Wasatch Veterinary Large Animal

02/15/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day from the . This holiday is about family, friends and loved ones. Show your four legged family some extra love with some homemade treats. Check out the links below for some recipes. We hope that everyone is able to be with their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
Horses: https://mamaonthehomestead.com/homemade-horse-treats/
(Horses that suffer from metabolic diseases or laminitis should receive low or sugar free ingredients)
Goats: https://www.giftsfromgoats.com/home/2018/6/5/easy-baked-goat-treats
Sheep: https://www.dakoa.com/treats-sheep-goats-recipes/
Alpacas/Llamas: https://asimpleprairielife.com/2010/05/10/llama-treats/

#2025

Photo credit: https://www.901goats.com/events/valentine-goat-gram-deliveries

02/11/2025

As cases of avian influenza (H5N1, aka “bird flu”) increase in poultry populations throughout the US, mutations in the virus have been appearing in other species of bird, as well as cows, cats, and some humans. Currently, transmission from cows or humans to other humans has not been observed. Risk of transmission of the virus from cats to humans is very low, but possible. The most common transmission path that H5N1 takes is bird to bird, bird to cat, or - more recently - bird to human. To prevent the spread of H5N1, here are some precautions we can take for our animals. Do not feed raw milk or meat to your pets, observe your animals (poultry, cattle, and cats) and seek veterinary attention if they exhibit signs of a respiratory illness or if you know there has been contact with H5N1. Symptoms of H5N1 for all species include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, lethargy, loss of coordination, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.

02/06/2025

Good info on those bandages

An incredibly valuable reminder when it comes to bandaging your horse’s legs, courtesy of the horse doctors at Mid-Rivers Equine Centre.

“Even the slightest wrinkle, fold, or lump in the bandage can cause discomfort for your equine companion. Imagine wearing socks and shoes and the sock has a crease in it. It will be incredibly uncomfortable to walk on.

Improperly applied bandages can not only cause discomfort but also lead to skin irritation and even injury. Be aware of the entire bandage's placement and the padding beneath, ensuring zero wrinkles or bumps. Your horse's leg injury needs the utmost wrapping care and taking the time to ensure a smooth and comfortable bandage application is vital.

APPLYING A BANDAGE
So how exactly can you achieve a flawlessly wrapped bandage? First, start by laying the padding smoothly over the area you intend to wrap. Make sure it's evenly distributed and covers the entirety of your horse's leg. Then, carefully wrap the bandage around the leg, applying gentle pressure as you go. Check frequently for lumps or folds, smoothing them out as you continue wrapping.

Another tip to remember is to avoid wrapping too tightly, which can impede circulation and cause discomfort for your horse. Instead, aim for a snug but comfortable fit, ensuring the bandage won't slip or shift during exercise. Once you've finished wrapping, visually inspect the bandage for any irregularities before securing it in place.”

Our final piece of advice: If you have any questions or concerns about bandaging your horse’s leg, be sure to talk to your veterinarian!

02/04/2025

February is Dental Health Month. If you notice your horse losing weight, dropping feed, salivating more than normal or behaving differently with the bridle and bit, these can all be symptoms of dentals issues. Horses are hypsodonts, their teeth continue to erupt throughout their lives at a rate of 2-4 mm per year. Some of this growth is ground down due to the natural grinding movement of the jaw while eating. However, over time, the horse's grinding pattern can often lead to the development of sharp points, hooks, ramps, and waves. If these changes are left unattended, problems such as oral ulcers, weight loss and behavioral issues can arise. We recommend that horses receive a dental exam twice per year and dental equilibration annually. Please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment for a dental exam.




Photo credit: https://www.temeculacreekvet.com/equine-blog/february-is-the-month-dental-awareness-is-the-goal

01/31/2025

Good info for our horse owners

01/28/2025

Even though it is not the wildfire season in northern Utah, our air quality can still be drastically affected by wildfires in other states. Smoke consists of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, soot and other organic substances. The particles in smoke can irritate horses eyes and respiratory tracts as well as negatively impact their breathing. During times of heavy smoke/poor air quality, horses exercise should be limited, if not eliminated, and their respiratory efforts should be closely monitored. Using air quality monitors, such as a weather app or even google, can help determine if it is safe to exercise a horse. A good guide is to limit/minimize activity and riding if smoke is visible. Providing constant access to clean water can help to keep their airway moist to expel irritants. If your horse has irritated eyes and/or labored breathing/a cough it is a good idea to reach out to your veterinarian immediately.


Photo credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=smoky+sky

01/25/2025

The Wasatch Veterinary Large Animal 2025 calendar was a huge success this year raising just over $2000 for animal charities. This year, with the immense burden placed on charities dealing with the LA fires, we have split the donations between Pasadena Humane (https://pasadenahumane.org), Fleet of Angels (https://www.fleetofangels.org) and Best Friends (https://bestfriends.org). These donations are helping equines, small ruminants, cat and dogs by keeping them safe as their families try to find new homes. Thank you to everyone who bought a calendar, we really appreciate it and hope you find as much joy when you turn the months as we do.

