Dr. Martin Vidal will be in Flagstaff on Monday, October 28th and Wittmann/Wickenburg on Friday, November 1st! ✨
Among the services provided:
▪ Lameness assessments
▪ General wellness check-ups
▪ Pre-purchase evaluations
▪ Dental procedures
▪ Vaccinations
▪ Treatment of lacerations
📞 Call 623-581-5508 to schedule an appointment.
cavecreekequine.com
🌟It’s Veterinary Technician Week!🌟
What is a vet tech? They are a hero, a caregiver, a crucial part of our veterinary team. They are the compassionate hands soothing nervous patients, the skilled assistants aiding in essential procedures, and the knowledgeable experts ensuring every patient gets top-notch care. They juggle countless tasks with grace and dedication, making a world of difference every single day. 🩺❤️
Let’s take a moment to shine the spotlight on our incredible veterinary technicians. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and hard work. You are truly the heartbeat of our clinic! 👏💪🐴
#VetTechHeroes #VetTechLove
🚨 Exciting News! 🚨
Dr. Martin Vidal is rolling into the Flagstaff area on Thursday, October 3rd! 🐴✨
Among the services available:
▪ Lameness exams
▪ Wellness exams
▪ Pre-purchase exams
▪ Dentals
▪ Vaccinations
▪ Lacerations
📞 Contact the office to schedule an appointment at (623) 581-5508.
🔗 cavecreekequine.com
🐴 What is a Flexion Test and Why is it Important?
A flexion test is a common diagnostic tool used by veterinarians to assess lameness in horses. During the test, a vet will bend and hold a horse’s leg in a flexed position for a set period, then observe the horse trotting away. This helps to identify any underlying issues that might not be visible during a regular trot.
👉 Why is it important?
Flexion tests can reveal subtle lameness or pain that might not be apparent otherwise. They help identify specific areas of discomfort, allowing for more precise treatment plans, improving the horse’s overall health and performance.
Flexion tests are often used in pre-purchase evaluations to ensure the horse is sound and free from hidden lameness.
💪 Remember, while flexion tests are valuable, they should be part of a comprehensive lameness examination, including further diagnostics like X-rays or nerve blocks if needed.
🐎 Is your horse showing signs of lameness, but you’re unsure of the cause? Looking to schedule a pre-purchase exam for a horse you’re interested in? 📞 Call us at 623-581-5508 to set up a thorough evaluation.
Do you know why your veterinarian recommends more than one view when taking X-rays?
This is why! 🐴
Same horse, same fetlock, but look at the difference! Taking multiple X-ray views helps us see different angles and catch problems that might be hidden in a single view. As seen here, a fetlock might look perfectly normal from one angle, but another view can reveal an underlying issue. Multiple views help us catch problems that might be hidden from a single angle, ensuring your horse gets the best care possible. 🐎✨
cavecreekequine.com
Did you know that a fecal transplant from a healthy donor can significantly improve a horse’s gut health? 🐴💩
This innovative procedure, known as Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT), involves introducing beneficial bacteria from a healthy horse’s feces into the gastrointestinal tract of a horse with digestive issues.
Recently, our resilient patient came in with gastrointestinal issues. FMT was performed to help repopulate her gut with healthy bacteria. This method is a natural way to restore the gut microbiome, similar to how foals ingest feces to populate their gut with helpful microbes.
How is FMT done?
🌟 A healthy donor horse is chosen based on its health history.
🌟 Fresh fecal material is collected from the donor horse and mixed with a saline solution to create a slurry. The mixture is then filtered to ensure smooth consistency.
🌟 This slurry is then introduced into the recipient’s gastrointestinal tract through a nasogastric tube (In this case, the slurry was mixed with nutrients and gastro protectants.)
🌟 Treatment is usually repeated daily for 3-5 days. After the treatments, the recipient is closely monitored to assess the effectiveness of the transplant.
After several FMT treatments, our patient progressed well enough to be discharged home! 🐴💚
At Cave Creek Equine, we utilize innovative solutions for equine care! 🐎
#EquineHealth #FecalTransplant #GutHealth
cavecreekequine.com
🧐Can you guess the procedure?
