Irongate Equine Clinic

02/27/2025

🚨 Irongate Staff birthday alert 🚨Please help us wish Dr Alderman a very happy birthday!
🎊🎂🎈

02/26/2025

Thank you Wisconsin Large Animal Emergency Response for your ongoing commitment to educate horse owners and their caregivers. 👏

02/25/2025

F***l egg counts are indeed a valuable tool for determining the most effective deworming program for your horse.

With spring only a few weeks away (🙌), it’s not too early to start thinking about a deworming plan for your equine companions.

If deworming is something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember, this year we encourage you to break tradition and work with your veterinarian instead. Thanks to tools like the f***l egg count, your horse doctor can help you devise a treatment tailored to the needs of your equine friend plus monitor the efficacy of the dewormer used last.

And before you dismiss this notion because you’ve been “doing it for years,” you should know that the old-school approach to deworming is quickly becoming outdated—not only a waste of money but it also builds drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines, which means we are running out of drugs that can effectively help us control parasite infections.

As always, consult your equine veterinarian to learn more and for questions specific to your animals!

***lEggCount

02/23/2025

02/19/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

02/18/2025

With the recent drop in temperatures, we wanted to remind you of some extra care your horses may need during this cold spell.

Please ensure they have:
✨Adequate shelter, including a windbreak.
✨Access to free-choice hay for increased calorie intake.
✨Plenty of fresh, unfrozen water.
✨ Safe footing in their paddocks and pastures.
✨ Appropriately rated blankets for the current temperatures, if you are blanketing them.

If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your horse in these conditions, please don't hesitate to contact our office.

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day 🌹🍫❤️

02/12/2025

Are you ready for foaling season?

Don't miss out on this FREE webinar, TONIGHT @ 8 PM!

Are you foal-ready?

This Wednesday, join AAEP member veterinarians Drs. Chelsea Folmar & Taylor Huffman for a webinar discussion that will help you prepare for the foaling season. Learn how to create a foaling kit, the timeline of parturition (foaling), and how to recognize when veterinary intervention is needed.

Registration is FREE but required. A recording of the webinar will be available if you miss the live event.

Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/Ats8dN0E2JxrJYoBUPKU7BW_HtYcwxW988ZYvpWRruqNFu98_uws~AnoL_ZTlIx2iZDbk457AKzpEPWgwMyM1m36OoJWUUyiXJPOgKi4PHJJYdQ

This informative session is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

02/10/2025

02/08/2025

🚨 Irongate Staff birthday alert 🚨Please help us wish Katie a very happy birthday!

🎊🎂🎈

02/07/2025

Are you foal-ready?

Check out this webinar put on by the American Association of Equine Practitioners
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02/05/2025

Have you ever encountered EOTRH, or Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis? This painful, progressive dental condition primarily affects older horses (typically over 15 years of age).

EOTRH initially causes the resorption (loss) of bone and tissue surrounding the roots of the incisors (front teeth) and canine teeth. This leads to instability, making the teeth brittle and prone to fracture. Additionally, the condition often involves excessive cementum growth, resulting in a bulbous enlargement of the affected tooth roots. The cause of EOTRH remains unknown.

02/03/2025

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
This is a very common type of cancer found in horses. While these tumors are locally destructive, metastasis (or spread to other parts of the body) is rare. Horses with non-pigmented (pink) skin around their eyes are at a higher risk of developing SCC.

: A genetic mutation exists in several breeds (including Halflingers and Belgians), which carries an elevated risk of developing ocular (around the eye) SCC. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any changes in the appearance of your horse’s skin or eyes.

The photo on the right shows this patient’s healed third eyelid following surgical excision (removal) of the mass, and treatment of the surgical margins with cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen). This mare does carry the genetic predisposition for developing SCC, so she will need to receive frequent eye exams to monitor for signs of new cancerous lesions.

01/27/2025

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. While horses aren't typically considered pets, it's a great time to remind you about the importance of annual dental checkups for your equine companions.

Don't forget to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to ensure your horse's teeth are in optimal condition.

01/24/2025

Does your horse not stand well for the farrier or clipping?

Have you considered using Dormosedan Gel?

Think of it as a helping hand! 👇

DORMOSEDAN GEL® (detomidine hydrochloride) is a safe and effective mild standing sedative for use prior to routine horse care procedures. On occasions when y...