01/21/2025

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis, or EOTRH, is a painful dental disease in older horses. EOTRH occurs when the body resorbs the bone and tissues around the incisors roots. Over time the resorption of the tissue and bone around the tooth can cause pockets around the teeth, which will allow feed to accumulate. Gingival pockets and packed feed creates an increased risk for infection. This can negatively impact the periodontal ligament (which helps hold each tooth in place) and the alveolar bone that surrounds the tooth root. As the disease progresses the affected teeth are compromised, causing pain, infection, fractured teeth, decreased ability or desire to eat. There is no cure for EORTH, however routine dentistry can aid in early diagnosis and management of this disease and in severe cases, extraction of the affected teeth can offer relief and may stop this disease from affecting the surrounding teeth.



Photo credit: https://midwestvetdental.com/equine-dentistry/eotrh-syndrome/

01/20/2025

We hope everyone is doing well this Martin Luther King Junior day.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos.”
We love our clients and patients. We appreciate your patience while Dr. Tracy is healing and we look forward to seeing everyone in the coming months.


Photo credit: https://www.constellationbehavioralhealth.com/blog/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-the-depression-and-empathy-that-contributed-to-his-humanity/

01/19/2025

As the temperature drops this week, good information to note

🌬️❄️ Cold Weather Alert! ❄️🌬️

Arctic air is heading our way this weekend! Make sure your horses are ready and have:

🏡 Shelter from the wind
🌾 Extra forage for energy
🐴 Blankets if needed

For more info, visit: z.umn.edu/winterhorsecare

01/15/2025

💡 Did you know -- microchipping will soon be a requirement beginning in December of this year for competing USEF horses?

Microchipping is an important factor to supplying additional identification to your horse. During outbreaks of disease or natural disasters, your horse can be easily recognized with universal microchip readers. This second layer of identification can give owners a peace of mind knowing their animal can be easily tracked back to them.
The microchipping process is a safe and easy procedure. Most horses only exhibit minor swelling and sensitivity in the insertion area for a few days before it resolves itself. Or sometimes, your horse may not react to the procedure at all. Your veterinarian will block and surgically prep a section of the horse's nuchal ligament, which is then inserted with a large needle housing the microchip.

Additional information about microchipping:
https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/equine-microchips
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-equestrian-introduces-microchip-rule-fo

01/14/2025

Just a friendly reminder that all animals need access to clean drinking water every day, especially during the winter months. Animals that go without water are at risk for multiple health issues such as colic and dehydration. Below is an article from The Horse Magazine regarding a horse’s water consumption during the winter months.

https://thehorse.com/1124559/managing-your-horses-water-intake-in-cold-weather/

Additionally, here is an article regarding water consumption in ruminants, focused on the winter months.

https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2018/02/13/livestock-water-is-essential-even-in-winter/



Photo credit: https://www.coloradohorsesource.com/feature-winter-is-coming-will-you-be-ready/

01/13/2025

If you are looking for a place to donate to for horses displaced in the LA fires.

The Foundation for the Horse continues to reach out to veterinarians and the horse industry to help horses affected by the wildfires in Southern California. If you or someone you know needs assistance with veterinary care, shelter, transportation, feed, hay, or supplies, please contact The Foundation at [email protected]. Assistance is available to veterinarians treating horses affected by the fires and for veterinary medical supplies, treatment, euthanasia, and more.

To assist in these efforts, donations are needed and can be made directly to our Disaster Fund at https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/impact/disaster-relief/

01/12/2025

Great idea for our goat owners.

01/10/2025

Unfortunately due to an unforeseen, non work related, injury Wasatch Veterinary Large Animal will be temporarily closed. We will reopen when Dr. Tracy is able to weight bear, and therefore safe to be moving around our patients. I am so sorry for any inconvenience. Please contact us with any questions, med refills etc.

01/07/2025

We asked the what their goals are for 2025.
Tara:
- continue to develop handling skills (specifically with ovines and camelids)
- continue furthering my understanding of general veterinary practices and medications
- begin my education toward becoming a DVM
Tessa:
-Complete my second year of vet school
-Continue to gain hands on experience to further my veterinary education
-Find time to enjoy the outdoors
-Spend more time with my friends and family
Courtney: I hope to improve my medical knowledge, further my independence and improve my mental health.
Tracy: Further increase my knowledge through continued education
Attempt to do a better job of living more and working less
Share with us your goals for 2025 so we can cheer and support each other in this new year.


Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/llfloyd150/love-horse-notes/

01/05/2025

01/03/2025

Sometimes we get our horses in trouble with the very items we use to help them be more comfortable.