Ponderosa Equine

05/02/2024

BUG SEASON IS HERE!

Besides being very irritating, it's important to remember that some of these insects can spread infection and disease to your horse (and, in some cases, to you as well). Therefore, a smart strategy is to control the problem before it gets out of hand and minimize populations from the beginning.

The attached infographic contains some suggestions to get you started. Please keep in mind that there are many variations of these suggested programs that will still meet the same goals and follow the same principles.

As always, reach out to your veterinarian for recommendations suitable for your horse’s specific situation!

01/01/2024

Wishing everyone a happy new year!

12/24/2023

A girl after my own heart ❤️

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are so thankful for our wonderful clients and our mutual love of horses that brought us together. We hope you all have a wonderful day.

We are incredibly thankful for the equine veterinarians and support staff who take care of our horses on a daily basis, but today in particular let’s express our gratitude for those who are giving up their family time to care for animals in need of medical attention. Our heartfelt thanks goes to them for everything they do and for their dedication to the horses that give us so much joy.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! May this holiday bring us new blessings and a renewed appreciation for the ones we already have.

10/20/2023

A good reminder from the AAEP about fall horse care.

Fall is officially in full swing! Now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

The graphic below lists some essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do checklist, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse rugs repaired and waterproofed; securing and storing hay properly; assessing your shelters for safety and soundness; etc.)

Your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season: be sure to give them a call soon to discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation; use this opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise program as well!

10/01/2023

06/30/2023

We hope everyone is going to have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

Our office will be closed Monday 7/3 and Tuesday 7/4. There will be a veterinarian on call for any emergencies that may arise.

If your horse is experiencing an emergency call us at 303-317-8911 and the answering service will get your message to the on call doctor.

Any non-emergent messages, emails, and texts will be returned Wednesday 7/5.

05/06/2023

Happy Derby Day! Post is at 4:57pm!!

Horses and hearts will race, and a new champion will be crowned.

Happy Derby Day.

04/05/2023

Exciting News! We’ve partnered with Vetsource to supply you with quality products sourced directly from the manufacturer and shipped right to your front door. Ordering is easy! Visit our online store http://ponderosaequinellc.vetsourceweb.com

If you have any questions about how to use this service, please don't hesitate to call or email us.

12/24/2022

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!

12/20/2022

As you all know by now we are going to have extreme wind chills Wednesday-Friday this week. While horses tolerate cold much better than we do, it is still important to take some precautions to keep them safe and comfortable. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

-SHELTER: Make sure they have access to shelter or wind break.

- HAY: Make sure they have access to extra hay as this will help keep them warmer. Hay will increase their metabolism and hind gut fermentation which will help produce body heat.

- BLANKET: Blanket them appropriately for their body condition and hair coat (thinner, older, and horses with poor coat or a coat that has been clipped will need more/heavier blankets). If they are shivering or not warm when you put your hand inside their blanket you can always layer to help them stay warm during this arctic blast.
*Be sure to remove blankets or layers once it warms up again to prevent sweating under the blanket which can cause dermatitis and make them more cold.*

- WATER: Make sure they have access to clean/thawed water. Double check your water heaters to make sure they are grounded well and working before the storm hits. If adding electrolytes, juice or other things to their water make sure they also have access to water without any additives.

- ELECTROLYTES/MASHES: Adding electrolytes to a warm soupy mash starting tonight or tomorrow will help get some extra water in them and encourage them to continue drinking which can help prevent colic with these drastic temperature swings.

Be safe out there!

12/17/2022

Updated information on the botulism cases from contaminated alfalfa cubes made in CO. Check your bags if you feed alfalfa cubes!

12/15/2022

Sapphire enjoying her relaxing acupuncture treatment on this cold Thursday!

12/14/2022

INFECTIOUS DISEASE ALERT!

