Artaurus Equine Clinic

10/15/2025

Everyone loves a little TLC when not feeling great and laid up for a bit....

09/17/2025

West Nile Virus has made it to Contra Costa county. The best protection against this sometimes fatal disease is to vaccinate. Please make sure your Equine partners are up to date on their vaccinations. West Nile is an annual vaccine and it is accompanied by Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis. Read all about it below. Both mosquito borne diseases. Read all about them below.

The dog days of summer are here and that also means arbovirus season is in full swing. Peak arbovirus season can span from July through October. 

09/08/2025

Great and interesting info from AAEP

07/25/2025

Hello Everyone! Cheyenne and Pimmsy want everyone to give everyone a heads up that between Aug 11 and Aug 22 only the office will have shortened hours. M-Thur 8:30 to 1 PM and closed on the two Fridays. Of course, there will be a Doctor available for Urgent and Emergency needs 24/7. Please call the office number if you have an Emergency or Urgent care need and follow the prompts to contact the Doctor.

04/04/2025

04/03/2025

Great information!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES GRASS FOUNDER?

Spring is a wonderful time of the year, but it may be the beginning of some serious problems for horses vulnerable to grass founder — like horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked.

Laminitis or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (the bone in the foot). A horse suffering from laminitis experiences a decrease in blood flow to the laminae, which in turn begin to die and separate. The final result is hoof wall separation, rotation of the coffin bone and extreme pain. In severe cases, the coffin bone will actually rotate through the sole of the horse’s hoof where it becomes infected and can ultimately lead to the horse having to be euthanized.

Laminitis can be triggered by different causes, like repeated concussion on hard ground (road founder), grain overload, retained placenta, hormonal imbalance (Cushing’s syndrome), obesity, and lush grass.

In cases of grass founder, the sugar fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins (endotoxins) that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.

The best way to deal with laminitis is preventing and managing the causes under your control. Consult your equine practitioner for further information and to formulate a plan tailored to your horse's individual situation. If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately.

04/02/2025

Spring is here and so are the pests

VECTOR CONTROL AROUND HORSES: WHY IT MATTERS

Bug season is right around the corner! 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!

02/26/2025

Check this out! Adequan rebate is still going on through the end of March. Be sure to collect your rebate on any Adequan 7-pack or Multidose purchased from March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 at the link below.

https://adequan.com/rebate

01/22/2025

Calling all SmartPak ColiCare Coverage program participants! Start the year off on the right hoof by scheduling your annual wellness visit to remain compliant with requirements below.

1. Physical Exam – documentation of at least one physical exam by veterinarian each year and compliance with all veterinarian’s recommendations

2. Dental Exam – documentation of at least one dental exam by veterinarian each year and administration of dental treatment(s) as recommended by such exam

3. Vaccinations – documentation of annual vaccinations administered by veterinarian of core vaccines such as those recommended by AAEP (Tetanus, EEE/WEE, WNV, and Rabies)

4. Deworming – documentation of participation in a deworming program overseen by veterinarian that includes at least one f***l egg count test and at least two deworming administrations each year

01/10/2025

Check out Dr. Robert's latest article on our new website! We have some lovely sunny days ahead of us so be cautious not to over do it on grass for your horse.

Lush spring grass is tempting for both horse and owner but should be approached with caution. Spring grass, which holds a high level of sugar in its early

12/24/2024

EZ, IZZY and I got dressed up for Christmas Eve. Wanted to let you know our office schedule for the next week. Of course, there is Emergency Care available for our current clients 24/7.

12/24 - Closed 12 pm 12/27 - Closed
12/25 - Closed 12/31 - Closed 12 pm
12/26 - Closed 12 pm. 1/1 - Closed

Happy Holidays!