Crossroads Veterinary Service Dr. Alicia Webster

07/31/2024

What should you do (or not do) if your horse shows signs of colic? And how do you prevent colic in the first place? Find out from our veterinary experts.

07/28/2024

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.

07/28/2024

Exciting news! We purchased an Endoscope! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Gastric ulcers a concern you have been thinking about????

We are hosting a scoping clinic, 50% off, TUES JULY 30th. Only a few spots remaining so only offering to active clients for this special. Please call office 209-580-0114 early Monday if you want to grab a spot. Will require overnight fasting and Tues morning drop off.

Learn more about your horse's gut health and year-round tips for a healthy digestive system. Find the right gut health products for your horse.

07/12/2024

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.

06/07/2024

West Nile Virus is here! 🥵

Reduce risk to your horses and to humans!
- Ensure your horses' vaccination status is up to date for West Nile Virus
- Reduce areas of standing water where mosquitos like to breed
- Stock larger water tanks with fish that feed on mosquito larvae
- Use mosquito repellents and sprays

The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District made the announcement on Thursday.

01/30/2024

FURst Aid: Preventing and Treating Colic in Horses
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, 5:30-6:30 P.M. (PST)
Free | Open to the Public | Registration Required

In this FURst Aid webinar, Dr. Kelsey Jurek will teach you what to expect when dealing with the common emergency of colic. You'll learn what it is, how to respond, when to call your veterinarian and what to be prepared for if you're referred to a veterinary hospital. You'll also learn how veterinari...

01/27/2024

This post by the AAEP speaks to me. I have a lot of geriatric patients in my practice, and I really do find joy in bringing them support. ❤️

It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s, thanks to continuous advances in nutrition and health care.

Horse owners have a big impact as well and can help their horses thrive in their golden years through proper management practices like those illustrated in the graphic. But remember: although there is much you can on your own do to keep your older horse happy and spry, some conditions associated with aging require medical intervention.

Scheduling regular visits and keeping a good line of communication with your veterinarian will allow you to respond quickly to any ailments or injuries that could cause your horse a serious or prolonged set back. That means less worry for you, and a better quality of life for your old friend!

01/12/2024

We have several patients that use cetirizine tabs for allergies... saw this sale at Costco!

Also, even if your horse doesn't suffer from recurrent allergies, we recommend keeping a stash in your "Emergency barn kit." Acute hives due to an unknown trigger is a common call we receive! When you message after-hours on a Friday, it's already in your possession 😏

Please ADVISE your veterinarian for dosage and appropriate treatment use.

Have a great Friday everyone!

12/22/2023

Water remains as important for your horse in cold weather as it is in the summer. As a matter of fact, decreased water consumption in the winter is thought to be the primary inducing factor for impaction colic — although there are other predisposing factors such as poor hay quality, lack of exercise, internal parasites and dental problems.

Impaction colic is essentially constipation and most often includes the accumulation of hard, dry f***l material in the colon. The usual signs of impending impaction colic are depression, a decreased appetite, and decreased production and dryness of manure.

Studies demonstrate that you can increase your horse's winter water consumption if you provide access to heated water, but ONLY if that is the only source of water available. As always, if you have any questions about preventing colic in your horse, your local veterinarian remains your best source of information!

10/29/2023

10/06/2023

While it’s a common equine emergency, espophageal obstruction (“choke”) 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

07/19/2023

1st Equine WNV case diagnosed in California for 2023 (Kern County).
Vaccination dramatically improves your horses chance of survival.

According to the AAEP:
"The case fatality rate for horses exhibiting clinical signs of WNV infection is approximately 33%. Data have supported that 40% of horses that survive the acute illness caused by WNV still exhibit residual effects, such as gait and behavioral abnormalities, 6 months post-diagnosis. Thus vaccination for West Nile virus is recommended as a core vaccine and is an essential standard of care for all horses in North America."

West Nile virus information for California horse owners.

