Maine's most trusted source for equine veterinary care and preferred choice for performance medicine.
(18)
Mid Coast Equine is Maine's most trusted source for equine veterinary care and your preferred choice for performance medicine. We are centrally located in Waldoboro, Maine and services locations within Lincoln, Knox, and Sagadahoc counties, as well as portions of Waldo and Kennebec counties. Dr. Caitlin Daly understands that each horse is unique and deserves healthcare tailored to their specific n
eeds. We provide routine preventative services to our patients including yearly physical exams, vaccinations, dental care, parasite prevention and coggins exams. 24 hour emergency service is limited to current clients only. Dr. Daly believes a comprehensive approach to equine performance issues is essential to achieve the best possible outcome. Our sports medicine services include lameness evaluations, radiographic and ultrasound examinations, joint therapy, spinal manipulation (chiropractic), acupuncture, as well as saddle fit. Normal Business Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm
Call or email to request an appointment:
(207) 832-1058
[email protected]
Is there anything sweeter than a lesson horse? Seriously π¦! It's been a pleasure watching this lesson program grow and being part of the team that keeps these horses doing what they do best - teaching kids to be brave, try hard things and have fun while doing it!! Big congrats Hill n' Dale Equestrian Center!!! π₯°
We β₯οΈ our older patients and know our owners do too! Caring for horses definitely changes as they age. If you have an older horse, we recommend tuning in π
We all hope our equines live long, healthy lives. But as your horse ages, how should your care for them change? π€
Learn about common health needs, maintaining the best quality of life, and how to know when itβs time to say goodbye as Liz Arbittier, VMD, CVA, associate professor of equine field service, delivers the latest installment of our virtual First Tuesday Lecture Series: Age is Not a Disease β Best Practices in Caring for your Senior Equid. π°οΈπ΄
This event is free and open to the public. π
π Age is Not a Disease β Best Practices in Caring for your Senior Equid
ποΈ Tuesday, February 6, 2023, 6:30 β 7:30 pm
πRegister today: https://bit.ly/3ZvrrVE
2024 wellness plans are here! We've got a new plan this year for our performance horses. Check it out!
Wellness plans include vaccinations, dentistry, and f***l exams. Bundle and save money on your horse's healthcare!
The bowl cut and acid wash jeans probably give it away, but here's Dr. Daly in the miniature riding a horse for the very first time. In that very moment, an equine veterinarian was created. A small seed was planted during that birthday party that grew over the next 25 years into a career, which the sole purpose of is serving the horse.
Horses are powerful. We all know that. Unfortunately, it is not a privilege extended to everyone. Thinking about how empty some of our lives would look if we weren't introduced to horses inspires us to ask the question "What can I do to help?"
Here are some thoughts we have. Share your ideas in the comments below.
* Sponsor a child's trip to horse camp.
* Invite some of your child's non-horsey friends to the barn while your child has a lesson.
* Open day at the farm for veterans to come groom and be around horses.
* Invite the middle or high school sports teams over to use their muscle help stack hay and other tasks at the barn.
When you love to be adjusted but can't be trusted with your reactions. Moody Mares π€£
If there was such thing as a mini Gypsy Vanner horse, Virginia would be it π
With a cold and windy weekend ahead there are a few things you can do to help your horse be more comfortable and reduce the risk of an emergency requiring veterinary care.
The most important thing you can do to prevent winter impaction colic is to make sure your horse is drinking enough water. Just because itβs not frozen doesnβt mean your horse is interested in drinking it. They prefer water 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit. So turn those water heaters on, and if you donβt have one, offer your horse warm water regularly throughout the day. For bonus points, add warm water to your horse's grain.
Horses are hind gut fermentors and produce heat when digesting hay. Provide additional hay throughout the day to help keep them warm. Feeding additional grain does not make them warmer and could increase their risk for colic, so we recommend keeping that the same.
Cold temperatures are going to be made even worse with the high winds. Blanketing and access to adequate shelters in so so important. If you're wondering if your horse needs a blanket, the answer is YES! If you or someone you know has a horse and does not have adequate shelter give our friends at Hill nβDale Equestrian Center a call (691-4438). They have numerous stalls available this weekend for a minimal fee.
Picture sourced from mcdowellsherbal.com
Our Wellness Program for 2023 is out!
Wellness plans include vaccinations, dentistry, and f***l exams. Bundle and save money on your horse's healthcare!
