Napa Valley Equine

08/14/2024

Office views at Napa Valley Equine...

08/11/2024

Have you ever wondered why veterinarians recommend so many radiographs during a pre-purchase exam (PPE)?

These radiographs are from a 14 year old WB that was purchased a couple years earlier. At the time of his PPE, the examining vet did not have any concerns with his neck. However, after purchase he gradually developed very subtle signs of neck discomfort such as stiffness and mild gait abnormalities. Recently, radiographs were obtained which revealed multiple findings including: a bone spur at C3-4 (red arrows), osteochondral or "OCD" fragments at C5-6 (red arrows), and moderate arthritis at C6-7 (yellow arrows). Some of these findings are developmental meaning that the patient has had them since birth and they could have been identified earlier with survey radiographs prior to the horse becoming clinical. Neck x-rays are a great idea to include as part of your PPE images. This patient has since responded very well to neck injections with ProStride!

08/05/2024

Veterinary medicine is evolving at a very fast pace and veterinarians are getting more and more specific in their diagnostics and therapies. A classic example of this is "foot pain" or "navicular disease." Here is a wonderful article by our colleagues at Platinum Performance that breaks down the steps of diagnosing and managing podotrochlear syndrome in horses. https://www.platinumperformance.com/articles/navicular-syndrome.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawEeLh9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRtd49-LDoexHdglyx9H9L1dVGycuI2FSzPk5fTwQzZreWGwUe2t3aw3Cw_aem_uZrllCuh8KyysZik1mfH9g

Navicular syndrome, its indicators and treatments including advanced nutrition are thoroughly explained by an equine veterinarian and a farrier. Learn more now.

08/02/2024

08/02/2024

Check out another wonderful and free webinar by the AAEP regarding disaster preparedness! Please register and submit questions ahead of time by following this link: https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OjyrhJK7RrOsV5LFljMxxg?utm_source=All+DVMs+including+international_July+2024&utm_campaign=2f9e7a8da4-COVID-19+Advice+for+Client+Interactions_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8fe44d02c9-2f9e7a8da4-44098568 #/registration

07/08/2024

Helpful reminders from our NCAEP colleagues regarding fire season prep!

07/05/2024

Happy Fourth of July from NVE! Keep yourselves and your animals safe and hydrated this holiday weekend.

06/16/2024

☀️ Happy Fathers Day ☀️ from our team to yours! Wishing all our horse dads and supporters fun in the sun today! 🐎 💕

06/06/2024

Why is routine bloodwork important? We strongly recommend annual bloodwork on all of our patients to establish individual baselines or normal parameters and to detect changes in systemic health as early as possible. For most patients, an annual CBC and chemistry profile is recommended. A CBC test shows us red and white blood cells, protein values, hydration, and inflammatory markers. This test can help us detect anemia, clotting problems, bacterial or viral infections, parasites, and allergies. A chemistry panel gives us information regarding internal organ health and electrolytes. This test is used to identify kidney, liver, heart, and muscle function. Additional annual testing that may be recommend on a case by case basis includes: metabolic panels, vitamin E, selenium, trace minerals. A CBC/chem panel is encouraged for all patients prior to administering frequent NSAIDs (bute, banamine, Equioxx) or bisphosphonates (OsPhos, Tildren). Certain drugs like those listed above can be contraindicated if the patient has subclinical abnormalities in their bloodwork. Please reach out to the office to schedule your horses routine testing if they are due and/or on any medications!

05/11/2024

Happy Mother's Day weekend from Napa Valley Equine! We are so appreciative of all our incredible clients who act as great mamas to their four legged family members!

And in the spirit of Mother's day, don't forget to let our staff know if you have a pregnant mare this season or have questions about breeding and foaling.

Pregnant mares require special vaccinations, parasite control, and nutrition prior to foaling. We would be happy to help!

05/03/2024

Dr. Vanessa enjoying the fringe benefits of good a bedside - or should we say “pasture-side” - manner ☺️💕

04/27/2024

Here's a little cutie to brighten your day!
Veterinary medicine is often compared to pediatric medicine, as the patient is non-verbal. This one day old doe was born ready to run with her mother. She weighs just a few pounds and checks out healthy and strong. She brought a smile to our veterinary team.

04/18/2024

Don't let your horse suffer in silence…
Know the signs of gastric ulcers!

Horses with stomach ulcers may be stoic and show very little outward symptoms, but if symptoms are present, they might include:
🧲 Recurrent Colic
🧲 Decreased appetite or less interest in grain feeds
🧲 Teeth Grinding
🧲 Biting at their sides
🧲 Weight loss
🧲 Decrease in performance
🧲 Reluctance being saddled (Girthy)

If you are concerned that your horse may be suffering from ulcers, the only way to accurately diagnose equine ulcers is through gastroscopy. This procedure allows your veterinarian to locate and examine lesions in the lower esophagus, stomach, or upper section of the small intestine. ❤️‍🩹 To help raise awareness about gastric ulcers, we are providing gastroscopy of the stomach at 50% off! Contact us by April 30th to book your horse’s appointment. (Certain restrictions may apply)

Outside the Napa Valley Equine region? Find a location near you at: www.LBEMGroup.com

04/03/2024

Keeping your equine friend healthy at horse shows starts with biosecurity! The Equine Disease Communication Center and US Equestrian have teamed up to create FREE biosecurity how-to videos for horse owners.
Watch to learn:

• Pre-competition prep: Learn essential steps to take before you even leave home.
• Staying safe during the show: Discover practices to protect your horse while competing.
• Post-competition care: Ensure a smooth transition back home.

