Gulf Coast Animal Health

16/12/2024

🎄🐾 Holiday Reminder from Gulf Coast Animal Health! 🐾🎄

The holidays are just around the corner! 🌟 To ensure your furry friends stay healthy and happy through the season, don't forget to order your pet's medication in advance.

Please note that our office will be closed from December 23 - December 29. Make sure to stock up on any prescriptions or supplies your pets might need before we close!

🗓️ Order today and avoid any holiday stress!
📞 Call us or visit our website to place your orders!

Wishing you and your pets a joyful and healthy holiday season! 🎅🐶🐱✨

16/12/2024

🎄🐾 No one wants uninvited holiday guests—especially the itchy, annoying kind! 🐾🎄

This holiday season, keep your furry friends comfortable and pest-free with Bravecto! This chewable flea and tick prevention lasts for 3 months, so you can focus on the festivities, not the fleas. 🐶❤️

Say goodbye to unwanted guests and keep your dog safe from pests all season long!

Ask us about Bravecto today at Gulf Coast Animal Health!

09/12/2024

🐾 Keep Your Pup Protected and Save! 🐾

Now's the perfect time to get your dog on NexGard Plus – the all-in-one flea, tick, and heartworm prevention! 🐶✨ For a limited time, when you buy a 6-pack of NexGard Plus, you’ll get a $35 instant rebate!

✅ Protects against fleas, ticks, and heartworms
✅ Easy-to-administer chewable tablets
✅ Trusted by veterinarians for effective prevention

Don't miss out on this great deal to keep your furry friend healthy and happy. 🐕💚

🛒 Visit us today and get your NexGard Plus 6-pack to claim your rebate!

03/12/2024

Can you believe it's December already?

Here are our clinic hours for the upcoming Holidays.

We will be closed the week of Monday December 23-Sunday December 29.
Our office will be open from 8am-12pm on December 31 and closed January 1, 2025.
Normal hours will resume on January 2, 2025.

Please make sure to refill all medications and prescription foods before!

02/12/2024

The most common reason for performing a pre-purchase exam (PPE) is to evaluate the horse’s soundness. Lameness is the number one cause for loss of use in horses, so this is often the potential buyer’s biggest concern and reason for having the horse evaluated.
Here's what you can expect during the lameness portion of the exam:
1. Initial check- The veterinarian will examine the legs for heat, swelling, or pain.
2. Movement- The horse will be observed in straight lines and circles at a walk and trot.
3. Flexion Test- Specific joints are flexed, and after, the horse is jogged for the veterinarian to spot any lameness.
4. Ridden Exam- Many vets like to observe the horse under saddle to spot subtle issues.
If no significant problems are discovered when evaluating the horse’s gaits, the next step in the exam is often diagnostic imaging of the horse’s legs. The most common imaging includes taking radiographs (X-rays) to evaluate the bones and joints and ultrasound to evaluate the soft tissues (tendons and ligaments). Whether you want to have X-rays and/or ultrasound performed as part of the PPE should be discussed with your veterinarian when you schedule the exam.

25/11/2024

There are not as many horses being evaluated for purchase as breeding animals as horses for athletic purposes. The pre-purchase examination (PPE) for breeding is often much more specialized, concentrating on the horse, whether a mare or a stallion, having the normal anatomy and function of the reproductive tract.
Examining mares includes visually inspecting the external portions of the reproductive tract, including the mammary gland, and palpating and/or using ultrasound to view the internal reproductive organs. Samples may be obtained from the uterus to culture for any bacterial infections or to examine the uterus's lining to see if it can maintain a pregnancy.
For stallions, a similar type of examination may be done to evaluate the external reproductive organs, and a semen sample may be taken to assess the number, shape, and motility of the s***m cells. These exams determine the likelihood that the horse, whether a mare or stallion, can produce foals.

22/11/2024

Horses have big hearts in both a literal and a figurative sense. Horses typically don't have heart problems as often as people or dogs, but evaluating the heart during a pre-purchase examination (PPE) is still important. During a PPE, your vet will listen to the horse’s heart to determine if the heart is beating at a normal rate with a normal rhythm and to listen for any abnormal sounds like a heart murmur. It's also common to inspect the horse’s jugular veins because, in rare instances, repeated intravenous injections can cause problems with clots or infections of these veins. Veterinarians have additional, more elaborate ways to evaluate the heart, including diagnostic ultrasound and electrocardiograms (ECG). Still, just as with the respiratory tract, these tools are not routinely used when doing a PPE.

21/11/2024

Meet our new and familiar faces of our Gulf Coast Animal Health Family!

