West Coast Equine Medicine

07/11/2024

Thank you to Graze Craze - Murrieta, CA for dropping this off for our office! It was a lovely and refreshing snack after a hot day!

07/11/2024

How hot is too hot to ride? Following this heat index chart (temp + humidity) can help determine if it is safe to ride. As always, make sure you and your horse are hydrated before heading out!

07/07/2024

What do you do if your horse horse displays vague, mild, or serious signs of what might be colic? Your answer could save your horse’s life.
Read more at https://thehorse.com/features/dealing-with-equine-colic/, brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.

06/26/2024

This past weekend Dr. Tara Doherty completed her final exams and received her certification in Equine Veterinary Medical Manipulation (VMM). Through this course exclusively offered to veterinarians she learned how to safely adjust horses similar to how chiropractors can adjust people. VMM can help restore joint function, relieve muscle tension, and complements other veterinary therapies including acupuncture!

06/07/2024

In short:
-Perform f***l egg count reduction tests annually to ensure that you are using effective dewormers in every herd or barn.
-Recognize that no anthelmintic will eliminate all parasitic stages from a horse.
-Continue using f***l egg counts once or twice per year to stratify horses into low, medium and high shedders to reduce pasture contamination.
-Deworm all horses at a baseline rate and target selected horses more often based on f***l egg counts. (In our area strongyles and tapeworms should be the focus)
-Not use f***l egg counts to diagnose disease in horses as there is no correlation between f***l egg counts and disease-causing parasite life stages.
-Discontinue deworming all horses with fixed intervals year-round and stop blindly rotating anthelmintic classes.

UPDATES GUIDELINES AVAILABLE 📢

The AAEP has issued revised Internal Parasite Control Guidelines to help minimize the risk of parasitic disease and maintain the effectiveness of current drugs for as long as possible by delaying further development of anthelmintic resistance.

The updated guidelines account for recent advances in knowledge concerning increased anthelmintic resistance and optimization of parasite control management practices. They also address common misconceptions and offer parasite control program recommendations for senior horses (over 15 years old), mature horses (between 5 and 15 years old), and young horses (under 5 years old).

Read more at: https://aaep.org/post/aaep-publishes-updated-internal-parasite-control-guidelines/

The guidelines were reviewed and updated by the AAEP Internal Parasite Control Guidelines Task Force, chaired by Dr. Nielsen and comprised of 10 AAEP members predominantly board certified in veterinary internal medicine, veterinary parasitology and/or veterinary microbiology. We thank them for their incredibly important work!

05/13/2024

Some of our doctors (Dr. Kate Rigby and Dr. Tara Doherty) taking some time off of their busy schedules to compete this weekend in the Starter and Beginner Novice eventing divisions at Galway Downs with Heart Bar Farms!

04/03/2024

Thank you Vineyard Veterinary Hospital for taking care of our beloved truck mascots and head of WCEM security, Luna. Your team always goes above and beyond 💜💙

A special shout out to Dr. Libby Fedorko at West Coast Equine Medicine 🐎! Our team was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful gift of bagels 🥯 and coffee ☕️ this morning!
Your kindness brightened 🌞 our day, and we're truly grateful for your generosity. Thank you from the team at Vineyard Veterinary Hospital!

03/08/2024

Happy Foal Friday!

03/07/2024

Did you know gastric ulcers have been found to affect up to 60% of show horses? And can be found even in our non-performance horses. Signs of ulcers can often be overlooked as training or behavioral problems. Consider reaching out to your veterinarian if your horse displays the following signs and stay tuned for more information on our gastroscope day coming this Spring!

02/20/2024

While colic is unfortunately not always preventable, below are 10 tips that may help! Always ask your veterinarian for specific recommendations for your horse. 🐴

02/16/2024

All this rainy weather unfortunately brings along hoof abscesses for our equine friends. Review some tips below for management and don’t hesitate to call our office with any questions or concerns. ☔️

02/16/2024

Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Embryo flushing season is in full swing …and here is an example of a lovely Grade 1, seven day old embryo! Call us at 866-923-6838 to discuss options for embryo flushing and transfer!

02/13/2024

Do you have a plan for your horse’s unexpected medical expenses? (Read, for example: can you afford colic surgery if it comes to it?)

Whether a horse is purchased for personal or business reasons, horse ownership represents a significant investment of time, money, and resources. While nothing may easy the emotional burden, wise planning can at least help reduce the economic impacts should something happen to your precious companion.

There are many types of coverage available to the horse owner and the conditions can vary widely between companies. Common types of coverage available for horses are listed (but not limited to what you see) in the graphic. Some equine insurers may require an insurance examination certificate signed by a veterinarian before a policy will be issued for a horse, however that does not mean your veterinarian can attest for the insurability of the animal — your veterinarian can only respond to questions of which he or she has direct knowledge, reporting the medical facts to the best of his or her ability.

Regardless of the circumstances, never ask or expect your veterinarian to report a claim to the insurance company or to be an expert with regards to your insurance policy. This is your responsibility as the owner and if you have questions regarding your policy be sure to ask your insurance agent!

02/09/2024

For those lucky mares that are in foal, please keep the simple "1-2-3" rule in mind when the magical moment finally arrives!

1) During stage 2 of labor (i.e. when the foal is delivered), this should take no longer than 1 hour! Ideally, the foal should be delivered in 20-30 minutes once stage 2 of labor begins. Stage 2 of labor begins when the mare's water breaks.
2) The newborn foal should make multiple attempts to stand during the first 2 hours of life, and should be standing and nursing by 2 hours of age.
3) The mare's fetal membranes (the placenta) should pass within 3 hours of birth. Please save these for your veterinarian to inspect!

