EponaVet

20/08/2024

Love seeing the Mizzou mules in action! They’re even more impressive in person.

Did you know that Missouri mules are their official state animal? 🐴🐯

20/08/2024

This is why Coggins tests are so important ⬇️

Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that is primarily transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies—which means that your animals are at risk even if they never travel or live in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine and no treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwR-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZp1fQwBC7LYpAzA3W2a5XUaYAd6gDO2mEtuHOjAAGJ_f4rvTxFRfg2_Lg_aem_Hacd9FBStUOI0FJdJHLmXA&_search=EIA

08/08/2024

One of the best Olympic events!

17/07/2024

Guinea pigs are such fun little creatures but they need special care—make sure to talk to your vet to see if a guinea pig is right for your family.

17/07/2024

A great time for a great cause! 🐾

Our biggest fundraiser and annual celebration is back September 21 10am-2pm! Hosted at Double J Doggie Play ’N Stay in Greenville, south of the interstate!

We are offering several levels of Paws In The Park event sponsorship again this year. We'll be getting in touch with last year's sponsors very soon, and you can also find our sponsorship info form on our website - www.bondcohumane.org.

It is your corporate and personal support that makes this celebration of people and their pets a success! In 2024, we’re planning a Vendor Fair, Dunk Tank, Dog Pie Eating Contest, Contests, Multiple Demos, Photos, Microchipping Clinic, Silent Auction, Yoga, and More TBA! So much fun for the whole family!

All sponsorship requests and payments must be received by August 9, 2024.

14/07/2024

To end , we wanted to spotlight Dr. Ford and her mares’ favorite farrier Lamar Plank, CF! He is a reliable and skilled farrier and horseman, and he does a great job educating owners on how to keep their horses sound & healthy. Thank you Lamar!

30/06/2024

Another Community Clinic in the books with the help of our pre-vet students Gloria & Austin! 🐶🐱

The future of vet med is bright. 😊

29/06/2024

Hope to see everyone today!

Check out the event page for more info here: https://facebook.com/events/s/community-clinic-x-double-j-do/3686071398322475/

14/06/2024

“I believe that no one should ever have to choose between a career we love and living our lives with authenticity and integrity.” - Selisse Berry

We strive to create an inclusive environment that makes ALL feel welcomed and supported. It’s great to see these stories shared by the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Happy Pride Month! ❤️💛💚💙💜

The AAEP commemorates because we strive to see everyone from all walks of life and experiences find a place in equine practice where they feel comfortable, can thrive, and be their authentic selves every day. It is in this spirit that we are honored to share the story of AAEP member Dr. Ann Lynch.

A native of central Virginia’s horse country and an avid equestrian, Dr. Lynch entered the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine laser-focused on becoming an equine ambulatory veterinarian. Now an associate at Tacoma Equine Hospital in Washington state, her passion for equine practice has been affirmed by the diverse caseload, the required creativity of ambulatory care, and, of course, the horses.

But Dr. Lynch initially struggled to find a practice where she felt like she fit in. “Frustrated and beginning to doubt my fitness for the equine industry, I started externing at clinics in the Pacific Northwest, and I knew right away that I had found my people. I was fortunate to be offered an internship and then an associate position in this part of the country, and I have no plans to leave.”

Tacoma Equine’s inclusive culture is one which Dr. Lynch believes other practices can follow, such as supporting a vet who wants to be out to their clients, and making sure the annual holiday party includes invitations for everyone’s significant other.

“When I started as an associate, my practice manager asked me to write a short bio for our website. I asked if mentioning my female partner was okay, and she responded, ‘if someone has a problem with that, we don’t want them as clients.’ Sometimes the smallest actions have the most impact.

“I believe that creating a culture of belonging is critical for attracting and retaining new equine veterinarians in clinical practice. When we model belonging and inclusion, we demonstrate that everyone is safe to be themselves. When you don’t have to worry about hiding who you are at work, you can spend much more energy learning, growing, and generally becoming the best veterinarian you can be.”

Beautifully said. Thank you, Dr. Lynch!

If you or your practice want to learn more about creating an inclusive culture, we recommend exploring the AVMA’s excellent Journey for Teams educational modules: https://www.journeyforteams.org/

Photo credit: April Panpipat

13/06/2024

Scholarship opportunity for students in IL or MO in equine/large animal studies. Follow their link for more info!

Help us find the next three recipients of the Golden Horseshoe Scholarship in Memory of Lynn Kraut.

Thanks to generous customer donations combined with our scholarship funds, we are able to provide scholarships of $750 to three students pursuing degrees in equine and large animal veterinary studies during the 2024/2025 school year.

Time is of the essence!

Application deadline: July 15th
Scholarships awards: August 1st

Learn more and apply at https://ghtack.com/pages/scholarship

04/05/2024

This is amazing! 🦧

Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was seen using a plant to treat a facial wound possibly sustained during a fight.

01/05/2024

Happy National Small Business week!

This week, April 28 thru May 4, is Small Business Week! Give a shout out to your favorite local small business!

27/04/2024

Happy World Veterinary Day! 🫏🐩🐑

Today, it’s especially important to address the alarming shortage of equine veterinarians in the US, shown by analysis of American Association of Equine Practitioners data and surveys by Dr. Amy Grice.

Only about 1.3% of new vet school graduates opt for equine practice, with an additional 4.5% pursuing equine internships. Within 5 years, 50% of these new vets exit equine practice, moving to small animal care or leaving the profession entirely. Many are leaving due to low pay with a high debt load, grueling on-call schedules, physically demanding (and oftentimes dangerous) work, and the emotional toll of the job. There is an urgent need to support and retain equine vets to safeguard the health of our equine companions.