Super happy that the horses of midcoast Maine decided to fill the week before and the days after the holiday with emergencies so Dr. Daly could have a quiet holiday weekend β€οΈ
Beau did himself a good one yesterday morning. It's suspected that he got a little friendly with the horse in the neighboring stall who wasn't in the mood to play. Not all horses are meant to be friends and bars or panels up to the ceiling can save you a lot of headaches and $$ in vet bills.
This one was a bit of a puzzle, but came together nicely. Since a good blood supply is needed for healing, we cannot guarantee this repair will stay together as crush injuries like this often damage the blood supply. But Dr. Daly gave it her best and we're remaining hopeful π€
When horse vets and horse owners speak the same language β€οΈ
# horsespeak
A horse that doesn't want to eat their breakfast isn't always colicking. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned. However, there are a few things to check BEFORE you call your veterinarian. This helps vets prioritize emergencies because getting more than emergency at a time is not uncommon. It also helps them guide you in what to do until they arrive. Here's a quick list of questions to help you triage the situation:
1). When was the last time your horse was normal?
- If he seemed a little off for the last few days or only ate half his dinner last night, these are things we need to know.
2). What is their temperature?
- Normal temperature for a horse should be less than 101.5F. This will vary seasonally depending on where you live. Taking your horse's temperature numerous times throughout the year when they're feeling fine will help you gain a sense of what's normal for your horse.
3). Are they passing manure and what does it look like?
- Horses normally pass 6-8 piles of manure per day. This can vary depending on their diet. If it seems like they're passing less than normal, trust your gut. Breaking open a few f***l balls can give you a sense if their manure is dry, even if it looks normal on the outside. Make note of loose, watery or cow pile manure.
4). Does your horse seem uncomfortable when eating? Are they quidding (spitting out clumps of hay)?
- Oral lacerations, broken teeth, advanced dental disease or foreign objects in the mouth (sticks, stones, wires, etc.) can absolutely turn a horse off feed. CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN not a "dentist" if you are concerned about a dental problem. Only veterinarians are trained to diagnose and treat dental disease property.
5). Is your horse laying down, rolling, repeatedly looking at their belly, pawing, kicking, or acting like they want to urinate but aren't passing any urine?
- These are all signs of colic.
6). Are they coughing or making repeated attempts to swallow? Any water or feed material coming from their nostrils?
- These are signs of choke.
7). Lastly, do not wait to call your vet! Waiting can and will negatively impact the likelihood of a good outcome.
Another βοΈβοΈAAEPβοΈβοΈ in the books!! If you think Dr. Daly is a fierce female equine veterinarian, you should meet her friends πͺ It's really amazing to know and support so many women on panels and stages that were once dominated by men. Out there passionately sharing their knowledge. Advocating for change and showing others how it can be done.
There was also lots of fun to be had and even a little early Christmas shopping for our Mid Coast Equine patients. Check out the last πΈ for a sneak peek. More details to come.
Dr. Daly is out of town through Tuesday (11/22) as an attendee and speaker at the AAEP annual convention. If you have an emergency during this time please call Hill and Harbor Veterinary Services at 207-624-1676. All non urgent questions can be sent via text or email.
On this day 4 years ago, Dr. Daly became a certified veterinary medical manipulation practitioner. She's been able to help a countless number of horses over the years. These experiences have helped her to refine her skill set and expertise. We often joke that spinal manipulation is the gateway drug. During these sessions much can be learned about a horse, their movement patterns, comfort level and sources of pain. Spinal manipulation sessons often lead to lameness exams so that the primary source of a horse's discomfort can be identified and treated. We strongly believe in a well rounded approach to treatment of the horse that includes both conventional and integrative medicine. What's good for the horse is good for us π
Dr. Daly will be out of town Saturday October 29th through Sunday November 6th. She's headed on a fun filled trip to South Africa. She'll be learning about advances in equine veterinary medicine while also simultaneously getting to experience South Africa's big 5 (elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, lion and leopard) and local culture.
If you have an emergency during this time, please call Hill and Harbor Veterinary Services at (207) 624-1676. For all non-urgent questions and requests please email Dr. Daly at [email protected]. She will do her best to respond to emails once daily.
Dr. Daly is officially healed up and back to scheduling spinal manipulation and acupuncture appointments. Give us a call at 207.832.1058 to schedule your next appointment.
Humans aren't the only ones affected by a poor night's sleep. π΄
Research showed that housing horses on deeper bedding might improve sleep quality and mood.
