High Country Veterinary Services LLC

11/26/2024

Slippery turnout areas during winter can be dangerous for your horse, increasing the risk of slips and injuries. 🧊 But with the right precautions, you can keep them safe and comfortable!

✅ Clear Ice: Regularly remove ice or add footing solutions like sand or gravel to high-traffic areas.
✅ Snow Pads & Studs: Equip your horse with snow pads or studs to improve traction and prevent ice buildup in hooves.

Safety starts with small steps—let’s make this winter turnout season stress-free for you and your horse. 🐴❄️ Want more tips? Call us or DM anytime!

11/25/2024

Heads up our winter hours are changing!!! Fridays we will have minimal office staffing, so if you plan to stop by please let us know by Thursday so we can assist you better. If you call on a Friday, our phone system will guide you based on your needs. Non-urgent messages may not be returned until the following Monday. ❄️❄️❄️

11/21/2024

Winter is a magical time to enjoy with your horse, but it also brings unique challenges! 🐴 Here are 5 must-know tips to keep your horse comfortable and healthy all season long:

1️⃣ Keep Water Unfrozen: Use heated buckets or troughs to ensure your horse stays hydrated—dehydration can lead to colic!
2️⃣ Extra Forage for Warmth: Adding hay to your horse’s diet helps generate internal heat, keeping them cozy from the inside out.
3️⃣ Check Under Blankets: Don’t let sweat or dampness go unnoticed—lift and check for comfort regularly.
4️⃣ Maintain Hoof Health: Clear ice buildup and consider snow pads to prevent slips on icy ground.
5️⃣ Fall Wellness Check: Winter puts extra strain on your horse, so be proactive with their health. Regular dental, deworming, and vaccinations keep them in peak condition!

Who’s ready for a snowy season with their four-legged friend? Drop a ❄️ if you’re prepared!

11/18/2024

Congrats on an incredible accomplishment Cregan Ortner and Chase!!!

Cregan Ortner of Steamboat Springs and her horse Big Medicine (aka Chase) are the Champions of the USHJA Adult Affiliate .80 Meter Jumper Division at the US Hunter Jumper Association Championship show in Las Vegas this weekend. Not only was she the champion of the division but she also took first place in each of her classes, beating competitors from all around the US. And she did it on her birthday on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Scott.

11/14/2024

Horse scared of needles?

If vaccination day turns your normally sweet and cooperative riding buddy into a fire breathing dragon, we have great news - this is an easy problem to fix!
1️⃣ Find your horse’s favorite reward.
2️⃣ Take a deep breath.
3️⃣ Start by touching his neck.
4️⃣ Apply a little pressure.
5️⃣ STOP

If your horse could use some help conquering their needle phobia, please let us know at your next appointment and we’re happy to show you these steps in person!

11/08/2024

Did you know hydration is just as important in winter as it is in summer? 🥶 Horses are prone to dehydration in cold weather, so here’s what to check:
💧 Water Temperature: Use heated buckets or trough heaters to prevent freezing.
🍂 Encourage Drinking: Adding electrolytes or a pinch of salt to feed can help stimulate thirst.
🌡️ Check Daily: Monitor water access, as ice can quickly form in subzero temps.

Winter hydration helps prevent impaction colic and keeps your horse healthy all season long. ❄️

11/06/2024

Did you know dental care is key to your horse’s winter health? 🐴 With higher calorie needs in cold weather, smooth teeth make it easier for horses to chew, digest, and absorb nutrients from their feed. Here’s why a dental float before winter is so important:
1️⃣ Efficient Chewing: Reduces feed waste and ensures they’re getting the calories needed to stay warm.
2️⃣ Prevents Weight Loss: Pain from sharp points can lead to reduced eating, making weight maintenance tough.
3️⃣ Better Digestion: Properly chewed forage aids digestion, reducing the risk of colic.

