Large Animal Practice

09/06/2025

09/02/2025

A positive west Nile case was found in Santa Barbara county last week. This is why it’s important to vaccinate!!!

West Nile virus information for California horse owners.

08/24/2025

Thought this might be an interesting read for those that want to put “anything” in a wound. Think twice!
My rules for initial wound management (prior to veterinary care).
1. Nothing goopy or powdery. Your veterinarian will have to get every last painful (to us) drop of goop and spray out of the wound. These include, but aren’t limited to: nitrofurozone ointment, triple antibiotic ointment, furozone spray, alushield etc
2. No concentrated antiseptics and honestly not sure if I want any at all! Ie betadine, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, chlorhex etc.
3. Ask your vet! Like the 811 (call before you dig), call before you spray!
For a detailed explanation of hydrogen peroxide, see below.

Hydrogen peroxide can clean wounds by fizzing to remove debris and kill some germs, but experts now recommend against its use on wounds because it also damages healthy skin cells and slows healing. For wound cleaning, it's safer to gently wash the area with soap and water or rinse it with clean water or saline.
The fizzing action that removes dirt and bacteria also destroys essential healthy skin and immune cells needed for healing.
By damaging these cells, Hydrogen peroxide can impede the natural healing process.
The bubbling and burning sensation can be uncomfortable and may even deter people from cleaning the wound, increasing the risk of infection.
Gently washing the wound with soap and water effectively removes dirt and bacteria.
Rinsing the wound with plain or a saline solution is a safe way to clean it without causing harm to healthy cells.

08/03/2025

Hi All,
Please reach out to Varian Equestrian Center in AG if your horse needs to be taken care of if you have to evacuate. We also have dry camping.
805-664-1401
*feel free to repost

04/01/2025

New tech at the office.

03/07/2025

There will be a bovine hoof trimmer coming to town if anyone is interested.

12/25/2024

Twas the night before Christmas , and the coldest one yet
One last farm call to make , for a tired old Horse Vet

The horses were snuggled, and tucked in their stalls

Where the only thing moving, were the mice in the walls

Their feed buckets were hung, by the stall doors with care

In the hopes that The Horse Doctor, soon would be there

Out in the paddock, there arose quite a fussin’

The hot wire was on, and someone was cussin’

I ran to the window, and stuck my nose through the curtain

“I think that’s the Doc", looks like he’s limping for certain”

From out in the barn, came the faint scent of Brandy

And he was passing out meds, as if it were candy

Some Bute for your lameness, Dexamethasone for you

Antibiotics for that one, and some Banamine too

As he walked back to his truck, he screamed as if shot

“I reckon he forgot, that the wire was still hot”

I could still hear him fussin’, as he drove down the hill

“Merry Christmas to all, I’ll just send you the bill”

12/09/2024

Branding season is here!!!

12/08/2024

Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves why we do things as veterinarians! 46 and 20 years since Drs. Warden and Lyon spoke these words on admission to veterinary school!

10/31/2024

Just wanted to let people know that Large Animal Practice has hired a new veterinarian. He’s very young be nice! 😂

ETA my son and I dressed up as each other and crashed a costume party. 😉 

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from Dr. Lyon and Large Animal Practice

10/05/2024

Guess what and where we found “it”.