Red Rock Equine

19/11/2023

Red Rock Equine clients and friends,

After some soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to close Red Rock Equine’s doors at the end of the month. As of December 1, 2023 I will no longer be practicing equine medicine. I am kindly requesting that you ask for any documents (medical write ups, radiographs, bloodwork results, Coggins, etc) by the end of the year, specifically by December 29, 2023. For those of you with ongoing cases, please know that I will help facilitate the transition between myself and the equine vet of your choice.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and your equine family members. Please know I did not make this decision lightly, and will miss each and every one of you and your horses.

Thank you for your kindness and understanding,

Dr Allison Blasko

30/10/2023

Who else can relate?

11/10/2023

Love this!

17/08/2023

It’s difficult for us horse doctors to admit we aren’t superhuman. We’re hardwired to be there for you and your horse whenever you need us. But we’re finally in the midst of an overdue reality check as a profession and admitting that our desire to be available 24/7 isn’t compatible with our own personal health and happiness.

The most significant pain point for many of us is caring for our clients during regular business hours and then being on call for emergencies after hours. If we are a single-doctor or small practice, this traditionally has been the case most nights of the week.

The good news is that the AAEP along with private veterinary practices and veterinary schools are focused on developing new models for emergency care which ease the strain on individual practitioners. This includes the growth of emergency cooperatives where two or more practices in a geographic area work together to share after-hours care, as well as more emergency-only practices and the use of tele-triage services to address client concerns after normal business hours.

As equine veterinarians reevaluate what after-hours care looks like for their practices, we know that the support of our clients is critical to creating a balance that works for both of us. If your horse doctor talks with you about changes in how after-hours care is delivered, we hope you’ll welcome the adjustments, knowing that this evolution of emergency care must take place in order for equine veterinarians to avoid burnout and continue to be available to treat all of our patients. We appreciate our partnership with you, and your horse does too!

17/08/2023

I’m proud to call Dr Rachel Liepman a dear friend of mine, as well as someone who I can call up with a complicated case. She gives me ideas and pushes me to think outside the box, and I am forever grateful for her knowledge and passion for equine internal medicine. If you hear me say “I’m going to place a phone call to someone smarter than me” it’s usually to Dr Liepman!

16/07/2023

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!

06/07/2023

"HOT" TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER RIDING

As you enjoy some fun in the sun with your favorite equine, make sure you understand how the combination of heat and humidity can take the fun part out the equation — and potentially even turn into a dangerous situation for your horse.

When riding in hot weather, remember to take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and for signs of heat exhaustion, as the situation can quickly escalate into heat stroke. If your horse looks hot and tired, it's time for a drink, a cold bath and a break in the shade.

Consult your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about the signs of heat stroke on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke
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01/07/2023

Dr Blasko is available Tuesday for all emergencies/firework related issues! 970-646-8809.

With the Fourth of July festivities just around the corner, now is a good time to make preparations to keep your horses, farm animals and pets safe during any fireworks that will be happening in your area.

The graphic below lists some tips to get you started. If your horses are staying out overnight, be sure to check your fencing ahead of time and neutralize any hazards like rocks, branches or holes that could lead to injury if the animals start bolting. If you are concerned your animals may get loose, make sure your contact information is on a tag on the halter (provided i’is a breakaway one) or braided in their mane.
Some horses require sedation to help them get through. If you are really worried about your horse's safety, consult your veterinarian about calming agents.

This is also a good time to update and review your fire response program at your barn. Make sure you have the number for the fire department, everyone knows the address of the barn, plenty of fire extinguishers are available, and any fire hazards are removed from the barn.

No matter what your Independence Day plans are, above all please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so EVERYONE may have an enjoyable celebration.

Happy 4th! 🇺🇸
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

18/06/2023

Great explanation of how to take a “TPR” if Dr B ever asks for one!

Following is some great practical information courtesy of the horse doctors at Orange County Equine Veterinary Services:

Knowing how to correctly get vitals (aka T.P.R.) on a horse can be extremely helpful in urgent situations.

🌡️Temperature 🌡️
Normal: 99.0-101.5F
How to: You can use a regular digital thermometer from the drug store! Taking a temperature rectally is the most accurate measure in the horse.

♥️ Pulse ♥️
Normal: 28-40 beats per minute (easier to just remember in the 30s!)
How to: Stethoscopes can be purchased online inexpensively. Place stethoscope in the space behind the elbow, in the “V”, or where the girth would sit (where Dr. Hunter is listening in this photo) on the left side. You will hear ONE beat as TWO sounds “lub-dub”.
So… “lub-dub”-1- “lub-dub”-2 - “lub-dub”-3-… and so on… We usually listen for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get beats per one minute.

💨 Respiration 💨
Normal: 12-16 breaths per minute
How to: Watch their flank rise and fall. Sometimes they may be taking shallow breaths, so resting your hand on their side can help to feel the movement as well!

09/06/2023

Smoke from more than 400 wildfires in eastern Canada has carried into the Northeastern United States, causing poor air quality and rising concerns among horse owners.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks air pollution and air quality on a scale of 0 to 500. Though the ranking system is geared toward people, the classifications also apply to horses. Particulate levels begin to pose dangers to horse health when they exceed 150, especially to horses with pre-existing health concerns. At this level owners should limit riding and exercise until the smoke clears and air quality improves. An AQI value above 300 is considered hazardous.

The negative effects of smoke inhalation are not always immediately apparent, and will be variable from horse to horse and the degree and type of smoke exposure. We encourage horse owners in affected areas to be diligent in monitoring the local air quality and to take extra caution with horses at higher risk of respiratory distress. Be sure to contact your veterinarian to evaluate horses showing any signs of respiratory inflammation (like coughing, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, fever).

To read more about how air quality can affect your horse’s respiratory health, please read this article courtesy of AAEP Educational Partner The Horse: https://thehorse.com/1110445/how-air-quality-impacts-horse-health/

05/06/2023

Dr Blasko really enjoys neuro exams; she has one scheduled this week! Depending on her findings, we can begin therapies OR referral is recommended. Other diagnostics (such as a CSF tap) can be performed safely at a hospital setting vs in the field. If you’re concerned with any neuro deficits or weakness in your horse, give her a ring!

27/05/2023

Has your horse had colic surgery recently?

In order to perform colic surgery, a large incision is made through a fibrous structure called the linea alba, which separates the left and right abdominal muscles. Similarly to humans that undergo a c-section, this causes a severe compromise of the core muscles. In horses, there is often a significant period of time off following colic surgery due to the risk of herniation and evisceration, because unlike humans, the weight of the entire contents of their abdominal cavity sits on the incision. This time off allow the incision to heal but does not help get their core muscles/top line back in action, which also slows down their ability to go back into work quickly because they need to build back the muscle that they’ve lost.

Rehabilitation and especially the water treadmill, is a safe and very effective way to slowly increase both stamina, as well as the core and hind end musculature. The rehabilitation can be started performed following suture removal post colic surgery, which allows for a much faster recovery and return to what you and your horse enjoy doing most!

For more information on our lay-up & rehabilitation boarding options contact us via call/text at (970) 368-3125, or email us at [email protected]