The life of an equine veterinarian isn't always easy, but we are ever so fortunate to work for countless thoughtful and grateful clients. Whether it's through kind words or small gifts (like these lovely dahlias π) we know how appreciated we are.
Please know we appreciate you too!!
So your horse has a swollen leg. Now what? There's some information you can gather πππππ to calling your veterinarian that will help them to gain a better understanding of what's going on. #1 Take their temperature π‘. Temps above 101.5F are considered a fever π€. #2 Check the leg over for any obvious cuts or puncture woundsπ. Make note of their location, ππππππππππ if they are close to a joint or the tendons on the back of the leg. #3 Check to see if edema is present and if it's painful π«. Confused about #3? Dr. Daly explains how in this video.
Nope, that's not a patch of shaved hair. It's a manure stain in the shape of a perfect β€οΈ!!!
It's always something with these horses..... π€£π€¦ββοΈ
The use of a sedative 30 minutes prior to competition is completely unnecessary. It's not only hazardous to the health and safety of the horse, but the rider as well. There is NO justifiable reason to be using this medicine during ANY equine competition.
Equine Veterinarians have always and will continue to be an advocate for the horse. We took an oath to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves.
π©ββοΈβ€οΈπ΄
Under the guidance of our Welfare & Public Policy Advisory Council, the AAEP recently submitted a letter to the National Reining Horse Association asking the group to reconsider its new policy allowing the use of compounded romifidine for sedative effects 30 minutes before competition due to the negative impact on the health and welfare of both horse and rider.
Read the full letter on our website at https://aaep.org/news/aaep-encourages-national-reining-horse-association-reconsider-sedative-rule
Our Equine Mobility Clinic has been rescheduled!!!
Saturday November 12th 9am-12pm.
Don't worry, we'll bring the warm coffee and doughnuts!!
Raise your π€if your family vacations were never conplete until you pet a horse! If you're a horse loving girl and you're related to a horse vet you get full access to the VIP horse experience. Thank you to and for opening your farm up to help make a little girl's dreams come true π«
π Real Talk π
Age is not a disease.
Read that again. Age is NOT a disease.
If your horse has a body condition score of 3/9 or less (Ideal is 5/9) there is an issue and itβs not age.
Example:
An older horse who has lacked proper dental care may need a modified diet (ex: equine Senior mash and soaked alfalfa pellets) to sustain a happy and healthy life.
The diet may need to be modified because the horse is 30 years old and has smooth mouth; the issue is not age, It is lack of nutrients.
Do not use age as an excuse.
If you have a βskinny,β horse, I recommend scheduling an exam with your veterinarian to discuss the necessary changes to improve quality of life.
At some point, an older horse can be a burden financially. If you are not willing or canβt afford to take care of a skinny horse, then It is better to schedule euthanasia and let them go peacefully then to let them slowly die by starvation.
This is a sensitive topic, no negative comments please.
πΈ pic of a horse I examined a year ago, changed the diet and this horse was a body condition score of 4/9 two months later.
Even though Champ looooooves Dr. Daly, he loves his acupuncture more. π Acupuncture paired with his sweet new fly mask πͺ° keeps Champ's head shaking to a minimum. Dr. Daly also uses acupuncture to help Champ with neck stiffness, front foot pain, lower back discomfort and hock arthritis. There is a lot of healing power in a few acupuncture needles! πͺ‘
π
π
Έπ
΄ππ π
΅ππ
Ύπ
Ό ππ
·π
΄ ππ
Ύπ
°π
³
Are one of the best reasons to become a horse vet.
Check out our new completely WIRELESS ultrasound! This handy piece of equipment allows Dr. Daly to scan lungs, abdomens, distal limbs, as well as perform neck and sacroiliac injections with ease.
Dr. Daly is pictured here rechecking an injured check ligament of the left hind leg.
Ultrasound: GE VScan Air.
Stinky nasal discharge really only means one thing ----> Infection! Nasal Discharge that smells bad warrants a call to your veterinarian, especially if it also involves swelling or deformity of the face.
More common than not sinusitis (infection of the sinus) is a result of an infected tooth. However, there is the rare occasion when it's cause by a cancerous mass.
Dr. Daly saw this poor guy earlier this spring when his new owner noticed the facial swelling and nasal discharge. On oral exam he was missing a number of his upper cheek teeth and Dr. Daly identified an oronasal fistula (see πΈ). An oronasal fistula is a passageway between the mouth and sinus. This passageway allows for food from the mouth to enter into the sinus bringing along with it bacteria. It's no wonder he had an infection in his sinus!