05/07/2023

Foaling season is so rewarding, especially when you are able to reap the benefits or last years hard work. I am in love with this filly. 😍

03/20/2023

🤣

02/15/2023

Happy Valentine's Day to all my patients! Sending some love from the cutest lil mini donk foal 😍😍😍 Yay spring is coming 🌞🍒🍇🌷

02/09/2023

Gear up for Spring and those pesky flies 🪰😫!!!

01/19/2023

It's going to drop into the low 30's. I thought this was an interesting fact!!!

On average horses drink 7-10 gallons of water a day and this remains as important in cold weather as it is in the summer because reduced water intake can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as the dreaded impaction colic.

Studies demonstrate that horses will drink more if provided access to heated water and that most water consumption happens within three hours of feeding. How can you use this information to your advantage? Refill buckets at feed time with warm water to maximize your horse’s water intake—especially in the winter when water is more likely to be freezing or close to freezing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to learn more about preventing colic in your horse, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

01/14/2023

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

Colic is not a disease; it is merely a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is—the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:
• Alert your veterinarian immediately.
• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings.
• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs;
• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself—but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe.
• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start. Consult your horse doctor for more information and be sure to ask them how they can be reached if your horse colics after hours!

10/13/2022

I mean, if this doesn't make you smile...

We had the pleasure of helping this little tiny dude get through his first 24hrs of life. His momma "Doodlebug" and human caretakers report he is doing well today!

Happy Thursday 🤎🤍🤎

09/27/2022

This girl... always makes me laugh! Happy Tuesday!

Barrel Racing Daily shared a post on Instagram: "Where the heck did all these freckles come from 🎥 Repost from : Tiktok ---------------------- 🔷 Describe your day in one word and tag your friends or family who love to see this ❤️ 🔔 Don't forget follow us and turn post noti...

07/27/2022

Great read!

Equine ulcer treatment and preventive measures require a multifaceted and individualized plan for a successful outcome. Learn from top equine veterinarians.

07/25/2022

Horses can produce more than 5 liters of sweat per hour, which equates to about 50 grams of body salt. Providing 1 tablespoon of table salt per 500 pounds of body weight daily can help your horse meet his sodium needs.

Learn more at TheHorse.com/110704 as we Focus on the Facts about feeding performance horses this month, brought to you by Purina Horse Feed.

06/07/2022

Do horses sweat? Yes, sweat is the major mechanism for removing horses’ excess body heat. Learn signs of non-sweating and dehydration and how to supplement non-sweaters.

05/26/2022

In case anyone missed their last sale...

EQUIVIZOR UV FLY MASKS

SAVE 20%
or
SAVE 25% ON 3 OR MORE
(MIX & MATCH)

4 Styles / 5 Sizes

Most orders for in stock items received by 12:00 PM PT (Monday - Friday) will ship the same day. Tracking information is sent to the email address associated with your order.

05/09/2022

For those of you following Luna's journey, she has a mom! Just in time to celebrate today! 🥳🥳🥳

Happy Mother's Day, Ya'll 🤎🐎🤎

05/07/2022

For my patients that require UV protection around their eyes and/or muzzle... currently on sale 😀

https://protectivepetsolutions.com/collections/store

04/29/2022

Sweet Little Luna! 🌙 oh we love her, so.

For those who know about Luna already, Fernando and I wanted to let you know that she is doing great! For those who do not know her story, she tragically lost her momma a few hours after she was born early Monday morning. We have nurse mare options we are attempting, so we can transition her from her current puppy dog state to a properly mothered foal. 🤞🙏
Thank you to our sweet client Jenn for the blanket for these cooler nights! And for all the support and concern from our clients who have asked about her. She has the best caretakers in the world (Fernando and Chelo)! 🤎🐴🤎

04/26/2022

This is Mango 🥭. I love him and allllllllll his cuteness. (Welsh Pony x Haflinger)

04/23/2022

Spring!!!!!
April is, no doubt, my busiest month of the year. Babies being born, spring maintenance, Fair season, getting prepped for shows, and people just out enjoying the weather!
My days are so long, sometimes I forget what day it even is.

But the beauty and surprises of spring help keep me grounded.

We discovered this awesome surprise 🦉 in our large oak tree in front of our house recently. Babies are simply the best. 😍