Make sure your horse’s mouth is winter-ready—call us to schedule a dental float today! 🦷❄️

11/02/2024

Did you know that deworming your horse without a plan can contribute to drug resistance and health issues? 🐴 Fall is the perfect time to perform a f***l egg count (FEC) test and create a tailored deworming plan based on your horse's specific needs. This ensures your horse stays healthy and parasite-free while avoiding overuse of medication. 🍂

Want to prepare your horse for the colder months ahead? Schedule a fall FEC test and deworming plan with us today! 🐴📞

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from High Country Vet Services! What's your halloween costume this year?

10/29/2024

Did you know that sharp points and waves can form on your horse’s teeth over time, making it difficult and painful for them to chew? 🦷 As the cold weather sets in, your horse’s caloric needs increase, and proper chewing and digestion are critical to maintaining their health. A dental float smooths out those sharp points, ensuring your horse can eat comfortably, maintain weight, and properly digest their feed. 🐴🍂

📅 Don’t wait—call us today to schedule your horse’s dental float this fall and keep them in top shape all season!

10/27/2024

Get your orders in!

Sale excludes oats and non-fortified forages.

10/26/2024

🙌 you to all of you that have called the clinic, stopped me when you see me and made the effort to ask and educate yourselves on Prop 129.
👹 I have seen spam texts sent to individuals that are mis-representing the professions stance on this.
👉 Here is the American Association of Equine Practitioners(AAEP)'s stance, held by 100's of veterinary bodies across the country:

The AAEP’s key concerns about the creation of the VPA role include:

‼️ Inadequate Training to Perform Surgery: VPAs will go through a mostly online program with minimal hands-on clinical training but will be allowed to perform surgery on animals.

🚫 Unable to Prescribe Medication to Address Care Issues & Emergencies: Per Section 503(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, without a lawful written or oral order from a licensed veterinarian, it is unlawful for anyone other than a licensed veterinarian to prescribe or dispense prescription animal or human drugs for animals. VPAs will not be able to anticipate, prevent, and respond to animal care issues or emergencies beyond a set protocol.

❌ No Increase in Access to Vet Care: There is no evidence that VPAs will be more likely to practice in underserved areas than veterinarians.
Proposition 129 would rush underprepared individuals into roles for which they will not be equipped, putting animal health and safety at risk.

More info at:

Our veterinary patients deserve high-quality care. Colorado’s proposed Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) would lower the standard for veterinary services and put animal health and safety at risk.

10/24/2024

🍂 Fall is here, and with it comes the need for essential vaccinations to keep your horse healthy and safe! Whether it’s protecting them from respiratory illnesses, rabies, or tetanus, fall vaccines are crucial, especially as your horse spends more time indoors. Your vet will help create a custom vaccination plan based on your horse’s unique needs.

📅 Don’t let your horse’s health fall behind this season—call us today to schedule their vaccines and keep them protected all year long!

10/18/2024

Did you know that frozen water sources in winter can lead to dehydration and increase your horse’s risk of impaction colic? ❄️💧 Keep your horse hydrated this winter by using water trough heaters and heated buckets to ensure constant access to fresh, unfrozen water. Proper hydration is key to preventing colic and keeping your horse healthy all season long. Call us today for more winter horse care tips!

10/17/2024

It’s National Vet Tech Week and we could not be more appreciative of the incredible support staff that keeps HCVS running! As you all know, we have a truly special team of skilled, compassionate, and hard working technicians. Sarah, Fritz, and Gabby bring so much efficiency and humor to our days, and make our work that much more enjoyable. They also all happen to be terrifyingly good axe throwers…

10/16/2024

Over-blanketing can cause serious discomfort and overheating in your horse. 🐴 Swipe to learn the signs and make sure your horse stays warm but not too hot this winter.

10/12/2024

Please for the sake of veterinary medicine vote NO on Prop 129!!!!

Colorado’s Dr. Andrea Palchak, a distinguished veterinarian and lifelong animal lover, shares her thoughts in The Denver Gazette on the dangers posed by Proposition 129. This misleading and misguided ballot measure is attempting to circumvent the experts and establish the position of a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA), someone who would be able to perform surgery on animals with little education and minimal hands-on training.

Read the article here: www.gazette.com/opinion/i-m-a-colorado-shelter-vet-who-opposes-proposition-129/article_213c0a0c-7cd3-11ef-b9ce-9f68a652fc8e.html