Cascadia Veterinary Care, LLC

24/04/2025

This is why we recommend breaks during NBC travel ❤️ Happy trails!

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!

17/04/2025

Here’s to sometimes just needing to put it in plain English. Have a wonderful day!

10/04/2025

Worried about putting your horse on pasture this spring? Trying to limit pasture time? Good information to decide when to let your horses graze!

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬🌾🧁🐴

I am starting to see some green grass which means it is time for the very important discussion about pastures and nonstructural carbohydrates!

The relationship between forage and nonstructural carbohydrates is a topic that is frequently discussed as it can be quite dangerous for a specific demographic of horse. It can also be rather complicated due to all the different variables involved, which is why I wanted to provide you with all the facts (and fun research) to help you learn more about them!

Nonstructural carbohydrates, often abbreviated as NSCs, are comprised of water-soluble carbohydrates (simple sugars and fructans) and starch. This class of carbohydrates is an important source of energy for the horse and they are digested and absorbed in the foregut, leading to an increase in blood glucose and insulin. As a result, high levels of NSCs in the diet can be an issue for horses with metabolic concerns specifically related to insulin dysregulation such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), Cushing’s (PPID), and laminitis/founder. While NSCs can be more consistent and documented in manufactured concentrates, more variation is observed in pasture or hay due to outside factors such as plant maturity, time of day, and weather conditions.

In pasture plants, NSCs are produced via photosynthesis, a process in which sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide generate glucose and oxygen. A separate but complementary process known as respiration is responsible for breaking down the glucose created during photosynthesis and releasing that energy for cellular use. As a result, increased photosynthesis leads to an accumulation of NSCs and increased cellular respiration leads to decreased NSCs. There are many variables that can alter the balance between these processes in plants.

🌙 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐲: During the day, or periods of sunlight, photosynthesis creates NSCs at a faster rate than respiration can utilize them. As a result, we often see our NSCs accumulate throughout the day. However, after the sun sets and photosynthesis ceases, respiration can begin to use up all these extra stores of NSC, causing them to decrease in the plant.

These findings are supported by a dissertation by McIntosh (2007) in which forage NSCs were generally lower in the morning and highest in the late afternoon. This can contradict some generalized recommendations suggesting horses should be turned out overnight. Since the NSCs will accumulate throughout the day, values are often highest around sunset. This means morning is likely a safer option when providing pasture access to limit forage NSCs. This is also why I don’t like to use specific times to set recommendations but rather use the sun as my guide.

☀️ 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: In addition to time of day, the amount of sunlight available during the day (measured through solar radiation) can also impact the NSCs that are generated and stored in the plant. While this variable is related to the time of day, it can also be tied to weather conditions, such as cloudiness. McIntosh (2007) found a correlation between forage NSCs and solar radiation (r=0.62; P

31/03/2025

Questions on how to deworm or what to deworm with? Please ask! In the meantime, here are the AAEP recommendations for deworming!

19/03/2025

Calling all Hanoverian and Rhineland horse owners! You will need your horses microchipped by December 1 of this year. There is a link to order the microchip below and information on qualifying horses. Please share!

📢Attention competitors! The US Equestrian Board of Directors approved a NEW rule requiring all horses to have a microchip to be eligible to compete at a USEF licensed competition. 💉The new policy takes effect on Dec. 1, 2025. If you have a 2017 or later AHS registered Hanoverian or Rhineland horse, it has a 15-digit ISO compliant 11784/11785 chip. If you have an older Hanoverian or Rhineland horse that hasn't been microchipped, you can order one online here: https://hanoverian.org/forms/microchip-request-form/.

17/03/2025

Mud season is here! … or is it a year-round phenomenon? 😂 Just a heads up, make sure your horses are squeaky clean and ready to rock for their appointments so we can make the most of our time together! 💕

08/03/2025

Today is International Women’s Day. We are celebrating and sending love and appreciation to all the remarkable women out there - today and every day ❤️💪

01/03/2025

‘Tis the season! Give us a call to get on the books 🦷💉🌸

Spring is almost here! Which means…it's time to schedule your equine companion to receive their spring vaccinations!

If you are wondering what vaccinations your equine friend should receive, the answer is — There are no “one size fits all” vaccine recommendations. A veterinarian who knows your animal and your management system is your best resource to recommend what vaccines your equine should receive and with what frequency!

While vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances, a good immunization protocol minimizes the risk of infection and remains an essential component of responsible ownership. A vaccination appointment is also the perfect opportunity for a yearly check-up of your equine friend and a great way to catch any health concerns early.

