Mobile veterinarian for camelids (alpacas, llamas, etc.) & small ruminants (sheep & goats) in IL & IN
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* Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service is a mobile practice providing preventative medicine and emergency care for camelids and small ruminants.
* Licensed in Illinois and Indiana, Dr. Richards focuses on the medicine and care of New World Camelids (Alpacas, Llamas, Guanacos, Vicuna) and Old World Camelids (Bactrian and Dromedary Camels).
* Eastern Prairie
Veterinary Service hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CT, except on Holidays.
* Emergencies services are based upon availability only for current, active clients (on-farm vet service within the past 12 months).
* Payment is required at the time of service.
* See the website for more information: www.easternprairievet.com
ATTENTION CLIENTS: Beginning this Wednesday, May 1st, I will be away from the practice for two weeks - resuming veterinary calls and appointments on Wednesday, May 15th. If you have a sick or injured animal during this time, please contact your closest veterinarian. Thank you.
(Picture of the family hooligans, just because)
Hey, Y'all! Just a few things I wanted to mention on this brisk Spring morning.
First, as you may know, I reduced my hours last July and I've even thrown the around the word 'semi-retired' at times as I'm only seeing appointments certain days of the week. Please rest assured that I am NOT retired, I have just been cutting back a little bit. So, I am still happy to help you with your large animal veterinary needs.
Secondly, this year is building up to be a particularly buggy year. (Although this morning's frost might help a little bit for a short while.) So, if you haven't already gotten your fly and insect control measures in place, this may include feed through fly growth inhibitors, parasitic wasps, even your fly wipes and sprays, now is the time!
Also think about and prepare the options you have for shelter, shade and cooling for your animals.
And, always, always, always provide fresh clean water!
Regards,
Dr. Nanci Richards, DVM
(Borrowed photo from Scotland, photographer unknown)
Hitting the road with your horse, either for pleasure or for business/competition?
Most horse owners know that a negative Coggins test is a must-have for crossing state lines or entering competitions (or even boarding at someone's barn). But let’s not forget that even homebodies need it!
A "Coggins" is a blood test that checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a serious blood-borne disease. EIA is transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies, so your horse is at risk even it never leaves the property or lives in a closed herd.
The clinical signs of the disease can vary dramatically, from an acute infection to an inapparent form that presents mild to no symptoms. No treatment or vaccine exist for EIA at the moment, and infected horses become lifelong carriers. Therefore, to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t take place, horses that test positive for EIA must be quarantined and isolated for the rest of their life or humanely euthanized.
Get your horse tested annually, regardless of travel plans. To learn more about EIA, consult your veterinarian or visit our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia
Please read labels to keep your best friend safe! You may find Xylitol listed as Birch Sugars, either way it is highly toxic!
To all my clients, friends and family:
I want to share with (& reassure) you that there are no concerns with Purina Pro Plan products or, for that matter, any Purina products at this time.
Social media has been flooded for the last several weeks by some quacks indicating that there are issues with heavy metal contaminants, etc. found in Purina Pro Plan dogfood. This is simply untrue and is strictly a smear campaign.
Purina, along with Hills Science Diet and Royal Canin, are very well tested, highly quality controlled pet foods. These manufacturers are very upfront and transparent when they have a concern with any of their products and will post a recall if anything is found. This is simply not the case with what is going around on social media of late. Just an FYI. ~ Dr. Nanci Richards
Thank you for allowing me to work with you and your animals again in 2023!
As a reminder, I will be unavailable beginning this Saturday, December 23rd, 2023, not returning until Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, when practice business hours will resume. (Mondays 1p - 5p, Wednesdays & Thursdays 8a - 5p) During this time I will be mostly unavailable, whether it be by email, text or phone.
I wish for each of you a joyous holiday season with those you hold dear. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~ Dr. Nanci
AWAY FROM PRACTICE 11/22/23 -12/4/23!
From Wednesday, November 22nd (the day before Thanksgiving) until Monday, December 4th I will be away from the practice at meetings, family and personal happenings. Periodically, I may be able to respond to some calls and emails, but there will likely be a delay. If you have an emergency situation, please contact your closest veterinarian. Thank you for understanding and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
REMINDER: I am in the midst of being away from the practice several times through early next year. At times, I will be completely unavailable. Please LISTEN & READ as my phone answering message, email & text replies indicate this, so that you can contact the next closest veterinarian.
I am not trying to be unresponsive to your veterinary needs, but there will be times when I have spotty or no coverage to even get messages, let alone respond to them. And, quite honestly, I will just not have the time as I am either at meetings or other events. Thank you for understanding!
SEE DATES UNAVAILABLE BELOW:
The holiday season and winter are nearly upon us. As I mentioned in a previous post, between now and early next year I will be out and away from the practice several days, even weeks, at a time for meetings and personal events. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
I will be unavailable:
Nov. 8th -14th
Nov. 22nd - Dec. 4th
Dec. 8th - 15th
Dec. 23rd - Jan. 3rd
(There will be times during some of my absences that I am not available at all, even by phone, email or text. I will change my recordings and replies accordingly during those times.)