Horse owners and equine veterinarians should be warned about a *suspected* botulism outbreak in Louisiana. Since Dec. 3, 15 horses have become acutely ill at a Quarter Horse breeding farm in Vermilion Parish County, Louisiana; 12 of them died or were euthanized due to rapid decline. A preliminary investigation into the incident suggests that alfalfa cubes contaminated with dead animal carcasses and produced in Colorado are the suspected culprit.

Botulism guidelines are available on the AAEP website athttps://aaep.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/BOTULISM_Final.pdf

If your horse is exhibiting any neurologic symptoms without any signs of precipitating conditions, contact your veterinarian immediately!

11/23/2022

We will be closed Tomorrow and Friday for Thanksgiving but, as always, will be available for you if any emergencies arise. We are so thankful for all our clients and their horses this Thanksgiving and we wish you and your families the best!

07/10/2022

Such a sad situation over at the Harmony Equine Center. There is a link in the post to donate if you are able to help in any way.

07/04/2022

Happy 4th of July everyone! 🎆

07/02/2022

Colorado State Veterinarian cautions horse owners regarding the recent equine neurologic case at the Colorado Horse Park. The risk to the general horse population remains low. Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that owners monitor any horses who were at the event or on site at the Colorado Horse Park from June 22 to June 25, 2022. To learn more, go to https://ag.colorado.gov/press-release/equine-neurologic-case-investigation-in-weld-county

05/28/2022

Wishing you all a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! We will be closed for routine appointments on Monday but as always will be available for any emergencies. 303-317-8911

04/30/2022

Here is the latest information from Canon City. This is a common disease and usually not fatal in vaccinated horses. We recommend vaccinating for influenza twice yearly as the vaccines are only labeled effective for 6 months. This is part of our routine vaccination practice for the horses in our care. If your horse has not been vaccinated or you are unsure of their status don’t hesitate to call us.

An equine influenza virus has been identified as the likely cause of the respiratory disease outbreak and associated mortality occurring at the Bureau of Land Management - Colorado Wild Horse and B***o Corrals located on the Colorado Department of Corrections East Cañon Complex in Cañon City, CO. Learn more about the symptoms and preventative measures for equine influenza at https://ag.colorado.gov/blog-post/frequently-asked-questions-faq-about-equine-influenza

04/28/2022

Here is the Colorado State Vet’s statement on what is going on in Canon City. More information will be shared when available.

The Colorado State Veterinarian's office is supporting the Bureau of Land Management in their investigation and response at the Cañon City Wild Horse and B***o Facility. CDA will continue to monitor the situation and support BLM and the U.S. Department of Agriculture as they work to prevent further spread of the disease. Read more at https://ag.colorado.gov/press-release/state-veterinarian-statement-on-canon-city-wild-horse-and-burro-facility-disease

03/21/2022

Happy Shedding Season! It is also time to start thinking about Spring vaccinations again. Give us a call to get on the schedule! 303-317-8911

11/24/2021

Wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! We are so thankful for all of our clients and their horses and hope everyone has a great day with their families. We will be closed Thursday and Friday but as always will be available for any emergencies that may arise. If you have an emergency, call 303-317-8911 and the answering service will get your message to the on call doctor.

09/04/2021

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! We will be closed on Monday but as always will be available for emergencies if you need us. Call our main number and the answering service will forward your message to the on call doctor.

07/03/2021

Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July Weekend! Here are some tips from AAEP on how to help your horses cope with the fireworks.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, many equestrians and farm owners are dreading the endless fireworks that are going to terrorize their animals in the night.

The graphic lists some tips to keep your pets and equine friends safe during the booming festivities. If you horses are staying out overnight, now is a good time to check on your fencing and for any hazards like rocks, branches or holes that could lead to injury if the animals start bolting. If you are really worried about your horse's safety, consult your veterinarian about calming agents and sedatives.

No matter what your Independence Day plans are, above all please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so everyone may enjoy the celebration. 🇺🇸

06/12/2021

Yesterday Dr. Mueller, our office manager Tom, and Dr. Arrieta’s husband Aaron played in a fundraiser tournament benefiting police dogs. They had a great time and it was awesome to show our support for our hard working K-9 units throughout Colorado.