🔍 If you guessed regional limb perfusion, you’re absolutely right! 🎉
Regional limb perfusion (RLP) is a specialized technique used in equine medicine. It allows targeted delivery of medications directly to a specific area of the limb by temporarily blocking blood flow. This minimizes systemic side effects while maximizing local therapeutic treatment. In this video, a joint flush is being performed along with RLP to treat a joint infection.
🩺 How It Works:
After a torniquet is applied to isolate the region, a catheter is carefully inserted into a blood vessel in the affected limb. Medications (such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, regenerative medicines or pain relievers) are infused through the catheter. The patient is closely monitored during the procedure. 🐎
👉 RLP is commonly used for conditions such as laminitis, septic joints, and tendon/ligament injuries. It’s a powerful tool in equine veterinary care! 🌟
#EquineMedicine #VeterinaryCare #HorseHealth
cavecreekequine.com
Drawing upon years of experience working with racetrack horses as well as being 6’6” comes in handy when attending to our larger equine patients. 🐎 Dr. Vidal helped make this scoping procedure look easy on this big, beautiful boy!
🐴👩⚕️👨⚕️ “Embracing the Next Generation of Veterinarians!” 🌟
At Cave Creek Equine, we hold a special place in our hearts for veterinary students. Their passion, dedication, and curiosity drive us to be better educators every day.
We’re thrilled to have veterinary students currently shadowing our talented veterinarians! 🎓🔍 Shadowing provides a unique glimpse into the world of equine medicine, allowing students to witness firsthand the dedication, expertise, and compassion that goes into caring for our equine companions. 🐎❤️
From observing various procedures to assisting hands on, we are honored to guide these future veterinarians on their journey. Their questions challenge us, their enthusiasm inspires us, and their commitment to equine health motivates us.
To all the veterinary students out there: Thank you for choosing this noble path! Your hard work and compassion make a difference in the lives of animals and their human companions. Keep learning, keep caring, and keep making us proud! 🙌❤️
Cave Creek Equine has the unique opportunity of partnering with Jeremiah Harris and his team from Hoof and Forge. 🤝🔨
👥 Recently, Dr. Martin Vidal and Jeremiah attended Dr. Ric Redden’s 3-day Equine Podiatry Principles Course. They acquired valuable knowledge to optimize the collaboration between the veterinarian/farrier team, enhancing efforts in successful outcomes for our patients. 🐴💙
At Cave Creek Equine, we believe in continuing education and learning together to provide top-notch care for our equine companions! 🐎🌟
#EquineHealth #Collaboration #EquinePodiatry
cavecreekequine.com
hoofandforge.com
Nasolacrimal Duct Flush - Equine
🐴 Nasolacrimal Duct Flush in Horses
Recently, a patient was presented with swollen and excessively watering eyes. The concerned owner brought the horse in to understand the situation better. Let’s dive into the details:
🔎 What are Nasolacrimal Ducts?
These tiny passages drain excess tears from the eyes through the nose. When these ducts become blocked or inflamed, it can lead to various eye issues.
🔎 How do these ducts become blocked?
Common causes of blockage may include mucus, narrow ducts, or inflammation caused by debris (🪰 flies and dust this time of year are a big culprit!)
🔎 How is a Nasolacrimal Duct flush performed?
A small, thin flexible tube is passed partway up the duct from the nostril end. Saline and/or other medication is then flushed through the tube. During flushing, the saline and/or medication should flow through the duct and out the effected eye, clearing the blockage.
🧐 In some cases, the tear ducts can become inflamed for various reasons that may need additional treatment beyond a simple duct flush.
Early intervention and proper management are essential for maintaining your horse’s ocular health! If you have any concerns about your horse, call 623.581.5508 to make an appointment. 🐎
cavecreekequine.com
🎉 Celebrating Our Exceptional Veterinarians!
During Veterinary Appreciation Day, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible veterinarians at Cave Creek Equine. 🐴
🌟 Our vets are the backbone of our practice, providing top-notch care and medical insights. Their empathy, compassion and dedication make a difference in every patient’s life.
🙌 Let’s give a virtual round of applause to our remarkable vets! Share your favorite memories or a shout-out in the comments below. 📸💙
