Thumb Veterinary Services

03/06/2025

How are you so calm with only 1 life yet?

03/05/2025

It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s, thanks to continuous advances in nutrition and health care.
Horse owners have a big impact as well and can help their horses thrive in their golden years through proper management practices like those illustrated in the graphic. But remember, although there is much you can do on your own to keep your older horse happy and spry, some conditions associated with aging require medical intervention.
Scheduling regular visits and keeping a good line of communication with your veterinarian will allow you to respond quickly to any ailments or injuries that could cause your horse a serious or prolonged set back. That means less worry for you, and a better quality of life for your old friend!

03/01/2025

Funny Friday!

02/28/2025

All dogs four months and older must be vaccinated against rabies and have a current dog license. In Sanilac County you have up to Feb 28th. There are three ways to way purchase a dog license: Stop at the court house on second floor, mail in for a license, or visit their website at: http://www.sanilaccounty.net

02/27/2025

Ruff day I need a treat!

02/26/2025

While the number of confirmed equine rabies cases every year is low, talking about this disease remains important because of the potential for human exposure—which does NOT have to involve a bite from an infected horse, as contact of skin or mucosa with the horse’s saliva could be enough to transmit the disease.
Rabies has many faces, but they are all deadly—once a horse shows clinical signs, the animal invariably dies within a few days as there is no treatment.
The good news is that modern vaccines are highly effective and current AAEP recommendations list rabies as one of the “core vaccines” that should be given to all horses annually to maintain immunity (read the full AAEP vaccination guidelines here: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines).
Equine rabies is a real risk for all horses, and a public health concern as well. Be sure to set up a regular vaccination schedule with your veterinarian if you haven’t already done so. Remember that strange behavior on behalf of your equine friend is always a valid reason to check in with your horse doctor!

02/22/2025

Friday funny!

02/21/2025

5 Tips for Preventing Pet Poisonings

We’d much rather see your pet for their annual wellness exam than an emergency appointment for a potential poisoning. Focusing on poison prevention can help keep your pet safe by reducing exposure to potentially deadly medications, human foods, plants, and household substances.

Fortunately, we can simply check our home and yard for dangers and make changes to try our best at preventing unfortunate incidents. Here are 10 tips to help keep your pet from ingesting toxic substances.

Store securely: Store items like lawn and garden supplies, antifreeze, household chemicals, and human medications out of reach of pets. Curious animals can nose open cabinets, so consider locks or other pet-safe containers inside your home and garage.
Make pest control pet safe: Rodenticides and snail/slug baits can be harmful to pets. Always use these products in a pet-safe area. When possible, use bait stations to minimize the opportunity for pets to ingest these items.
Check your yard: Common flowers and plants can be dangerous to pets. Inspect your yard for plants such as autumn crocus, azalea plants, and daffodils to help keep pets safe. Check out this article from UC Davis for more information.
Know human foods that are off limits: Many foods that are safe for people can be toxic to pets, such as: chocolate, xylitol in some sugar-free gum, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, onions, and garlic. This article from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) provides a more detailed list.
Keep human and pet medications separate: Store human and pet medications separately to prevent mix-ups.
When in doubt, call us! Our office can help identify substances that are potentially toxic and provide information on next steps.

02/20/2025

Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness!

02/19/2025

Dr. Calli did a clinic on how to handle equine emergencies and wellness exams with the Mane Attraction 4-H Group.

02/17/2025

02/14/2025

Happy Valentines Day!

02/12/2025

Judging you silently

02/12/2025

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?
Colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.
Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is — the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.
If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:
• Alert your veterinarian immediately
• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings
• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs
• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself — but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe
• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives
The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of colic signs. Horses are individuals and may display signs of pain in a variety of ways. Always consult your horse doctor for more information.

02/10/2025

Farmers play a major role in the Super Bowl! Whether it’s the football being used or the food being consumed, 1.89 million American farmers are proud to contribute to the big game (USDA).