REMINDER: I am away from the practice starting today, Friday, October 6th, and will return on Monday, October 16th. If you have an animal situation during this time, please contact your next closest veterinarian. Thank you!
A quick heads up in regard to scheduling appointments this Fall and Winter. Over the next few months there will be days, even some weeks, when I will be completely away from the practice and unavailable even for calls, texts, etc. Thus, there may be a longer delay when trying to schedule appointments. So, if you know that you need to schedule annual vaccines, herd health or other preventative medicine appointments with me, call sooner rather than later. (Emergencies, of course, are a different matter and will be seen if I am available for current established and active clients.)
**The first week that I will be away from the practice is October 6th until October 16th**
[Photo of the Mull of Galloway, the southernmost point of Scotland.]
Meet Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service's newest vet assistant-in-training, Mirk
This is a quick reminder that I will be away from the veterinary practice starting tomorrow Saturday, June 24th and will return on Monday, July 10th.
During this time I will be completely unavailable for email, phone calls or text/private messages. Please be sure you have identified another vet that you can contact during this time.
New hours starting next month (July 2023)!
Monday: 1pm to 5pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 8am to 5pm
Thursday: 8am to 5 pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
For current, active clients (those seen in the past 12 months), I will provide emergency services based upon my availability beyond the hours listed.
*** Remember I'm away & unavailable June 24th thru July 9th, though. ***
ALERT!
Looking ahead, I want to let veterinary clients know that I will be away from the practice and completely unavailable from June 24th through July 9th. Upon my return and starting the week of July 10th, I will be making some schedule changes to practice hours, including reduced days and hours available. So, stay tuned this page.
Just a quick note to let you know that I will be away from the veterinary practice from Sunday, May 14th until Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023.
Yep, we made it through winter, and spring is truly here!
PSA: Do you have some sort of coat or blanket on your animal(s)? If so please be sure that you're checking under them daily because things can be hidden under them that require your attention. This can include everything from losing weight that you're not aware of to an injury of some sort.
After Thanksgiving and a long weekend of football, shopping and decorating, it seems that we have made the full turn to preparing for Christmas (or Hannukah) and W-I-N-T-E-R. For those of us in the northern climes we sta...
HOOF ABSCESSES EXPLAINED
Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean?
Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.
(The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.)
Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.
Read more about hoof abscesses on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/hoof-abscesses
Good info. Have a look
If you own horses, you quickly become familiar with a number of skin conditions including summer sores, scratches, hives, and more. Case in point—did you know that, among domestic animals, horses are the most likely species to be affected by hives?
Spring and summer are prime time for skin problem thanks to the increased amount of pollen, rain and insects, so being able to identify problems quickly is key to both appropriate treatment (pro tip: Always consult your vet when in doubt) and successful outcomes.
Our friends at the UC Davis Center for Equine Health "skinned" the subject of equine dermatology in the latest Horse Report; you can read more athttps://cehhorsereport.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk9021/files/inline-files/Horse_Report_Spring_22_web.pdf
ALERT! My cell phone provider is having significant issues. It is possible that you may call or text me and I either don't receive it or am unable to reply to you or both. I wish I had an answer or alternative to provide you with but I do not at this time. If it is an emergency and you cannot get through to me or have left a message and don't hear from me within 15 minutes, I always request that you go ahead and contact another vet. If it is not an emergency, also please feel free to email me : [email protected]
Did you know? If your horse has suffered a large wound or laceration, you should resist the temptation to give your animal any medication while you wait for the veterinarian to arrive. A horse who receives oral painkillers may end up waiting longer for relief, as the veterinarian may not be able to give him a faster-acting intravenous analgesic because of overdose risk. Also, if the horse has suffered severe blood loss or shock, the administration of certain drugs can be life-threatening.
Our friends at Equus Magazine offer additional guidance on what to do—and not do—when you’re waiting for the vet during an equine health emergency in this special edition of the EQUUS Extra: https://equusmagazine.com/equus-extra/until-the-veterinarian-arrives/
Guidelines to follow during an equine emergency are also available at the AAEP's website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/guidelines-follow-during-equine-emergencies
An expert in equine thermoregulation is attempting to bust some of the myths spread about cooling horses. Although most people seem to agree that water is key in reducing temperature, many still say, incorrectly, that the water must be scraped off – with many often insisting that leaving a horse w...
The following is a courtesy of Tony, the Clinic Cat at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic:
“Your horse is looking around right now for something to cut himself on. I recommend doing an inspection of every space that your horse has access to at least once a month. Basically, if you wouldn’t want a two-year-old kid messing with it for safety reasons, you probably don’t want your horse messing with it either.
Things like barbed wire, old rusted-out car bodies, nails sticking out of walls, broken gates, ancient farming implements, broken buckets, and that sort of thing should be removed from the horse’s pasture, paddock, and stall. Even if the horse has been grazing around it for years without a problem, it only takes one instant in time to produce a dramatic injury. I see it all the time.