If ANY of these 3 phases are prolonged, please call 866-923-6838 as it is an emergency. For more information, please contact Dr. Kate Rigby or click the below link!

https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery

02/02/2024

In case you missed our last client education event, Dr. Tara discussed the many benefits of acupuncture! Call today (866-923-6838) to see if acupuncture may benefit your horse and schedule an appointment with Dr. Tara Doherty. 🐴

01/20/2024

Thank you again for everyone who donated to our raffle!! Zoetis Dechra US South Coast Saddlery! We raised approx $50 for Baker Ranch Mini Sanctuary Murrieta CA
For those of you who didn’t make it, there were some amazing items! We hope to see you next time!

01/20/2024

01/20/2024

Thanks to our tech support team, we are going to stream the talks live today at 10:00am! Stay tooned in to our FB around that time this morning!

01/19/2024

We are still on for our Client Education Day!!! Tomorrow, Saturday Jan 20th 10am-1pm at MZ Equestrian in Vista, CA. Rain or shine! We have an indoor space to ensure we will stay dry. Joining us will be Zoetis, Dechra, South Coast Saddlery, and Platinum Performance!! We will have prizes, giveaways, and a raffle to benefit Baker Ranch Mini Sanctuary Murrieta CA. Light refreshments sponsored by Arthramidvet will be available. Come ready for some Facts, Fun, and Free Prizes! BYOC (bring your own chair)

01/15/2024

Its the middle of January, and that means the beginning of foaling and breeding season! 🐴 If you are interested in breeding your mare, Dr. Kate Rigby, our reproductive veterinarian, is currently accepting new clients! Please call 866-923-6838 ext 5 to discuss breeding opportunities available. Embryo flushing is also available at our satellite locations!
If you are interested in learning more about what's involved with foaling and breeding, please attend our Client Education Day on January 20th at MZ Equestrian (2260 Glenview Lane, Vista, California 92084) between 10am - 1pm. There will also be discussions/demonstrations provided by Dr. Libby Fedorko and Dr. Tara Doherty!

01/08/2024

Please join us at our much anticipated Client Education Day on Saturday, January 20, 2024. There will be amazing presentations by Dr. Fedorko, Dr. Doherty, and Dr. Rigby. An acupuncture demonstration and some hands-on learning opportunities will follow the presentations. Light refreshments sponsored by Arthramidvet will be served. Prizes awarded throughout the day thanks to Zoetis, Platinum Performance, and Dechra. Please comment below if you would like to join us! We hope to see you there.

MZ Equestrian
2260 Glenview Ln
Vista, CA

January 20, 2024
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas to you and yours! May today be filled with peace and joy 🎄

11/23/2023

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

10/18/2023

Veterinary technicians are the unsung heroes of every veterinary team, and one week out of a year is not nearly enough time to express our appreciation. Thank you to all the veterinary technicians and nurses who always put our horses’ health at the forefront!

09/26/2023

We couldn’t be happier for Liz Bolton, Theo and Julie Robinson, the LBS team, and their amazing horses. A win well deserved!

14-year-old Demi Bolton and 12-year-old Olivia Drengberg both trained by Liz Bolton Stables.

07/16/2023

As summer and heat roll in, so do the emergency calls. Here are some tips that help us help you:
1) Call Early- most medical conditions can be treated more efficiently and resolve quicker if you call as soon as you suspect an issue.
2) Respect Office Hours - Emergency calls are for true emergencies, not because a weekend or after 5pm visit works better for your schedule.
3) Be Ready For Us- Please have the horse haltered and caught on arrival. This allows us to work more efficiently and spend more time focusing on the problem at hand
4) Be Respectful - Please be respectful of our time. Do not ask us to perform other routine work on other horses during an emergency visit. You are likely not the only client who has paged for an emergency that day, and we are trying to accommodate everyone in a timely fashion. Also, please be respectful of other clients who have emergencies that day. Some emergencies are more critical than others and wait times may vary based on the severity of your horse’s condition.
5) Payment - Please expect to pay at time of service and be ready with that form of payment
6) Be Kind - Please be kind to the new veterinarians in the practice or the veterinarians you haven’t met yet. Your veterinarian of preference may not be the one on call that day.
Thank you all so much for your support. We hope to only see you on routine appointments. However, when emergencies occur we will be there to help ☺️

Have you been waiting longer than usual for an open appointment with your veterinarian or been unable to access after-hours services for your horse? The shortage of equine veterinarians in the U.S. is likely the cause. Many veterinary practices have too few horse doctors to service all their clients.

Why? Only about 6% of new veterinary graduates annually enter equine practice. After five years, 50% of these young veterinarians leave for small animal practice or quit veterinary medicine altogether. The primary reasons are the personal demands of the profession and equine practice’s lower starting salaries. Many new veterinarians begin their career with more than $200,000 in student loan debt, making an equine position with lower compensation often unthinkable. When financial concerns are combined with the always present demands of emergency coverage, many equine veterinarians choose to leave for a healthier way of life.

The good news is that the AAEP along with private veterinary practices and veterinary schools are addressing the pain points which have led to the current crisis. But the solution is complex and will require the support and collaboration of every person in the equine industry — including horse owners. As we work to improve the profession for current and future veterinarians, you have a huge role to play in the much-needed transformation of equine practice. Horse doctors look forward to working together with you for the good of the horse and the sustainability of veterinary care!

07/14/2023

06/22/2023

Happy Summer!!! Summer camps are in full swing. White manes are rainbow, hoofs are sparkling, and all the saddle pads are tie-dye! It is every horse loving kid’s favorite time of year. It is also the perfect time to start educating about basic horse care and safety. Dr. Libby couldn’t wait to nerd out with this group of campers about normal vital signs. MCCS Camp Pendleton - Stepp Stables