20/11/2024

A healthy respiratory tract is essential for a horse's performance and well-being. During a pre-purchase exam (PPE), the upper and lower respiratory tracts are thoroughly checked using the following methods.
Upper Respiratory Tract:
• Scoping- An endoscope examines the nostrils and throat to detect structural issues and breathing problems. The procedure is typically done while the horse is at rest, but newer dynamic endoscopes can be used while the horse exercises.
Lower Respiratory Tract:
• Stethoscope- Your veterinarian will listen to the lungs for normal airflow and abnormal sounds.
• Rebreathing bag- A large plastic bag is placed over the horse's nostrils to make them take deeper breaths, which can be used to detect abnormal sounds like coughing.
Stay tuned for our next post in the series, which will cover what to expect for the cardiovascular portion of the PPE.

17/11/2024

The pre-purchase exam (PPE) often begins with your veterinarian asking questions about the horse’s use and medical history. The horse’s history provides valuable information that your vet will use to focus the exam and help answer questions about the horse’s overall health and soundness. The PPE aims to identify any health problems the horse has on the day of the examination, including problems that the horse was born with (e.g., some heart murmurs) and issues that have developed since birth (e.g., scarring on the cornea on the eye because of an ulcer).
Some things that your vet may cover during the general exam include using an ophthalmoscope to evaluate the horse's eyes, a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs, and thoroughly reviewing the horse to feel and look for anything considered abnormal.
337-366-0550

15/11/2024

The scope of a pre-purchase examination should be decided in a conversation with your veterinarian before the exam. Communicating your needs and intentions as a buyer is one of the most important parts of the exam and increases the chances of you getting the information that will help you decide on the purchase. Often, the exam scope depends on the current and/or intended use of the horse being considered for purchase. For example, the exam on a filly or mare intended for use as a broodmare would involve procedures quite different than for a horse intended to be used as a western performance or English sport horse. Once you and your veterinarian have agreed on the specifics of your wants and needs from the PPE, arrangements can be made with the seller to schedule the exam.
337-366-0550

13/11/2024

Pre-purchase examinations (PPEs) are frequently performed to evaluate the health and soundness of horses before being purchased or leased. A veterinarian does the exam, which can range from a simple physical examination to an exam that includes various evaluations and diagnostic tests. The PPE is arranged by the potential horse buyer with the consent of the horse seller and can help identify problems the horse has and help guide the buyer’s decision to purchase the horse. The buyer needs to recognize that the exam does not provide a “guarantee” for the horse; it is only an evaluation of that horse on the day of the exam and does not--and cannot--provide a prediction of that horse's future health or soundness. Call us to schedule yours today. (337) 366-0550

19/10/2024

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09/09/2024

With each passing year, horses are living longer lives and many survive easily to 25 years of age or older. While this is good news, it also means that we need to be aware of changes that can occur with age in order to preserve the health and quality of life of our equine friends.

For example, Equine Cushing’s disease is one of the most common diseases of horses 15 years of age or older. This syndrome is better defined as Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) because it reflects the location within the brain that is abnormal. Clinical signs are associated with abnormally elevated hormone concentrations in the blood.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is another endocrine disorder that can affect mature horses and shares some of the same clinical signs as PPID. Although the two disorders feature some striking clinical similarities — most notably a predisposition to development of chronic laminitis — the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case. Successful management relies on proper diagnosis by your equine veterinarian first.

Our understanding of both conditions, especially EMS, is incomplete and evolving, but sufficient information is currently available to highlight some important similarities and differences for the interested horse owner. Consult your veterinarian for more information and work with them to develop the best wellness practices to ensure a healthy life for your mature horse.

08/09/2024

08/09/2024

Announcement! We are expanding!

As we continue to grow our footprint in Louisiana, we are excited to announce the newest addition to our Gulf Coast Animal Health Family!

Dr. Josh Hill will be joining the team as an equine specialist. His 24 years of experience with equine lameness and chiropractic care will be an invaluable asset to all of our clients. He’s available NOW to see patients in Iberia and Vermillion Parishes. Contact us today to schedule.
337-366-0550

Dr. Hill, a lifelong horseman, attended Iowa State University where he earned a BS in animal science before earning his DVM in 2000. In 2005 he attended Healing Oasis Wellness Center where he gained certification for Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy. 2016 saw Dr. Hill complete certification from the Chi Institute for acupuncture. Practicing in Louisiana since graduation, Dr. Hill specializes in equine lameness diagnosis and treatment, surgery and alternative medicine.
Dr. Hill lives just north of Opelousas, La on a small farm. He has two children, one recently graduated LSU, and the other attends Southeastern University. His hobbies include reading, fishing, medieval arms and armor. Animals in the farm include multiple rescue horses and 3 dogs: Foster, Flick, and Gus.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hill to Gulf Coast Animal Health!

08/07/2024

Support our great local Farriers. Let them know you appreciate them!

This week is National Farriers Week! Thank you to all the farriers out there working with veterinarians to help keep horses healthy and providing quality hoof care across the country.