VetweRx Equine

18/10/2024

Even though Vet Tech appreciation week is wrapping up, our gratitude for our technicians is endless! 🧡💙

09/08/2024

Uh oh...I think my horse is choking! 🤢 Call the vet! 🤳
This is a common emergency where their esophagus becomes obstructed with hay and/or grain. This can happen anywhere along the esophagus from pharynx to the stomach. Some episodes can resolve on their own but many need veterinary assistance. They commonly have excess nasal discharge with feed material and coughing. Your veterinarian then sedates them to pass a nasogastric tube. As visualized in this video, water from the tube is used to gently lavage and push the obstruction into the stomach. Without intervention you run the risk of esophageal damage and aspiration pneumonia.

06/08/2024

No time to ride? Rehabilitation is not only for horses with active injury, it's also a great option for conditioning and stamina. Let us get them in shape for you! 🐴

24/07/2024

Sneak peek of Jiminy's workout this morning! Call us at (303)-569-4828 for our $500/week summer rehab special 💪

19/07/2024

Milli's first day on the job😊

04/07/2024

We hope everyone has as much fun today as Dr. Jamie Yurek! 🎇🇺🇸🔴⚪️🔵

25/06/2024

We love celebrating our clients' wins outside of the ring too! We are very thankful to be a part of the team!🥰

21/04/2024

Looking forward to what these April (snow) showers will bring! 🔜 ☀️🐴😎

13/01/2024

Stay safe and warm everyone!

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!

04/01/2024

On the eleventh day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Eleven Teeth a-Floating

❄️ Ten Spines a-Kissing,
❄️ Nine Wounds a-Draining,
❄️ Eight Mares a-Foaling,
❄️ Seven Lacerations,
❄️ Six Gastroscopes,
❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing,
❄️ Three Spinal Taps,
❄️ Two Arthroscopies,
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

Odontoplasty or floating teeth is a procedure to reduce sharp enamel points that form on horse’s teeth naturally. These points can cause discomfort in the form of cheek lacerations and lead to performance difficulties and/or trouble eating. This procedure is done by our veterinarians after a careful oral exam.

03/01/2024

On the tenth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Ten Spines a-Kissing

❄️ Nine Wounds a-Draining,
❄️ Eight Mares a-Foaling,
❄️ Seven Lacerations,
❄️ Six Gastroscopes,
❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing,
❄️ Three Spinal Taps,
❄️ Two Arhroscopies,
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

Kissing spines (aka dorsal spinous process impingement) occurs when the dorsal spinous processes of the thoracic/lumbar vertebrae are too close together or overriding. These can lead to significant back pain and poor performance. These can be managed medically (chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, shockwave therapy, corticosteroid injections, as well as mesotherapy) or surgically (interspinous ligament desmotomy and/or ostectomy). Our team of veterinarians can help determine which therapies would be best for your horse.

The first image is of kissing spines, the second is after the ostectomy procedure with a towel bandage on top. The third image is of mesotherapy.

02/01/2024

On the ninth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Nine Wounds a-Draining

❄️ Eight Mares a-Foaling,
❄️ Seven Lacerations,
❄️ Six Gastroscopes,
❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing,
❄️ Three Spinal Taps,
❄️ Two Arthroscopies,
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

Wounds can happen anywhere on the horse and, depending on the type of bacteria present, can produce mucopurulent discharge. Occasionally these occur internally in the form of an abscess and need to be drained or lanced by a medical professional. Depending on location and duration the veterinarian may choose sterile lavages and/or antibiotic therapy.

01/01/2024

On the eighth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Eight Mares a-Foaling

❄️ Seven Lacerations,
❄️ Six Gastroscopes,
❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing,
❄️ Three Spinal Taps,
❄️ Two Arthroscopies,
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

Reproduction is a large segment of our practice and culminates in foaling. Breeding season is coming! We are just around the corner from welcoming mares into the clinic where last year we welcomed 45 foals to the world. A veterinarian attends each foaling to ensure the health of the mare and foal. Many of these mares were with us from insemination to foaling.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

31/12/2023

On the seventh day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Seven Lacerations

❄️ Six Gastroscopes,
❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing,
❄️ Three Spinal Taps,
❄️ Two Arthroscopies,
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

Occasionally, wounds are full thickness through the skin and require sutures. This is best done when the wound is fresh and is typically an emergency visit. Wounds that are close to joints, in particular, need to be addressed quickly to minimize the likelihood of a joint infection. Our veterinarians have literally sewed up horses from head to tail.

30/12/2023

On the sixth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Six Gastroscopes,

❄️ Five PPEs,
❄️ Four Colics Pawing
❄️ Three Spinal Taps
❄️ Two Arthroscopies
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

An endoscope is passed up the nostril, past the pharynx then down the esophagus and into the stomach to visualize and diagnose ulcers. Depending on the type of ulcer present (squamous vs glandular) our recommendations change in terms of medication. This has been a very valuable tool to help improve horses’ overall health and performance.

29/12/2023

On the fifth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Five PPEs

❄️ Four Colics Pawing
❄️ Three Spinal Taps
❄️ Two Arthroscopies
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

During a pre-purchase exam (PPE), the veterinarian uses a physical exam, lameness evaluation and occasionally imaging (x-rays and/or ultrasound) to determine a horse’s overall health, soundness and suitability for intended use. This cannot provide any guarantee or warranty on its future health, soundness, or behavior. Based on their findings that day, the veterinarians aim to guide the intended buyer as to what future injections or other procedures may be expected.

28/12/2023

On the fourth day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me: Four Colics Pawing

❄️ Three Spinal Taps
❄️ Two Arthroscopies
❄️ And A Sequestrum of P3

Colic (or abdominal discomfort) is one of the most common emergencies we see. The causes can include gas accumulation, impactions and/or twists of the intestines, gastric ulcers, enteritis or colitis. Our veterinarians use physical exam, re**al palpation, nasogastric intubation +/- abdominal ultrasound to help determine the cause and administer treatment. Many colics can be managed medically but some do require surgical intervention.

27/12/2023

On the third day of Christmas, vet medicine gave to me - Three Spinal Taps,

❄️ Two Arthroscopies
❄️ And a Sequestrum of P3

A spinal tap is done to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic purposes for neurologic or infectious disorders. Our surgeon, Dr. Hondo Caffey, performs this procedure via ultrasound guidance to collect CSF from the atlanto-occipital joint (between C1 and C2).