it too late, it is called "failure of passive transfer" and their chances of survival are extremely low. Therefore, its important to let your veterinarian know if your foal does not stand up and nurse within 3 hours of being born. Or if your mare is dripping milk prior to foaling out as she may be losing that important colostrum needed for your foal's survival. If you are interested in more detailed information let us know and we will send you our mare and foal handout! (208) 881-7753 or [email protected].

06/25/2024

TETON EQUINE IS EXCITED TO HAVE JACEY BRUNO ON THE TEAM!!!!!

Jacey Bruno was raised in the small town of Challis, Idaho with her two siblings on her family's ranch. Born into the rodeo scene, Jacey was riding horses before she was walking and participated in 4-H throughout her childhood. Both her parents were heavily involved in the rodeo world and it wasn't any different for Jacey. Jacey runs barrels, poles, goat ties, team ropes and breakaway ropes. Besides riding horses, Jacey also enjoys hunting trips with her Dad in her spare time. Jacey has learned the true meaning of horsemanship and it has instilled in her the value of hardwork and responsibility. Horses are Jacey's passion and she knew she wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine where she could spend her time expanding her equine education and helping horses in need.

Since hiring Jacey, she has excelled in leaps and bounds in the veterinary medicine world, the same way she has in her rodeo endeavors. Her expert horsemanship and the love she has for horses shines through in her work everyday. We feel lucky to have Jacey here at Teton Equine and we are excited to see what the future brings for her!

06/24/2024

This is an example of a patient that has decreased conscious proprioception. Therefore, he does not realize that his right front foot is standing directly in front of his left. This is because the feedback pathway of where his foot is at in space is not functioning correctly. So while he still has feeling (sensory) in his legs, if the lights were turned off, he just would not be able to identify WHERE his foot was at in space (hopefully this analogy makes sense). This is considered a neurologic deficit (more specifically a proprioceptive deficit).

These deficits can occur for many reasons (infectious agents, toxicities, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, congenital defects, etc. These horses tend to be "imbalanced, weak, clumsy or stumble a lot" many clients report that they are "lazy" or "just dont want to pick up their feet when they are walking, they trip over everything." However, the last thing a lazy horse wants to do is stumble, because it takes more energy for a horse to catch themself if they fall than it does to lift their legs up a little higher over rough terrain.

If you think your horse may be experiencing some of these symptoms, a neurologic evaluation by a veterinarian may be warranted in order to test your horse's neurologic function and diagnose these deficits.

06/21/2024

This is one of our patients receiving shockwave therapy on their back. Shockwave therapy delivers high energy sound waves or pulses which stimulate cell production and cause the body to release healing growth factors that reduce inflammation, increase circulation, accelerate bone formation, enhance wound healing and relieve pain. This can be used on backs, legs, necks and more. For many ailments including osteoarthritis, kissing spines, tendon and ligament injuries, muscle soreness, and for acute and chronic pain. If you think your horse may be a candidate for shockwave give us a call now.

06/17/2024

Rabies does exist in bat populations in our area. Although rare, there was recently a confirmed case here. Horses along with dogs and cats can be vaccinated for rabies and with the bat population in the area, it is just one more protective measure to make sure that your horse does not get this awful and always fatal disease. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/ScjxHkDhqNGppWT4/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The following is a news release from Eastern Idaho Public Health. SALMON — A bat found in the yard of a residence in Lemhi County has been identified as having rabies. While most bats are harmless and do not carry rabies, they are the only animal in Idaho that is a natural reservoir for the […]

06/14/2024

Good information for all of you who are breeding mares, and foaling out 🙂

Zoetis Mare and Foal Care solutions help provide horse owners with the right care and support during reproductive stages and beyond.

06/13/2024

Three hour drive or not, we will continue to make the trip to Jackson and the surrounding areas because we love our patients in Jackson! and their health and care is a priority to us. ❤️

https://localnews8.com/news/2024/06/11/making-the-best-of-a-3-hour-drive-to-jackson/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3tPSXD96K3QbAyM8KYcp6WONYOseJK5f47K5og9kmm4T7DotCxA-7aDQc_aem_AcakdJCJ4cSSPsDlFlYyHUelU9FA6sB1RFNn6Dyn5PaBFXpN-2swQnGWPYcjOCmc5arGxxezJZYDiG2OYW3G_EsU

It is taking some people 3-hours to drive to work from the Teton Valley because of the extra traffic on the highway between Swan Valley and Jackson.

06/04/2024

Dr. Morgan checking teeth on a patient. Don't forget to have your horses mouths checked at least once yearly for sharp points! As horse's teeth wear they develop sharp points on the buccal aspect of the upper molars (the surface of the teeth that contacts the cheeks) and on the lingual aspect of the lower molars (the surface of the teeth that contacts the tongue). When this happens the points rub on these sensitive mucosal surfaces created sores and ulcers that can be extremely painful. This may cause your horse to think that the bit and any touch of the face or mouth by you, your bridle or halter causes them pain and can lead to head shy behavior. Additionally, this may also cause your horse weight loss if the pain prevents them from chewing their hay correctly and completely. And these days with hay prices no horse owner wants to waste money on hay that their horse isn't adequately grinding up and absorbing nutrients from. So take care of your horse's mouths and spend less on hay :)

05/31/2024

Hey Star Valley, Dr. Abby was thinking of making a trip your way soon! If you need anything done give us a call or text at (208) 881-7753

05/31/2024

Does anyone recognize this test? This is what is called an IgG snap test. This test is used to determine if a newborn foal received an adequate amount of what are called IgG antibodies (proteins the mare passes through her colostrum on to her foal which dictate her foal's strength of immunity at birth). When a foal is born, they are born without a developed immune system and it is said that their GI tract is "open" to anything they consume or are exposed to in their environment for the first 24 hours of life. After 24 hours the GI tract "closes" and no more antibodies can be absorbed orally at this point.

