Red Farm Veterinary Services, LLC

15/08/2024

One year old 🎂

I want to say a huge thank you to my clients who have made this last year possible. From being flexible with my schedule and helping with my kids, my clients are simply the best. Thank you for being a part of our family. I love being able to share my passion of veterinary medicine with my children and with my community. This last year has challenged me in ways I could never have imagined. Logistically, bringing twin babies on large animal farm calls is not easy, but calls like the ones pictured below make them well worth the hassle.

Join me in wishing my babies a happy first birthday ❤️

25/06/2024

Hope everyone is staying cool in this heat wave. Remember to keep you horses hydrated with access to lots of water and if possible, fans.

17/05/2024

Did you know that Dr. Franken does full service chiropractic and acupuncture services on large animals? These therapies can help get your animal tuned up for show season and also limit the discomfort from every day wear and tear. She has experience working on horses, cattle, lambs, and show pigs.

641-351-7972

📸Tisha Pol Photography

16/05/2024

Thankful on this Thursday for beautiful weather, healthy babies, old friends, and a career that allows me to combine all of those things.

12/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the animal loving mommas out there. Thank you for supporting my family ❤️

07/04/2024

Coggins tests are super important and this is a great time of year to do them! Call or text 641-351-7972 if your horse needs a annual Coggins blood test.

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

04/04/2024

First and foremost, I want to say THANK YOU for the overwhelming support over the past two weeks. I had no idea the response my last facebook post would receive. I am excited to provide large animal veterinary services for this area. I wanted to also answer some of the very common questions that I received:

1. My radius is usually within 45-60 minutes from where I live in Marshalltown . However- on a case by case basis this may change. I am very opening to traveling quite far if there is a whole days work available. Meaning- if you want to get your friends and neighbors together and all are in need of a vet I would be open to traveling to you!
2. I work out of my truck, I do not have a large animal clinic at this time
3. I work on large animals only through this business. I do regular veterinary medicine, chiropractic and acupuncture
4. I also work at The Hometown Veterinarian doing small animal work. I love this job- especially when the weather is not ideal to be outside! We provide excellent small animal medicine services for your dogs and cats. I will not work on your dogs and cats on the farm but would be more than happy to see them at the clinic in Marshalltown
5. I have 7 month old twins and my family is my world. I am one person and cannot serve the whole state’s horse population. My son is pictured below in his own Pella vet bibs- maybe someday one of my kids can help fill the veterinary shortage. Until then, I’m doing my best 🥰

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with me please call or text 641-351-7972

20/03/2024

Hello! My name is Dr. Rachael Franken and I am a large animal vet in Marshalltown, Iowa. I work on horses, cattle, small ruminants, and occasionally other fun things like potbelly pigs. I am currently taking new clients with my business, Red Farm Veterinary Services, LLC. With show and foaling season upon us, I wanted to share some of my equine experience and skills.
I obtained my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State in 2020. Besides regular western medicine I am certified in both chiropractic and acupuncture therapy. I received my acupuncture training from the Chi University in Florida and my chiropractic training from Options for Animals in Kansas. I have done chiropractic and acupuncture on many performance horses, but also show cattle, lambs, and even pigs!
I have personal equine experience in a variety of disciplines. I went to William Woods University for my undergraduate education and received a minor in equestrian science. I have ridden dressage, hunter jumper, and western. I served as Miss Rodeo Iowa in 2019 and won horsemanship at the Miss Rodeo America pageant held in conjunction with the NFR.
I am equipped to do vaccines, bloodwork/Coggins, reproductive work, lameness exams, dentals, chiropractic, acupuncture, and more. I love working on all large animals, but horses definitely have a special place in my heart.
Give me a call or text if I can help you out this year 641-351-7972. I would appreciate a share of this post with anyone near the Marshalltown area. Thanks!

ETA: I usually stay within an hour of Marshalltown for my radius but that is negotiable depending on the service, client, and number of animals.

20/01/2024

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

18/01/2024

With foaling season right around the corner- these are great benchmarks for any owner to know!

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!

02/12/2023

Dr. Franken had such a fun time decorating for Wolfe Ranch of Quakerdale’s Christmas in the Stables! She brought her babies to help make everything just perfect ❤️ Go check out this awesome fundraiser Saturday December 2nd from 10-2 and vote for our stall!

20/09/2023

Check this out! Equine wolf teeth are common in horses. They are routinely removed during dental floats and castrations.

08/09/2023

Beautiful morning to work some calves 🐮

15/08/2023

Huge congratulations to Delaney Runner on her State Fair FFA Grand Champion Market Hog! Dr. Franken was fortunate enough to be a part of the preparations for the Runner family’s show pigs by doing chiropractic and acupuncture prior to the show. Performance animals come in all shapes and sizes!!

Huge accomplishment Delaney, you will do great things!

09/08/2023

This old man, Troy, turned 28 years old this year. He was born on Dr. Franken’s family farm when she was a small child so they have spent their entire lives together. It is a true joy to give him the best retirement possible in his old age and part of that includes taking care of what little teeth he has left. This week he received one of his twice yearly dental floats which helps to keep him eating as well as he can as long as he can. This combined with a good nutrition program, deworming schedule and lots of TLC keeps him going strong at almost 30 years old.

Peep the old photo from their glory years when Troy and Dr. Franken were both young!

Does your horse need a dental float? Now booking a few sessions before Dr. Franken goes on maternity leave. Call or text 651-351-7972 to schedule your appointment today.

02/08/2023

It’s August and you know what that means- State Fair show time! Performance animals love to get adjusted and have acupuncture to get them in top show shape. We adjust all types of large animals from lambs, calves, horses and even show pigs! Call or text us today to get on the books before your show day (641-351-7972)

Pictured is a high quality show lamb getting acupuncture after having a chiropractic adjustment. Coco the Corgi was a big help!

21/07/2023

Did you know that Dr. Franken offers equine chiropractic and acupuncture services? Performance horses need a good tune up just like human athletes. Call 641-351-7972 to schedule your horse for an adjustment!

10/06/2023

Now is a great time to get an annual wellness exam and vaccines done on your horse! We can also do Coggins and Health papers during these visits as well as other equine health needs. It’s important that horses have annual vaccines before they go to shows or trail rides to ensure your horse is protected. Did you know we make regular Saturday appointments? Give us a call to schedule yours. 641-351-7972

03/05/2023

Dr. Rachael Franken has recently moved to the Marshalltown area and is excited to be involved in the livestock industry in this area. She graduated from ISU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020 and has worked as a mixed animal veterinarian since graduating. She grew up on a family farm and loved participating in 4H and FFA with her animals. She is currently taking new large animal clients (horses, cattle, and small ruminants) for medical, herd health, chiropractic, acupuncture, surgical, and similar services. Give us a call today to set up your appointment!