Great Bay Equine

29/08/2024

As always, Great Bay Equine clients have access to 24/7 emergency coverage. In the event of an emergency, please call 603-319-1479 and press 1 to be connected to the doctor on call!

Enjoy a safe and happy long weekend!

20/08/2024

Exciting news from GBE!

Please join us in welcoming associate veterinarian Dr. Sam Prusak to the practice! Dr. Prusak is joining the GBE team after a rigorous tenure at Fairfield Equine Associates in Connecticut where she honed her skills in emergency medicine, sports medicine and general practice!
We are thrilled to have Dr. Prusak here in NH! We look forward to incorporating her knowledge and experience, compassionate bedside manner and enthusiasm into the practice. If you happen to catch her on the road this week getting acquainted with our lovely clients and patients- don't be afraid to say hi!

To learn more about Dr. Prusak or to schedule an appointment with GBE, visit our website at greatbayequine.com!

19/08/2024

Important note for GBE clients!

As many of you may have heard, there was a case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) on the Seacoast recently. This is a virus that causes neurologic disease in horses and is transmitted by mosquitoes. While it is not contagious horse to horse, it can be transmitted by mosquitoes in our area. Luckily, the vaccine (included in the “EWT” vaccine) is very effective at preventing this disease. Our current recommendations are as follows:

For horses vaccinated against EEE in April 2024 or earlier: We recommend a booster to improve your horses protection against the disease. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

For horses vaccinated against EEE in May 2024 or later: At this time your horse should be well protected. If we suspect the mosquito season is going longer than usual, we will recommend a booster later this summer.

For horses not vaccinated this year against EEE: We strongly recommend having your horse vaccinated at this time. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

18/07/2024

Remember Dr. Larson's volunteer trip to the Dominic Republic for Equitarian Initiative's Project Samana last year? Well, the GBE team is at it again!
This August 5-9th, GBE is sending Practice Manager Carrie Fyfe to South Dakota to volunteer with EI's veterinary initiatives on the Pine Ridge Reservation! The Equitarian Initiative volunteer teams will help provide routine veterinary care, castrations, dentistry and wound management to the horses of the Oglala, Lakota tribe at Pine Ridge.

If you'd like to help support Carrie's volunteerism and the invaluable work of the Equitarian Initiative, please drop us a line to purchase your very own Great Bay Equine tumbler! $20 a tumbler (cash or check) and all proceeds go to supporting the incredible efforts of Equitarian Initiative worldwide! Tumblers can be purchased off our vet trucks or via email/phone to pick up at our office!

To learn more about Equitarian Initiative and donate directly, please visit their website at https://equitarianinitiative.org/

03/07/2024

01/07/2024

Happy/sad news from the GBE team!

Please join us in wishing our very own Dr. Larson the best of luck in her new professional endeavors after 3 years of exceptional patient and client care as a member of the Great Bay Equine team! She will leave GBE to begin her new chapter next week.
We are deeply grateful for Dr. Larson's years of compassion and continued commitment to improving the lives of our patients and clients alike- her good sense of humor, kindness and patience will be greatly missed!
From all of us here at Great Bay Equine, thank you for all the amazing things you have done and will continue to do for our horse community! Cheers to you, Dr. Larson!

27/06/2024

The recent heat and humidity and wild microburst storms across New England can only mean one thing- the return of the summer riding season!
From the trail to the show ring (and everything in between!), the team at Great Bay Equine has been hard at work preparing our patients to enjoy a happy, healthy summer season!
Considering having your horse evaluated for soundness so they can look and feel their very best this season? In addition to our comprehensive lameness evaluation, GBE offers a variety of regenerative and traditional therapies to improve your horse's overall health, wellbeing and performance.

Give us a call today to learn more about services like Pro-Stride regenerative therapy for treatment of lameness and associated pain and inflammation, IRAP, Mesotherapy, PRP, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and more!!

30/01/2024

Great tips! Thank you American Association of Equine Practitioners!

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe but it should never be ignored, as many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic, so management practices can play a key role in prevention. And although not every case is avoidable, the guidelines listed in the graphic can help you maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

As always, remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed and other health conditions, so be sure to work with your veterinarian to address any concerns specific to your situation!

25/01/2024

FUN FACT FRIDAY! Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice, good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

24/01/2024

for our Donkey clients: Did you know?? Although donkeys seem like small indestructible equines, they have different characteristics that bring different needs! Thanks to our friends at AAEP for shedding some light on how they may differ from your horses in the winter. As always, contact your veterinarian for help making a plan for your individual animals!

24/01/2024

The GBE team is officially first aid/CPR/AED certified! Now that we’re all feeling more prepared, hopefully we will not need to put our human skills to the test! Thank you American Red Cross 🚑

18/01/2024

Bodies enucleation was a huge success! What a perfect patient he was. Thank you so much Dr.Clode for meeting with us and for showing us all of your helpful tips! Thank you for all the wonderful care you provide to all your animals! No more chronic pain for you big guy, best of luck in your adoption process! 👁️

16/01/2024

Great tips, Stay warm everyone!

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!

22/12/2023

🎄Happy holiday weekend all!! 🎄
In hopes to give our hard working staff some down time with their families and loved ones, we will be closed Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and have limited office hours Tuesday 12/26-12/29.

