Prairie Mountain Veterinary Services

01/15/2025

Extreme Cold Tips

1: if your horse wears a blanket ensure they are dry and ready to go. Blankets are useful for horses that have been body-clipped because they have lost the added layer of insulation the hair provides, but blankets must be applied responsibly. Always replace or remove a soaked blanket immediately because the moisture will freeze, trapping the cold and causing the horse to lose precious body heat. If your horse wears a blanket, there should be at least two or three on hand so a soaked article can be traded out for a dry one.

2: give your horses extra HAY to eat not grain. Horses must increase their caloric intake roughly 15-20 percent for every 10-degree drop in temperature below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

3: check their water. The average sized horse needs approx 10 gallons of water daily for maintenance. Recent research has demonstrated that horses will drink more water during cold weather if the water is warmed to between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

4: providing electrolytes (oral paste preferred) 1 to 2 times daily approx 12-24 hours prior to major weather changes can help encourage water consumption and reduce the risk of impaction colics.

5: shelter is recommended to protect them against wind gusts especially horses without blankets.

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

11/28/2024

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Wishing everyone a wonderful day filled with great food and memories. I am beyond grateful to all of my wonderful clients that allow me to provide care to their four legged counterparts.

09/29/2024

*UPCOMING VACATION*

Dr. McDonald will be enjoying some much needed mountain time to relax and recharge from
October 2 to October 6th.

All calls and messages will be retuned Monday the 7th.

Please take this time to review your emergency kits and plans in case they are needed. If you have questions please reach out prior to the second.

08/29/2024

I am in complete OPPOSITION of Initiative 145. Trying to solve the veterinary shortage crisis by creating an under qualified position will only create further risk to patient care and directly undermines the extensive education required for veterinarians to be able to perform these tasks.

Three semesters of online learning and one semester of introductory hands on clinics is NOT sufficient to be able to diagnose, treat, and perform surgery.

This theory is part of a large corporate medicine push that is happening in veterinary medicine. They want to add this imtermediate level to pay less in wages and increase their profit margin at the cost of your animal’s care.

Please read and share the article to learn how dangerous this idea is. The fact that EVERY veterinary association is opposed to this idea should speak volumes.

Colorado Proposed Initiative #145 will ask Colorado voters this November whether the state should establish the position of veterinary professional associate (VPA).

02/29/2024

Goats will be goats 🐐🤣

02/12/2024

...how often do you seek answers on Google or on social media?

In all seriousness, we're not saying that all Internet advice is bad. You can and should use the online resources available to your advantage—like to find good tips for basic training issues or to learn more about specific diseases. But this is your reminder that there are MANY reasons to start with your own veterinarian when you're seeking answers about your horse's health.

An Internet consultation might sound like the cheapest option at first but it cannot replace the physical exam performed by a trained and experienced veterinarian, and in the end treatment without a proper diagnoses could prove more costly and time consuming.

Your horse doctor invested a lot of time and resources in their training to be able to provide the highest standard of care to their patients—trust them to care for your horse as much as you do!

02/05/2024

¡UPCOMING VACATION ANNOUNCEMENT!

Dr. McDonald will be out of the country from February 16th until February 25th. All calls and messages will be returned on February 26th.

If any medications need refills please reach out prior to the 16th.

Please make sure your emergency kits are prepared in case they are needed.

Most importantly if you do have an emergency be prepared to haul your horse up north. If you do not have the ability to haul your horse, then make sure to find a friend who would be willing to help in case of emergency.

Nearest referral hospitals:
Littleton Equine: 303-794-6359
Colorado State University: 970-297-5000

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Once again I am beyond grateful to all of my wonderful clients who entrust the care of their four-legged counterparts with me.

I am looking forward to working alongside you all once again in 2024!

- Dr. McDonald