Lake Erie Equine

08/31/2024

In the spirit of this week, here are some tips to prepare for an emergency.

We are working on a new form to allow you to submit authorized agents to make decisions for your horses in the event of an emergency if you cannot be reached. In the meantime, if you know you will be unavailable and unreachable for a period of time, feel free to email the details of who will be reasonable for your equine partners.

08/29/2024

We have had a significant surge in urgent and emergent cases over the past week. As a result we are behind on paperwork, non-urgent callbacks and prescription medication approvals from outside pharmacies. As our next few days are filled to the brim, please bear with us as we take the time to (hopefully) catch up over the weekend.

08/25/2024

We have seen a number of fatal cases of West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the states surrounding Ohio. The vast majority (if not all) have been in unvaccinated or horses that were last vaccinated in 2023. These are preventable diseases! All horses regardless of age or lifestyle (yes, this includes your 35 year old pony who never leaves the property) should be vaccinated annually. For these bug borne disease, we recommend vaccinating in the spring before the mosquitos come out. If your horse has not received their annual vaccines, please reach out to schedule immediately. We have started scheduling fall vaccines and are booking out about 3 weeks for the coveted first of the morning appointments.

08/19/2024

08/15/2024

Another day, another rodeo. I loved seeing so many familiar faces. ♥️🤍💙

08/07/2024

With all the tornados we have been having recently this is a perfect webinar for our region. 🌪️ 🐎

Do you know what to do when the weather goes haywire?

This Thursday (Aug. 8), join AAEP members Drs. Elizabeth Gorrell and Chelsea Folmar for a one-hour webinar discussing the essentials of disaster preparedness for horse owners. Whether it's tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, or wildfires, learn to plan with confidence so you and your animals are equipped to ride out any storm!

Registration is FREE but required. Limited time at the end of the session will be available for questions and answers, so we encourage you to submit your questions in advance through the registration form. To register, please visit: https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OjyrhJK7RrOsV5LFljMxxg

Can't make the live event? No worries, a recording will be available! Click the link above to register and receive the link once the recording is available.

08/07/2024

My favorite part of being an equine vet is watching my patients do what they do best. We braved the rain and had a blast watching a few of our favorite barrel racers tonight.

08/06/2024

With all the county fairs starting up soon, here are some tips for a safe week with your equine partners.

Make sure to check the stall for any sharp nails or eye hooks sticking out to avoid injuries. Also, clear out any large rocks that may be on the floor of the stall before putting shavings down.

Some horses have a hard time adjusting to the change of the water at the fairgrounds and they tend to drink less. You can offer flavored water to make it more enticing, but make sure they have access to unflavored water as well.

Fair weeks always tend to bring the hot weather. Make sure to help keep your horse as cool as possible during this time. Properly cool out by hand walking and cold hosing after practicing and participating in shows. If the fair allows, bring a fan with an enclosed motor to hang on the stall.

08/02/2024

We are blessed to have 2 state of the art equine hospitals within reasonable driving distance to us.

Equine Specialty Hospital in Burton
&
Ohio State Galbreath Equine Center in Columbus

Often times we think of equine hospitals as a place for colic surgery, but they offer so much more. Advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT, and Bone Scan), hospitalization, routine and emergency surgeries, advanced procedures, and consults with specialists just to name a few.

There are many reasons we might suggest hauling to an equine hospital. It is important to have a plan on how you will get your horse there. The time to make this plan is BEFORE you need it. If you don’t own a trailer, you may consider reaching out to friends to see if they may be able to help should the need arise. I suggest having a few back up options as well.

I would love to compile a list of local haulers. If you would be interested in adding your name to the list please email and include whether you are a professional hauler or volunteer, if you would be available in the event of an emergency or would prefer to only be contacted for scheduled appointments, your location, and the best phone number to contact you. Emails can be sent to [email protected] with the subject “Hauler”.

08/01/2024

We have an appointment available tomorrow afternoon due to a cancelation. Please text or call if you’d like to get on the schedule.

07/20/2024

We recieved an unusually high volume of calls and texts yesterday. All emergent calls were handled, but we are working our way through the non urgent calls and catching up on paperwork this weekend. Thank you for your patience!

07/17/2024

The program we use to upload and share radiographs (X-Rays) is currently down. If you have had difficulties viewing your radiographs in the past few days, this is why. The company has not announced when they expect to have it up and running yet. If you need to view your radiographs urgently, please reach out and we will do our best to find a work around.

07/11/2024

Do you ever get the feeling that you are being watched?

07/08/2024

We are blessed with some fabulous farriers in our area. Make sure to remind them how awesome they are this week!

It's National Farriers Week! Let's celebrate the hard work that our farriers put in daily to partner with equine veterinarians and ensure the health and well-being of our horses. Proper hoof care is essential for a sound and happy horse, so it goes without saying that a skilled farrier is both a necessity and a tremendous asset.

Don't forget to give a shoutout to your farriers this week and show them your appreciation for their dedication to their craft!

07/06/2024

In an effort to provide the best care possible, I do not take phone calls or read text messages when I am with patients. However, I do glance at voicemails to ensure there are no urgent emergencies.

If you are an established client and you have an emergency, please call and leave a voicemail stating the nature of your emergency. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Text messages are not a sufficient means of communication in the event of an emergency.

If you have a question or are looking to schedule an appointment, text or phone are the best ways to reach me. I do my best to get back to everyone in a timely fashion.

This page does not have messenger enabled. Any communication regarding the practice should be via text message or phone call.

I pride myself on having open lines of communication. I love seeing pictures, getting updates, and answering all your fantastic questions. Please keep them coming, just via text or call! Thank you so much for all the support- it is truly appreciated.

Photo featuring the real work horse of the practice… my phone.