Stinky nasal discharge + facial swelling + missing teeth + oronasal fistula = RADIOGRAPHS
Radiographs of this poor guy showed a large space occupying lesion - i.e. a tumor. Unfortunately, there wasn't much that could be done for him. His facial grimace (lowered upper eyelid and tight wrinkles around the muzzle) told us that he was in quite a bit of pain. His owner gave him the kindest gift of all - a humane euthanasia. While these are not easy decisions to make, it's important to know that choosing to end the suffering of an animal is truly a gift of kindness and love. β€
P. O. Box 1446
Waldoboro, ME
04572
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mid Coast Equine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Mid Coast Equine:
So your horse has a swollen leg. Now what? There's some information you can gather πππππ to calling your veterinarian that will help them to gain a better understanding of what's going on. #1 Take their temperature π‘. Temps above 101.5F are considered a fever π€. #2 Check the leg over for any obvious cuts or puncture woundsπ. Make note of their location, ππππππππππ if they are close to a joint or the tendons on the back of the leg. #3 Check to see if edema is present and if it's painful π«. Confused about #3? Dr. Daly explains how in this video.
π₯π₯"It feels like I have a new horse!"π₯π₯ Often times, when owners think of lameness in horses, they think of a severe head bobbing lameness. While some lamenesses are that obvious, more often than not they're much more subtle. That's when the keen eye of an experienced veterinarian comes into play. They're able to watch abnormalities in a horse's movement to begin determining where the source of the problem may be. Then, they come up with a plan for diagnostics and treatment. Just because a horse isn't head bobbing lame, doesn't mean they're not uncomfortable. Any level of discomfort can have a lasting impact on performance. If you're concerned your horse isn't moving its best, your first call should be to your veterinarian, not the massage therapist, chiropractor or magnawave rep. While all of these services DO have their place and ARE BENEFICIAL, they work best when the source of the primary problem has already been identified and treated. Otherwise it's just a bandaid that keeps falling off.
Have you ever noticed your horse licking and chewing after the farrier trims their feet or places a new set of shoes on? That's your horse's way of saying "π»πππ π₯πππ₯ πππππ€ ππ π π!" Tonka met with Dr. Daly and @shickey05 yesterday for radiographs and some corrective shoeing. He's already feeling πππ ππππβπΎ so much better! Proper foot balance is so important for a horse's overall comfort level and performance level. Not every horse can move comfortably barefoot. Without xray vision your farrier is doing their best to try and figure out what's going on inside the foot. Helping your farrier out by getting an up-to-date set of foot radiographs in turn helps your horse out!
Watching a horse regain the use of their tail post-spinal manipulation is so fun!!
If you think your horse may be choking, the most important thing you can do (aside from calling your veterinarianπ) is remove all food and water. Choke is horses differs from choke in people as it's a blockage of their esophagus not their trachea. So while they're still able to breathe when choked, allowing them to have access to food and water may further increase their risk for developing aspiration pneumonia - a potentially deadly complication. After correcting the choke, Dr. Daly did a quick oral exam on this guy. Not only did he have very large sharp enamel points, he also had a 3 inch laceration on his tongue. Yikes!! Oral pain and discomfort can absolutely contribute to a horse's increased risk for choke. Dr. Daly will be back for a full oral exam and dental float when the guy is feeling a little better.
Baker's mama always knows the perfect place to scratch! What a goofball π€ͺ Baker, like may of our patients, is super sensitive to fly bites. A combination of oral and topical medication is used to prevent fly bites, as well as reduce his overall sensitivity. Spring wellness appointments are a great time to alert Dr. Daly to any questions or concerns you may have about fly bite reactions or tick prevention.