This "open" GI tract means that foals are at risk of absorbing any infectious diseases, parasites, or bacteria present within the ground, manure, etc. And just like human babies, foals love to put their mouths on EVERYTHING as they are exploring their new world. This is why it is CRITICAL that they ingest good quality colostrum from their mother no later than 2 hours after being born.

This colostrum at birth is different from normal mare's milk. It typically appears thicker and more yellow in color than the milk you see streaming from a mare days after foaling (typically thinner and white in color). Only a small volume of colostrum is produced for a short period of time. Therefore, if you notice your pregnant mare is streaming milk prior to birth, there is a good chance that they could be losing all of this VERY IMPORTANT colostrum her foal needs to survive and remain healthy.
If your foal does not receive this liquid gold from their mom they can absorb all the pathogens in their environment and have no way to fight anything off, ultimately leading to septicemia and if left untreated, is commonly fatal.

So, how do you know if your foal has received these vital antibodies required for life? Read the caption in the photo to find out!

05/29/2024

05/28/2024

This is a patient of ours that sadly ended up with a splint bone fracture. She was kicked by another equine buddy of hers when running around turned out together. In the past some might have assumed that she would need to be put down after "breaking a leg." However, this is not always the case these days! In fact, this horse recovered completely from this injury with stabilization and confinement and it is not predicted that she will have any career limiting issues with this leg in the future. Just a reminder to always consult your veterinarian as medicine has progressed in leaps and bounds and not every fracture is a death sentence thank goodness!

05/25/2024

This mini mule friend was just too cute not to share!

05/22/2024

This is Dr. Abby's patient standing patiently in a little TACK ROOM of all places believe it or not! She was getting ready to inject a couple joints when all of a sudden a wind/rain storm blew in. But he was such a good boy that he walked right into the tiny tack room where we could get out of the weather and perform a sterile antiseptic joint scrub free from contamination of the weather. Therefore, this sweet boy was still able to receive his joint injections he needs to feel his best safely and sterilely!

05/20/2024

It's that time of the year! For all of you that have mares foaling out.......Don't forget the 1,2,3 Rule!

Once that foal hits the ground they should be standing in ONE hour, nursing by TWO hours and the placenta in its entirety should be passed from your mare by THREE hours. If it takes longer than this timeline for any reason, you should call your veterinarian as something could be wrong.

If the placenta has not passed in its entirety 3 hours post foaling this is considered a retained placenta and is an EMERGENCY. The longer the placenta remains in the mare after birth the more likely she is to begin absorbing toxins from the placental tissue. If left untreated these toxins can cause septicemia (bacteria released into the bloodstream) and cause your mare to get VERY sick, develop laminitis (founder) or even worse be fatal.

Additionally, if she passes the placenta but you notice that there are pieces of it missing, you should also call your veterinarian immediately as these pieces left behind will need to be flushed out of the uterus. Therefore, as gross as it sounds, gather the placenta after birth and put it in a big bucket of cold water so your veterinarian can confirm it was passed in its entirety. If not kept it water it will dry up and shrivel up making it difficult to assess.

There should only be one hole present in the largest horn where the foal exited. You can also lay the placenta out in a F shape and send us a picture to confirm complete passage. Happy Foaling!

05/16/2024

Dr. Abby Castrating a young equine patient of ours. Caution: those with sensitive stomachs, the spermatic cord and testicular structure is shown in this picture.

05/07/2024

A dental patient of ours showing us some extra teeth he was born with! 🦷

04/29/2024

We had an interesting case this morning! This guy came in with a white splinter just in front of his eye. So we removed it and found out it wasn’t a splinter but in fact an incisor tooth! Likely from his buddy in the neighboring pen! I tell ya! These horses always keep ya guessing!

04/24/2024

This is an example of abnormal purple discoloration and what is called a toxic line along a horse’s mucus membranes (gums). This occurs when a horse becomes systemically septic (bacteria- AKA endotoxins, are released into the bloodstream). When evaluating mucus membranes in a horse, they should be pink or light pink, and when pressed on with a finger, should blanch white, but then immediately turn pink again in less than two seconds (a capillary refill time (CRT) of less than 2 seconds). Mucus membrane color and CRT are a very important vital sign to evaluate, especially when monitoring horses for colic symptoms or assessing for severity of blood loss. If the mucus membrane color is anything but pink then you should contact your veterinarian immediately as your horse could be in critical condition.

04/14/2024

You can also follow us on Instagram to see more!!

04/12/2024

Dr. Morgan getting some help with an ultrasound exam from another furry friend!