Take a good look at your fencing. If it’s barbed wire, I guarantee there will be a laceration in your future, and you should either replace your fencing now or start a savings account called Vet Bills (you should have that savings account anyway, but that’s another blog). Horses are not like cows – their skin is not as thick, and their fight-or-flight instinct is much stronger. If a horse finds himself tangled in wire, he will immediately struggle and pull until he frees himself, even if that means leaving most of the skin from his legs behind.”
Find additional cat wisdom surrounding preventable reasons your horse might need an emergency visit from the vet at https://springhillequine.com/5-preventable-reasons-for-unplanned-vet-visits
This is becoming a big problem. Up until now I have offered routine health exams and services for on-farm dogs where I am also providing veterinary service for the owner's large animals. I am very close to discontinuing this service altogether because as a mobile vet without an assistant I cannot continue to reschedule after dispensing sedation for a follow-up visit. I fully appreciate that many times these are livestock and property guardians and are doing their job, but with proper training and being under your control at the time of the visit, they can still have manners and allow for the only mildly invasive things that I will be doing. Please, please consider this and make sure you are doing your due diligence for the sake of your dog.
Dear Dog Owners,
This week I have seen post after post after post on the veterinary social media pages about the struggle with larger breed dogs that are undisciplined and fearful and trying to bite at staff and veterinarians. Half of the posts stated that they, the vet, were going to stop seeing any large breed dogs, some of them said that they were going to fire all clients who had dogs that were not well controlled, others said that they were starting to refuse service to dogs that growled or tried to bite or got freaked out when they tried to examine them. Clients, this is a huge problem and it is your problem and let's be real, it is your fault.
Dogs are NOT children or humans and we need to stop treating them like they are. They are animals! They do not learn by being coddled and babied and allowed to get away with whatever they feel like doing. It does not work that way in the animal kingdom. If you are a little s**t of a dog your mom or some older dog is going to bite your head off to teach you! Once that puppy leaves its mom, you now become the teacher and trainer of what is and what is not acceptable behavior and if you don't, you and you alone are ruining your dog!
Dogs need discipline! They are like your kids! They need you to teach them, to train them, to discipline them so they learn what is and what is not acceptable. I can not tell you the number of times I have been in an exam room and a dog is growling at me and the owner does nothing. In fact, often times they pull back from the dog and they always get that sheepish look and often will say, “he doesn’t bite.” The hell he doesn’t bite! He is a dog, he bites and he is going to bite me because you have not shown him who is boss and he has no fear of humans and he has no idea that being a jerk is not allowed.
Please, if you love your dog, do your job and discipline them, train them, show them the proper way to behave and make sure they know that being a jerk gets them in trouble. If you do not, you will not be able to find a vet to help them when they are in need and that will be your fault and not the vets fault. No where in our oath does it say that we have to subject ourselves to being bitten by someones dog because they treated it like a human and felt sorry for it and never disciplined it and so it now has no respect for humans and bites. If you don’t start being a responsible pet owner, your dog is not going to be seen and you do not want that to happen.
Do not let your dog be the top dog in your house! It is not fair to them and it is not fair to us in the veterinary profession when we have to fear for our safety in order to try and help them when they are sick.
Teach them to be nice, take them to uncomfortable places, make sure they know that humans are the big dog in the relationship, that does not mean you beat them that means you show them that you are the boss by not allowing them to be jerks and get away with behaviors that they shouldn’t. Your dogs life and health depend on you being a good dog owner and raising them to be good dogs.
Sincerely,
Dr Debbie and Every Vet
Good information
Learn more about the symptoms of EMS/IR and how to manage them here: https://bit.ly/2OspeWl.
Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR): what is it and why does it matter?
It can be difficult to find a veterinarian in rural areas for large animals these days. There are fewer vets than ever working in rural America and there is a veterinarian shortage across the country in all disciplines. Owners become very concerned when they have an emergency and no vet is available to them, particularly if they have not established a relationship with a veterinarian. By our licensure a VCPR must be established to even just make recommendations to owners. Of course, in the large animal world owners often do a lot of their own treating by necessity but when they need a vet, they really need one.
At a bare minimum, the VCPR requires a yearly walk thru regardless of immediate need, because eventually you’ll need your vet, even if just over the phone. Also consider that vaccinations have guarantees when administered by veterinarians, but not if you purchase from the cooler at the farm store. Because there are so few of us out here we often times can only provide emergency service to the clients that have an established VCPR. Keep this in mind and be sure you have an established VCPR with your veterinarian - you should always be prepared for an emergency before one happens.
IL
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Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service is a mobile practice providing routine and emergency care, focused on large animals and preventative medicine. Licensed in both Illinois and Indiana, Dr. Nanci Richards provides veterinary services for large animal species including horses, sheep, goats, camelids and cattle. She has a special interest and stays up to date on the latest in research and medicine for the care of New World Camelids (alpacas, llamas, etc.) and Old World Camelids (Bactrian and Dromedary camels).
Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service regular practice hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, Central Time. Emergencies services are provided for current, active clients, based upon Dr. Richards availability.
