Millcreek Equine Veterinary Services

23/02/2025

Dr. Reid-Burke competed successfully at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio last week. Good luck to all Canadian competitors showing there this winter.

15/02/2025

Congratulation to Dr.Tovah Caldwell, Dr. Samantha Molson and Dr. Marisa Markey on their new equine practice. We are thrilled to welcome Full Circle Equine Veterinary Services to the area and wish them all the best. We love our Stonewell Bodies vet box too!

06/02/2025

If only it were that easy…

28/01/2025

23/01/2025

After a short reprieve from dentistry due to the extreme cold Dr Reid-Burke is back to it. Looking fashionable in new much appreciated pink knee pads. Thank you Rebecca!

14/01/2025

2025 foals will start arriving before you know it!

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (A FOAL) 🐴

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated — however, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of the foal:

• Consult with your veterinarian well in advance of the birth. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours and ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available.

• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.

• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

• Time each stage of labor, to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines, and you should contact your veterinarian for more information specific to your situation. Good luck!

08/01/2025

To help ensure adequate water intake during extreme cold consider offering your horse water in their feed. Horses should drink 20 - 50 litres of water daily.

Here we have Louis enjoying warm water added to his ration balancer.

05/01/2025

So cool... ❄️❄️❄️

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

28/11/2024

Best client gift ever! Apple pie a la pony! Riverside Farm

13/11/2024

This is a reminder to hug your horse today. Remember that each and every day you spend with your horse is a gift ❤️

10/11/2024

Congratulations to all the competitors at this year's The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

I am so grateful to everyone who supported Uno and I throughout the season and at the Royal.

Thank you, Sarah Long, for believing in me and teaching me to ride down to the big jumps. Hannah Klein, thank you for making sure Uno always looked his best and Tori Brick for braiding him to perfection. I could not have done it without Rob Marling and Jordan Ouellet keeping Uno's feet in top shape, or without the unwavering support of Laura McCormack Sharpe, Kay Pea and Kristina Riley

Special thanks to Bennett Equine Veterinary Services and Trillium Equine Veterinary Services for covering the practice in my absence.

26/10/2024

Happy to be a part of the team Vector Eq

26/10/2024

Excited that Canada's first standing CT scanner is located nearby at King Animal Hospital

King Animal Hospital in King, ON has Canada's first standing CT scanner; here is why this new resource is so significant for horse health.

25/10/2024

Goal achieved! Dr Reid-Burke and One Look will be competing at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Did you know that The Royal has grown to be the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world. The Royal Horse Show is one of the world’s finest equestrian spectacles and attracts athletes from across the planet. Please come join us to enjoy all The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has to offer!

05/10/2024

With show season coming to an end we would like to congratulate everyone on a successful season. We know how much time and effort goes into getting horses to the ring. We are happy to see you succeed this year. Congratulations and keep working towards achieving your goals!