Cascadia Veterinary Care, LLC

18/11/2024

It’s that time of year! Do you need to make any accommodations for your horse?

Did you know that a horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation when the outside temperature drops to approximately 50°F?

As the temperatures start to drop, especially overnight, it's important to remember that cold weather prompts special considerations for your horse's diet and care. This is particularly important when it comes to the older members of the herd; consult your primary horse doctor to formulate a plan to keep your horses happy and healthy this fall and winter!

02/11/2024

Please be a bit patient with me this coming week. I lost Forrest the end of last week and will be taking a bit of time off and away from the clinic to let myself grieve. Feel free to call, text, email as normal but the response time might be a bit slower.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out. It means so much. ❤️

31/10/2024

As silly as it sounds, the "carrot test" can be used to help diagnose tooth aches in our equine companions.

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EORTH) is a dental condition that affects the incisors of middle-aged horses and older. As the name suggests, it acts by both resorbing the teeth and then producing large amounts of cementum (a hard substance that anchors the teeth into place).

Clinical signs such as difficulty chewing, teeth discoloration and painful gums are highly suspicious for this disease, but you can also offer your horse a carrot to assess how comfortable they are biting down. If it seems painful for them while biting the carrot, they could have EORTH!

Your veterinarian can do an oral examination and take dental radiographs to confirm the diagnosis. This is a progressive disease so there is no cure, but there are management strategies that can improve their comfort.

If you are concerned that your horse may have EORTH or is experiencing oral pain, contact your veterinarian so that they may further evaluate and suggest treatment options.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

23/10/2024

Hope you all had a “berry” good day! 😉

14/10/2024

Heads up! Dr. Torhorst will be out of the office from October 19th to the 27th! If you need a refill on a prescription or another concern you would like addressed please let us know before she is unavailable. Hope you all have a wonderful week!

10/10/2024

No one needs narcoleptic ponies! :) Environment can play a big part in how well your horse sleeps. Try to give them ample space and comfort if you can!

03/10/2024

Devastating for all involved. If you are looking for ways to contribute, consider the AAEP’s The Foundation for the Horse

We are devastated to see the disastrous effects of Hurricane Helene that have impacted thousands of people and equines far and wide. Please join The Foundation for the Horse, the AAEP's charitable arm, in aiding the victims of the hurricane with a donation to help those affected.

The Foundation for the Horse works directly with equine veterinarians on the ground to make sure supplies, hay, feed and veterinary care are provided to animals in need.

Pictured is an example of the devasting effects the residents of Hendersonville, NC have suffered during Hurricane Helene.

If you would like to join us in aiding those affected, donate at: https://membership.aaep.org/FFTH/Shared_Content/Donation-Pages/Give-Now.aspx?ItemId=DISASTER_RELIEF&SourceCode=GiveNow&fbclid=IwY2xjawFnmcNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaHxoC1eLyh3A4yhmAjxmWHPmr_MlVVwcEAQlS7eG9dEchYSrXaPsyTwdQ_aem_XLRekJJPklcJ9rVpFvH-Tg

24/09/2024

They can look harmless - but looks can be deceiving. Puncture wounds are something to be careful with and are worth a phone call!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/J6GLm97jmaeYZhz8/

14/09/2024

Today marks Cascadia Veterinary Care’s 5 year anniversary! I just want to give a huge shout out and THANK YOU to all of my clients. I wouldn’t be here without your support, patience and encouragement! You and your horses mean the world to me ❤️🐴❤️

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs from your veterinarian,
Dr. Cassie

11/09/2024

09/09/2024

Hope you all have an uneventful week!

06/09/2024

Food for thought (pun intended ) 😂 This is why we continually check your horse’s teeth- that continual eruption caused sharp points and conformational issues that can disrupt your horse’s capability to chew. Happy Friday!

27/08/2024

Today is for the dogs! 😂 Happy National Dog Day- share a picture of yours!! ❤️

22/08/2024

Changes in your horse’s attitude might not be emergent but are always worth looking into!

11/08/2024

Here’s a Sunday funny for you- hope you have a wonderful day and that your horses don’t take their slow hay feeders too poorly ;)

30/07/2024

Many times the way we feed and haul our horses make them more prone to ulcers. Here are a few tips to help reduce the possibility that your horse becomes a victim of ulcers!

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

09/07/2024

We know that a horse without a foot means there is no horse. So very thankful for all the farriers out there that strive to make our horses the best they can be. This week we would like to celebrate those people- thank you farriers!!

08/07/2024

Happy Monday! Go ride your horses ;)