Rocky Mountain Equine Medicine and Surgery

06/10/2024

Rocky Mtn Equine is proud to help Aubrey Christensen keep her horses healthy and sound as she represents Strawberry Days Rodeo and as she leads the Utah team into competition at the National High School Finals Rodeo. We know she will represent Utah well!

04/11/2024

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.
While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.
It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of hay or grass) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.
As always, please be sure to consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.

03/20/2024

Spring has sprung! Which means…vaccination season is upon us as well!

If you are wondering what vaccinations your horse should receive, the answer is — There are no “one size fits all” vaccine recommendations. While vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances, a good immunization protocol minimizes the risk of infection and remains an essential component of responsible horse ownership.

A vaccination appointment is also the perfect opportunity for a yearly check-up of your equine friend and a great way to catch any health concerns early. Contact us about scheduling your horse's vaccinations. 801-798-8123

01/31/2024

February is so all floats done at the Hospital are discounted $20 per horse! Call 801-798-8123 to schedule an appointment.

01/19/2024

BrightInspiredPeople‘World’s Oldest Cowboy’ Still Competing in Rodeos at 92, After Getting Back in the Saddle Down UnderA picture designed by The Epoch Times using imagery from Stephen Mowbray Photography and Scott Kelleher/Kranky Kactus FotoBy Michael Wing1/2/2024Updated: 1/12/2024Print0:00To...

12/21/2023

Merry Christmas!

(Washington, D.C., December 23, 2020) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and ...

12/06/2023

While it’s a common equine emergency, espophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

11/18/2023

Maintaining an exercise regimen, addressing your horse’s weight, and exploring medication options might be the best ways to keep your senior horse sound. Three Penn Vet experts explain why.

11/10/2023

Blood insulin levels can warn of increased risk of laminitis in obese horses and ponies and spur owners to mitigate it.

08/25/2023

It's West Nile Season

08/03/2023

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

Equestrians love some chrome on a horse but we need to remember that those beautiful white patches and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils. In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

More information about sunburn and photosensitization is available on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/sunburn-photosensitivity

07/14/2023

COOL SCIENCE (pun intended)!

An old myth wants us to believe that horses should be walked until they cool completely after exercise, even in the summer. However, a study from 2020 looked at five different ways to cool a horse after exercise: walking, walking with fans, walking with intermittent cold water application, walking with intermittent cold water application and scraping, and stationary with continuous tap water application. As it turns out, the method that resulted in the quickest return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application (2 minutes), while walking alone took the longest time for recovery (25 minutes).

Bottom line: enjoy your rides in the sun this summer but remain vigilant for signs of heat stress in your horse. If they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cool bath, and a break in the shade.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

06/16/2023

Carefully manage at-risk horses' diet and exercise to help avoid hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis in horses.

02/04/2023

All floats done at the hospital are discounted $20 per horse for National Pet Dental Health Month.

01/27/2023

February is the month we focus on dental health. All month routine floats done at our Hospital will be discounted $20! Please schedule an appointment at 801-798-8123

11/11/2022

On this Veterans' Day we want to take a moment to thank all the brave men and women who served our country and who continue to serve.

In honor of the animals who assist their human partners in the armed forces, we hope you'll enjoy reading the story of Staff Sergeant Reckless—small in size, but huge in heart and spirit, Reckless was a “Jeju” pony who became the real-life warhorse of the U.S. Marine Fifth Regiment during the Korean War; she is pictured below with Lieutenant Eric Pedersen, who bought her at a racetrack in Seoul for $250 and trained her to haul ammunition through the caos of war.

In particular, it was the savage Battle for Outpost Vegas in April 1953 that revealed the true extent of this mare’s courage and resilience. For the better parts of three days and nights, Reckless hauled ammunition—to the recoilless rifles by day and the mortar crews by night—with periodic breaks for water and feed, and short periods of sleep. Trained to travel by herself, she prompted one Marine to observe that she was so fast, no handler could keep up with her, anyway. She was wounded twice, patched up and resumed her work without hesitation. Time and again, her fellow Marines marveled at her resoluteness, as she maneuvered across areas where shrapnel was falling, and ran along the narrow berms beside the rice paddies, never stepping off into the mine-laden bogs.

In one day alone, during that terrible April siege, she made 51 trips to the recoilless rifles sites, in all traveling more than 35 miles. She carried 386 of the heavy shells, each weighing 20 to 23 pounds, depending on their content—a total of over 9,000 pounds of explosives. Then, descending the ridge to reload, she carried the wounded or dead on her back. It is acknowledged that because of what Reckless accomplished in battle, many Marines came home who might not have otherwise.

Source: the Horse Stars Hall of Fame, a joint program of the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation

Read the full story at: http://www.horsestarhalloffame.org/inductees/64/staff_sergeant_reckless.aspx

Photo courtesy of United States Marine Corp

07/02/2022

04/29/2022

The Canon City Wild Horse and B***o Facility has been placed under quarantine after equine influenza (subtype H3N8) has been identified as the principal cause of the outbreak and mortality of 94 horses. Currently there is no movement of horses on or off the property.

Equine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through airborne transmission. Influenza causes pneumonia and can cause heart inflammation, but normally it resolves after several weeks of symptomatic treatment and rest. It is uncertain why this group of horses at the BLM facility are so severely affected with evidence of severe lung injury. Vaccinated horses have good protection and is recommended for, particularly those that are transported or mingle with other horses.

As this situation evolves, the EDCC will share updates as they are available from the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Department of Agriculture.

To date (4.29.22) we know the following:
April 29: The April 28 Situation Report is available athttps://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docs/2022-04/Canon%20City%20mortality_%20situation%20report%204_28_22.pdf

April 28: The total number of fatalities has increased to 94. The BLM’s most recent press release is available at https://www.blm.gov/press-release/virus-has-been-identified-principal-cause-outbreak-and-mortality-blms-wild-horse-and

April 27: The total number of fatalities has increased to 85.

April 26: The total number of fatalities has increased to 67.

April 25: A total of 57 horses have died. The BLM and its partners are continuing to monitor horses and identify an illness.