So, how can you as a client help? Here are a few ways:

🐴 Establish routine care with a vet to have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship so you can also have access to emergency care

🐴 A little kindness and patience goes a long way—when your vet needs to reschedule your appointment to see an emergency, remember that you’d want the same done if it was your horse

🐴 Have your horses ready for the vet, and work at home on groundwork to ensure the safety of all involved

🐴 Understand that horse ownership is a privilege and their healthcare costs money. Many equine practices are small businesses who strive to provide a high standard of care for their communities while also making a living for their staff

🐴 Communicate well with your vet—don’t wait until your horse has been colicky for hours before contacting them on a Friday night at 11 PM. Respect their off time and don’t text/call about non-emergent issues after hours or on weekends

In honor of today, pictured is a throwback from last month when Dr. Ford and Tiffany assisted with a castration lab for U of I vet students hosted by Midwest Equine at Illinois. It was great to spend time with mentors of Dr. Ford who taught her in vet school and in her internship (and still help her with cases to this day!), and to be inspired by future horse vets.

Give a shoutout to a vet who has made an impact on you and your pets’ lives in the comments below ⬇️

21/04/2024

Great info on how to introduce horses to grass pastures this spring ⬇️

Sun is out and the grass is green. Spring is here! How should you introduce your horses to spring grass pasture?

Slowly! Start with 15 minutes the first 3 days, and then add 15 minutes every 2 days. Once your horse comfortably grazing for 4 hours, then it can be turned out for the full day. This process helps prevent a large change in the horse's diet and can prevent colic.

Particularly for overweight and metabolic horses, we worry about overeating and laminitis (founder). Grazing muzzles are a great option for horses that like to overindulge. Also, these horses will benefit going out in the morning, while the sugar is stored closer to the root of the plant after the cold night. Both of these options will help limit the horse's sugar intake and avoid future issues.

18/04/2024

That ‘new vet, who dis’ look 👀

Welcome to the EponaVet fam, Ready! We can’t wait for many more years of treats and trust-building to come with our new favorite mini mare patient. Lucky for Ready, her new owner prioritized scheduling an oral health exam with a vet since she hadn’t had one done for years, and we were able to catch and begin correcting her dental abnormalities today. 🦷

What is the name of the abnormality shown in the last images caused by abnormal dental occlusion that must be treated with a dental float and balance to prevent chewing and bitting issues?

First correct answer (no vet professionals please) wins a gift card to Scooter’s! ☕️

08/04/2024

Hope everyone got a chance to enjoy the solar eclipse today! 😎

05/04/2024

This is why annual Coggins tests are so important (even for horses that don’t move off the property), and in some cases, they are required by law.

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

02/04/2024

We had a blast! Dr. Foreman-Hesterberg did a great job hosting the event and it was great to meet more future horse docs. 😊

30/03/2024

It’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with feeding raw food diets to pets ⬇️

Evidence that faecal carriage of resistant

27/03/2024

We have some free coupons for Purina, Nutrena, and ProElite horse feeds that expire soon if anyone would like them! Comment a picture of your horse and which brand coupon you’d like, and we can mail one to you today!

10/03/2024

Another sad but good reminder to make sure your horses are up to date on vaccines and to practice good biosecurity—horses that travel or live in stables where other horses travel are at a higher risk for contracting equine herpesvirus (rhinopneumonitis). New horses on the property should always be quarantined for at least two weeks before being introduced to other horses.

There are several strains of herpes in horses causing different disease states, and are spread primarily through respiratory secretions. Horses can be carriers of EHV and spread it to other horses while not showing any signs. Although EHV vaccines can help reduce transmission and severity of disease, good biosecurity is the best prevention.

Call us at (314)-722-5225 to discuss which vaccines are best for your horse and to have them scheduled to be updated this spring.

One horse in Portage County, Ohio, was confirmed positive for EHV and euthanized, and 15 horses are potentially exposed.

09/03/2024

Looking for a book for the dog lover in your life? We highly recommend The Essential Dog Owner’s Guide! This book was co-written by one of Dr. Ford’s mentees, Reed Milnor, who is currently a vet student at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

This is a great resource for both new and current dog owners to ensure you are up-to-date on the most recent recommendations for a variety of topics such as choosing and preparing for a new dog, veterinary care, boarding and grooming, diet/nutrition, exercise, and training.

Pickup a copy of The Essential Dog Owner’s Guide today for $19.99 at our Community Vet Clinic at Double J Doggie Play N Stay in Greenville (we are here til 3 PM), or text/call us at 314-722-5225 for shipping/pickup/drop off options as well!

Check out more info at: https://essentialdogownersguide.com

02/03/2024

A sad but good reminder why vaccinating for rabies is so important, even in horses! There is no effective treatment once a rabies infection occurs.

The Tennessee State Veterinarian confirmed a positive case of rabies in a horse in Middle Tennessee. Our team wants to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of boosting your horse annually. Call to schedule an appointment.

02/03/2024

Marcoot Jersey Creamery is one of Greenville’s best hidden gems! Go check them out!

🎉 BIG NEWS! We’re hitting the big screen! 📺 Catch us on the TODAY SHOW’s 3rd hour Tuesday, March 12th. The story will be celebrating woman-owned businesses! We can't wait! 🧀✨

Share this with your friends!!💓