06/28/2024

Fireworks season is upon us. Here are some tips to keep your horses safe during all the excitement.

🎆Bring your horses into their stalls if they are sound sensitive.
🎆Turn on fans and play music to help dampen the sound.
🎆 Load them up with hay to keep them busy munching.
🎆 Talk to your vet about having medication on hand for those that may need them.

Lacerations from horses running through fences are the most common emergencies we see on holidays like this. Colics from stress follow as a close second. A little prevention can go a long way.

06/21/2024

Dr. Kate is attending a live virtual Continuing Education Course this Sunday and Monday. We have squeezed extra appointments in today to accommodate the lack of appointments on Monday. Emergency coverage will be available for current clients as usual and Dr. Kate will be available by phone.

06/13/2024

We dropped the vet truck off for service this morning and are working with only the necessities today. Hopefully this F150 can handle the day to day life of our beloved Honda Pilot. 😉

06/10/2024

The recent barn fire in Ohio was an unfortunate reminder of one of the greatest dangers to our horses. I’d like to take a moment to touch on a few of the common fire hazards and safety flaws I see in barns.

🔥Box fans or fans without enclosed motors
🔥Excess cobwebs and dust on electrical outlets and light fixtures
🔥Stall doors that are hard to get open
🔥Halters and lead ropes not easily accessible for all horses
🔥People smoking in barns
🔥Lack fire extinguishers
🔥Barn (house) numbers that are hard to read from the road, especially at night

There are many more, but these are what I see most often. Check out the link in the comments for more in depth tips on prevention.

06/08/2024

Lake Erie Equine turns 6 months old today! 

To commemorate this event, I’d love to share a story of how the practice came to be. Winter was the ideal time to launch the practice. It allowed my former practice and myself to have some time to adapt before spring hit and busy season was underway. I just so happen to have been born in the winter, so the natural launch date became my birthday, January 8th. 

Unbeknownst to me, some very special friends, family, and clients began plotting a surprise party for me at my first appointment. They were adamant that they MUST be my first appointment. On the night of January 7th, I received an emergency call. I chuckled at the irony that my first call was a day before the practice opened, an emergency, and not with my dear friend who was so adamant about having my first appointment. If that’s not vet med, I don’t know what is. 

Since then we have met and exceeded more goals than I ever imagined. We have gained a ton of wonderful clients and patients, purchased more fun equipment, and hired an amazing assistant. This would have never been possible without the support of my family, friends, clients, patients, and colleagues. We are blessed to live in such a supportive community. Thank you to each and every one of you who has made this possible. I am forever grateful to have a job that I enjoy so very much.

06/06/2024

Rose has hit the ground running this week and we are thrilled to have her on board. With years of veterinary experience and a lifelong passion for horses, Rose brings valuable expertise to the table. Her rockstar attitude and dedication to her work make her a perfect fit for our team. In her free time, Rose raises Nigerian Dwarf goats, miniature horses, and her two children on her family’s farm. She will be assisting Dr. Kate both on the road and in the office, and we are confident that she will excel in this role.

05/28/2024

Have you heard the news? Our practice is growing!

We have a new veterinary assistant hitting the road with us next week and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce her to you all. She will be assisting with appointments 3 days a week. Some of the goals of ours are improving our turnaround time on paperwork, getting to our call backs quicker, and hopefully giving Dr. Kate a little more free time to enjoy her own horse in the evenings.

Stay tuned for an introduction post! We are sure you will love her as much as we do.

05/26/2024

It’s come to my attention that several local vets are out of town this weekend. I’m doing my best to accommodate emergencies, however current clients take priority. If your veterinarian is unavailable, you may have to haul to Equine Specialty Hospital or Ohio State.

05/22/2024

This photo was taken in 2017. I distinctly remember thinking “this is my office, it doesn’t get any better than this.” Fast forward through 4 years of vet school, an internship, an associate position, and starting a practice. Today I sat down in the corner of arena, with the sun shining down on me, while several lovely horses went around and I thought “it doesn’t get any better than this”. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love. It makes the long days well worth it.

05/11/2024

**All taken care of, thank you!**

Anyone have a horse trailer that can get to Elyria quickly to transport 2 horses off the turnpike? Please text 419-577-7195.

05/07/2024

I have received lots of questions about Strangles recently. Here is a great infographic and write up about the disease. To my knowledge, we are not having an increase in prevalence within our area at this time.

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection with "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck, and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses. Classic signs of the disease include sudden onset of fever as high as 106 degrees F, thick yellow nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes under the jaw.

Transfer from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to things such as contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS! (Sounds familiar, right?)

It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease, and the primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.


If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.
**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/issue/understanding-equine-strangles


And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

05/03/2024

Thank you to everyone who has submitted Cover Letters and Resumes. We are excited to have such a strong pool of candidates. Anne and I will be going through them this weekend and will be reaching out to start scheduling interviews shortly.

04/29/2024

Come join our team! Lake Erie Equine is looking to hire a part-time ambulatory veterinary assistant.

We are seeking a self starter with a positive attitude and ample horse experience. Professional and effective communication skills are a must. Valid drivers license and a clean driving record required. Must be over the age of 18.

Hours are 3 days a week averaging 10 hour days, due to the nature of the position this may range from anywhere from 8 to the occasional 14 hour day. I have been known to accidentally hold people hostage in the truck when emergencies strike.

Benefits are dependent on experience and education.

How to apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]

04/27/2024

I saw a record number of patients this week! Thank you to everyone who graciously allowed me to adjust their appointment times so that I could accommodate urgent cases. This weekend, I will be catching up on returning calls and paperwork.

04/24/2024

Shout out to my practice manager/mom/momager for driving me to my appointments today so I can start catching up on paperwork and call backs.