Plus, get tips on developing an isolation plan!

Click the link to access the videos and safeguard your equine partner: https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Biosecurity-How-To-Videos

03/31/2024

Happy Easter for all those who celebrate it! Have an egg-cellent day!

03/19/2024

Join the AAEP tonight for a special 1 hour zoom presentation "Calm Under Pressure: Conquering Equine Emergencies"

03/02/2024

Happy World Horse Day from all of us at Napa Valley Equine!

02/28/2024

2024 foals are trickling in!
New foal exams are strongly recommended between 12- 24 hours of age. The purpose of this exam is to ensure that your new foal has adequate passive transfer from the mare, no evidence of illness or congenital defects, and to ensure that the mare is healthy post-foaling. The appointment includes a thorough physical exam and IgG blood testing. Important conditions to rule out include but are not limited to: failure of passive transfer, cleft palate, corneal ulcers, cataracts, aspiration pneumonia, heart murmurs, broken ribs, patent urachus, lameness, angular limb deformities. If warranted, uterine lavage of the mare and/or ultrasound exam of the foal’s thorax, abdomen, and umbilicus may also be performed.

02/15/2024

We were all hugs & kisses today! 💕 xoxo

02/15/2024

🩷 Hay Valentine! Wishing all our friends, two and four-legged, a Happy Valentine's Day! 🩷

01/30/2024

The Winter issue of our Horse Report publication is now available. Check out a recap of all of the news highlights and clinical advances in equine health in 2023!
https://conta.cc/3tYdXXs

12/31/2023

New Years Housekeeping Ideas:
- Confirm that your horse's microchip is properly registered online and that all of your contact information is up to date.
- Perform inventory on your first aid kit to make sure it is fully stocked and no medications are expired.
- Schedule your horse's annual dental during our February dental discount month.

Thank you all for a wonderful 2023, here's to 2024!

12/23/2023

Merry Christmas from Napa Valley Equine and one of our beloved patients, Zazu! We will be open for emergencies only Sunday Dec 24th and Monday Dec 25th.

12/05/2023

Cold winter weather is just around the corner! Now is the perfect time to have your veterinarian perform a body condition check and nutrition plan. Make sure to stock up on high quality hay and store it properly to prevent mold and mildew. A lot of factors change in the winter for our horses including decreased exercise combined with seasonal metabolic fluctuations. Be sure to remove blankets regularly and palpate your horses through their winter coats to ensure they aren't losing weight as the temperature drops! And as always, make sure they have access to a clean, fresh, not frozen water supply.

11/29/2023

A 501c3 Non_Profit

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Napa Valley Equine. We are so grateful for our incredible patients and clients. Thanks to all of you for making our job so enjoyable and rewarding!

11/21/2023

As dental discount month comes to a close, here is a great article to read about dental conditions in aging horses- clinical signs to look for, dietary influence on dentition, and EOTRH! Please check with your veterinarian before modifying your horses diet. Our next dental discount month is February and it's never too early to get on the list!

As equine veterinary care advances, some of us are privileged to care for horses well into their sunset years. One important aspect of managing senior horses is caring for their teeth.

10/31/2023

🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃

Tomorrow kicks off Napa Valley Equine’s Fall dental discount month and we still have appointments available. During the month of November, we are offering $25 off all dentals. There are more spooky savings available if you book dentals for more than one horse, with a group of horses at the same location, or if you haul into the clinic. This is a great time to batch your annual dental with a wellness exam and Fall vaccines and dewormer.

09/28/2023

💕 🐎 We are beyond delighted to announce a new filly has joined the practice! Dr. Bazeley & her husband Brian welcomed 💜 Nora Marie Blake 💜 to the world the night of Sept. 21st - bouncing baby girl is doing incredibly well - as are the smitten new mom & dad. We love having our NVE family continue to grow!! 🌱 💕

08/07/2023

Napa Valley Equine recommends an annual wellness exam with Fall vaccinations and dewormer. Our wellness exams include cardiothoracic auscultation, weight tape, checking teeth/dentistry, and discussion and consultation on any new or ongoing questions or concerns. These exams are intended to identify trends in your horse’s health and help us catch subtle medical changes before they become larger issues. This exam is a good opportunity to discuss anticipated age or performance related modifications such as nutritional needs, arthritis prevention, farriery questions, timing of next dental, blood work monitoring, etc. Additionally, an annual wellness exam fulfills the requirements for a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) which is required for prescription renewals, telehealth, and insurance documents.