PLEASE NOTE: As always, we remain available 24/7 for emergency coverage even when the office is “closed”.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY: Please call the main line at (603)314-1479 and hit “OPTION 1” to reach the doctor on call.

❄️Thank you all and we hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday week!!❄️

21/12/2023

Another great team outing at VENT!! What a fun way to kick off the holiday week with a lovely diner downtown Portsmouth to follow. Thanks Dr.Roemer! 👩🏼‍🎨🎄🫶🏽

07/12/2023

🎁Tis’ the season!!🎁 Support a local small business while shopping for the horse lover in your life! Check out our GBE merchandise on our website under the “forms” tab, www.greatbayequine.com

01/12/2023

Last weekends thanksgiving day fun with Dr. Larson, her adorable niece, and our good friend Andy from TNT Equine!! What a beautiful day for a hunt! We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday as much as they did! 🦃😊🐴

20/11/2023

PLEASE NOTE: As always, we remain available 24/7 for emergency coverage even when the office is “closed”. However, please keep in mind that when our office is closed, there is no office staff available to leave out medications/accept drop offs so please plan accordingly!

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY: Please call the main line at (603)314-1479 and hit “OPTION 1” to reach the doctor on call.

Thank you and have a wonderful thanksgiving all! 🦃

27/10/2023

Doctor Larson has been a busy lady both teaching and learning all over the country! Last weekend she visited her alma mater, Mississippi Sate University, to help teach a dental coarse hosted by AAEP🦷😁 Thank you for your passion in continuing education and helping to develop the next generation of awesome equine practitioners, You rock Dr. Larson!

19/10/2023

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week to these three amazing ladies!!! We can't thank you enough for all you do for GBE's patients and clients. Rain or shine or snow or heat, through the highs and lows, these ladies stay smiling and doing great work each and every day!

05/10/2023

⚠️ALERT⚠️ Pools of Mosquitos from York County Maine have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). As this disease has a high fatality rate in horses it is important that your horse is up to date on the EWT vaccine (Eastern Equine Encephalitis/Western Equine Encephalitis/Tetanus). This vaccine should be given at least on a yearly basis. 🦟

Horses contract the virus from mosquitoes and act as a dead end host with a 75-95% morbidity rate. Clinical signs include fever, lethargy, depression and neurological signs. Horses usually die within 2-3 days after contracting the virus. Humans or other horses can't contract the virus from an infected horse.

Below is a link to the Maine department of health informational page:

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/news/eastern-equine-encephalitis-identified-maine-mosquitoes-wed-09202023-1200 #:~:text=AUGUSTA%20–%20The%20Maine%20Center%20for,a%20horse%20also%20tested%20positive.

**Unrelated photo of one of our ADORABLE clients and his companion**🥰

08/09/2023

What a night! We had so much fun at our stress relieving, GBE team building night!! We sure are lucky to have the crew we do💪🏼💥

Thank you TNT Equine for covering for us while we broke some things🤣

06/09/2023

The GBE team wanted to give a big THANK YOU shout out to our wonderful summer interns Eve Weiss & Lydia Stenmark for all of their help on the road with us this July & August! We hope you enjoyed learning about our daily workings, interacting with clients, and helping care for our four legged patients! We sure did appreciate all of your hard work. Thank you ladies again and best of luck back at school this fall!🐴🩺

BIG shot out and THANK YOU to Carrie Fyfe and office unicorn Heather for holding down the fort and showing them at the ropes!🦄💪🏼

We also wanted to give a big CONGRATULATIONS shout out to our technician, Emma, & her husband on getting married! Welcome home from your awesome honeymoon adventures! ☺️🥂🐘

04/09/2023

To honor all of the hard work that goes into our daily operation, GBE will be closed today, September 4th. Thank you to everyone that allows us to provide the best care possible to our patients and clients each and every day!

As always, for emergencies please call the main line at (603) 319-1479 and hit option 1 to reach the doctor on call.

29/06/2023

Have a great & safe holiday weekend all!!🐴🎆

13/04/2023

Here's a great article by United States Hunter Jumper Association - USHJA on current studies on rider safety & brain health! Stay safe out there and enjoy this beautiful weather!

https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=46170&i=785632&p=1&ver=html5

28/03/2023

Dr. Roemer & Dr. Larson had a great time this weekend at UNH Equine Program chatting with the future equine industry professionals and riders! Thank you so much for having us and we hope you all enjoyed our discussions as much as we did!

Area 1 Young Riders Feel free to reach out to us anytime at [email protected] with any questions/comments! 😁🐴

23/03/2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!🎂🎉🥳

22/02/2023

Equine dentistry is much more than a “float” or removing the sharp points from the occlusal surface of a horses’ teeth. The oral examination is the most important part of equine dental care. Our oral examination includes visualization, palpation and a mirror examination. GBE has continued to expand our dentistry capabilities by including oral endoscopy! Our oral endoscopic camera allows us to perform an even more thorough oral examination to guide recommendations and treatments.

The oral endoscope is a valuable tool for the evaluation and diagnosis of many things including (but but limited too):
•Periodontal disease
•Infundibular caries (or cavities)
•Diastemas
•Fractures

Horses are typically very tolerant of the oral endoscope as it is narrower than a dental mirror or float. Pictured are some images acquired from our oral endoscope from recent cases!