Lameness exams would be sooooo much easier if horses could just tell us where the problem is! But sadly they cannot. . That's were nerve blocks come into play. Once Dr. Daly has figure out which leg is lame. She injects a local anestheic around nerves in a horse's leg. This inhibits sensation (ie pain) from being felt in the limb anywhere below the level of the block. Blocks are performed starting with the lowest (most distal) portion of the limb and slowly working up the limb if needed. . If the horse moves more soundly after a nerve block is performed than the problem is somewhere below the point of the block. Or the region between the 1st and 2nd block if multiple blocks have been performed. . Once the area of lamness has been further isolated, Dr. Daly may take radiographs, perform an ultrasound exam or joint blocks to gather more information on the source and severity of the horse's lameness. . ** Video shows right front lamness before and after a nerve block isolating the lameness to the foot** #equinevet #veterinarymedicine #sporthorsemedicine #lamenessexam #equinelameness #beforeandafter
Veterinarians can use buttons during surgery to help wounds or surgical sites close that are under a lot of tension. Tension causes the tissue edges to want to pull apart in an opposite direction of the suture being used to close. Basically a game of tug-of-war. If the tension is stronger than the suture strength it cause a breakdown or failure of the surgical closure. When suture breaks or pulls through the skin edges the surgical site opens back up and will either need to be repaired again or allowed to heal via second intention. Buttons help to spread the tension over the larger surface area of the button rather than the pinpoint entry site of the suture through the skin. . Yesterday Dr. Daly removed a mass on a horse's back that left a pretty big hole. The wound was closed in 3 layers to help reduce tension. With the help of buttons we are confident we have done everything we could to ensure a good cosmetic outcome. . #aaep #horsevet #horsedoc #vetlife #surgery #surgicalrepair #massremoval #dermatology #greyhorse #biopsy #histopathology #histopath #buttons
We walked into the barn yesterday to set up for dentals and saw this. What would be your first thought? Ours? . "Are you seriously choking right now?! Well it's a good thing we're here." . Choke in horses differs from choke in people. In horses it's a blockage of the esophagus, not the airway (trachea). While horses can still breath they are at risk for developing aspiration pneumonia if they get food particles down into their lungs. . Signs of choke include coughing, nasal discharge that includes feed material (one or both nostrils) and respiratory distress. If you notice these signs pull ALL FOOD AND WATER and call your veterinarian immediately. DO NOT administer any medication or try and resolve the choke yourself. . To resolve a choke, a veterinarian passes a nasogastric tube (in a heavily sedated patient) up the nose and down the esophagus to the point of obstruction. Repeated gentle lavaging is performed until the obstruction passes and the tube is able to pass freely into the stomach. Most chokes can be resolved at the farm. Occasionally they require referral to an equine hospital. The longer they sit, the harder it becomes to resolve. So quick identification and contact of your veterinarian is a must! . Poor dental health is the number one contributing factor for increase risk of choke! . #horsevet #choke #seniorhorse #dentalhealth #equinemedicine #equineemergency #emergencymedicine
Track loving on some acupuncture post spinal manipulation. We're targeting painful areas found during our motion palpation exam. #horsevet #quarterhorse #teampenning #lessonhorse #acupuncture
This poor little lady wasn't eating hay well. A quick look into her mouth and it was easy to see why! Her second lower premolar had fractured a tooth root. This fracture left the tooth very loose and caused her great pain every time she chewed. Dr. Daly extracted this and another tooth. π¦· We are happy to report that mom says she's doing great! β€β€β€β€ Did your horse have an oral exam this year? #horse #equinedentistry #loosetooth #dentaldisease #dentalextraction #horsefloat #oralexam
Lots of acupuncture this week!! Oh and a little goat fun too. #acupuncture #electroacupuncture #horsevet #goat #goatsofinstagram
Our second #weekinreview. We saw some chunky chunks showing signs of laminitis. Sadly no one seems to be to excited by their new diet! π₯¬π₯¦π₯ Dr. Daly is also heading back to school! Except this time as a #teacher! Much appreciation and respect given to all her former teachersπ©βπ«π¨βπ«ππ. So much time and energy goes into creating and recording π§ online material!!!! #laminitis #obesity #dietsforall #teaching #onlinelectures #recordingstudio #IVMI #chiinstitute
Our first week in review! This week we saw a mini with a severe case of heaves, lots of dental exams, and a penetrating injury to the foot and got some good news about an underweight horse. We even had time for a little fun when we were done! #weekinreview #heaves #allergies #equinedentistry #teeth
Mid Coast Equine is an ambulatory veterinary practice specializing in horse healthcare. Mid Coast Equine is centrally located in Waldoboro, Maine and services locations within Lincoln, Knox, and Sagadahoc counties, as well as portions of Waldo and Kennebec counties. Dr. Caitlin Daly understands that each horse is unique and deserves healthcare tailored to their specific needs. Services include vaccinations, dental care, parasite prevention, nutrition counseling, opthalmology, lameness exams, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, minor surgery and 24 hour emergency service. Normal Business Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm Saturday: 8am-12pm (April - October) Call or email to request an appointment: (207) 832-1058 [email protected]