If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling vaccinations, we encourage you to do it soon!

14/02/2025

Thank you to all our wonderful clients! Hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day ❤️💕♥️💕

11/02/2025

🫏❤️

31/01/2025

As most of you know, I volunteer with a great organization called Equitarian Initiative. It is a non-profit group that provides care for working equids in remote regions of Central America, South America, Haiti, Dominican Republic, along with reservations in our own country. I was able to get involved with them through a very serendipitous course, but it stuck and I have been volunteering since 2014. The project that takes place in the Osa Pen*snsula of Costa Rica has been dear to my heart since 2016. It has come so far in how the communities view and value veterinary work for their horses. They have increased their average body condition score by roughly 2 points along with most owners asking for routine dental work yearly! This is huge!

The next step in all of this is getting involvement from local veterinarians. When we started this project there was one small animal vet for the whole region, now there is 3 to 4 at any one time and two are quite interested in continuing to work with horses and increase their knowledge base. Again, this is huge!

Dental care is one of the most important forms of health care for any working equid, preventing disease, malnutrition, and lifelong discomfort. So here is the ask…. I am raising funds to purchase two dental floats for our veterinary partners down on the Osa Pennisula. This is a big step in promoting local independence, sustainability, and access to veterinary care in the region. As I start the next lap around the sun, I am realizing how much community and the ability to extend generosity within the profession I love is one of the greatest gifts of all.

If you are at all inclined, please visit www.equitarianinitiative.org/donate to make a contribution (no matter how small!). In the notes area please put “Costa Rica Dentist” so we can be sure funds are devoted to the right place. You can also send a check to:
Equitarian Initiative
P.O. Box 773481
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477

Every little bit helps get us to the goal of $3,750.00.

Thank you for reading all of this and always supporting my journey with this remarkable group.

23/01/2025

‘Hay there!’ A few tips when choosing hay for your horse! If you question the quality of the hay you have it is always better to be safe than sorry- don’t be afraid to ask questions!

As the source of 50 to 90% of a healthy horse's nutritional needs, hay warrants careful consideration as a precious commodity. This becomes especially true during the winter, when roughage in the diet is the main source of heat for the horse.

Generally, horses at rest in ambient temperatures of 70°F consume 2% of their body weight in roughage (hay) per day. A 1,100-pound horse will eat approximately 22 pounds of hay per day. A horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation at approximately 50°F. Add about 2 pounds more hay for every 10-degree temperature drop. With wind and rain at near-freezing temperatures, the feed required increases by approximately 10-15 pounds to 32-47 pounds of hay per day!

If you're purchasing hay for your horse this winter, remember that there’s no such thing as “the best hay” when it comes to the nutrient value. That all depends on your horse’s protein and energy requirements, which are ultimately determined the individual's age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. If you think your horse is too fat or too thin (or even if you are unsure), discuss the appropriate feeding recommendations with your veterinarian; they can help you formulate a balanced and cost-effective diet that meets your individual horse's dietary requirements.

Finally, always keep in mind that water is critical for digestion, so be sure to monitor your horse’s water intake to minimize the chance of intestinal impactions!

10/01/2025

Well, I am headed off for a week to see ticks, wounds, newly created geldings, and help more than a few horses to chew better! I will be back in the office on January 20th and will do my best to catch up with everyone as quickly as I can.

The organization I volunteer with is called Equitarian Initiative. I attached a link to their donation page if you are so inclined. Every dollar goes directly to running and financing these programs. It is a fantastic organization.

I will try and post some updates as the WiFi presents itself 🙂

Donate to Equitarian Initiative, a non-profit corporation established by equine veterinarians to improve working equid health by volunteer veterinarians.

04/01/2025

Hey Guys!

Just a heads up, I will be going back to Costa Rica with the Equitarian Initiative January 11-19th. Please check if you have any prescriptions that will need filling during that time, or other questions that need addressed prior to my absence. I will hopefully have some spotty WiFi that will let me check my email while I’m gone.

Thank you all for always being so supportive of this cause!

30/12/2024

Happy New Year!! We will be closed December 31- January 1. Can’t wait to see you all in the new year!!!

23/12/2024

Have a wonderful Christmas! Hope you all get to spend time with those you love!

13/12/2024

Today is National Day of the Horse. These remarkable creatures deserve our appreciation and recognition. What an impact they have on our lives. Please share pictures of yours- current or past! ❤️

12/12/2024

Good morning- We are having phone issues and therefore email may be the best way to contact us today. Will get back to you as quickly as we are able!! So sorry!