F9 Equine Clinic

18/10/2024

Happy Vet Tech Appreciation Week! Help us celebrate our two awesome technicians:

Desiree and Brandon have been an amazing part of our team. They work tirelessly in all weathers, and keep a smile on their faces. They both love a good Dr Pepper break on long days.

Desiree is our official donkey tamer, keeps all of our appointment details organized, does fabulous work with the pressure washer, and always has a funny story to help keep us smiling even on the longest days. She does trail rides and parades on her horses, and also enjoys camping, dancing, and being a great mama.

Brandon is a great help both on farm calls and here at the clinic, keeping everything in tip-top shape and making friends with all equines both large and small. He has a bag of treats handy for even the toughest patients and is always eager to start each morning. Brandon rides in both English and Western disciplines, and has a varied collection of horses at his home. He also is an avid hunter and spends time with his family.

06/09/2024

Freeze-branding Friday! This is a good option for permanently identifying your horse, and can be done in a matter of minutes.
This technique is preferred over fire-branding for horse skin, as it is less painful and more easily visible. It can be done on light or dark colored coats and even shows through heavy winter hair.

03/05/2024

Here’s a handy how-to video for Dr. Fitzgerald’s famous hoof bandages.

23/04/2024

Another awesome career day today! Thank you Saint Anthony’s Catholic School for hosting a fun event and letting us share our field with all of the kiddos. We’re hoping we inspired some future equine veterinarians 🐴

14/02/2024

Check out these cheeky valentines from our polo friends ♥️

09/02/2024

Truth!

26/01/2024

Morning sunshine was a welcomed sight today, as our resident mare herd enjoyed a beautiful break from the rains. These pretty girls are being prepared to be potential recipients for embryo transfers. Call us to learn more about our breeding services!

12/01/2024

Great winter weather advice as we all prepare for next week’s arctic temperatures. Dr. Fitzgerald likes to remind everyone to be extra vigilant with blanketing: remove when temps rise during the daytime and especially if they get wet. Give us a call with any questions, and please stay safe ❄️

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!

10/01/2024

You know it’s cold when you see us in our coveralls! What’s your favorite winter barnwear- bundled up, lots of layers, or dashing out in pajamas and muck boots?

01/01/2024

Fun fact:
When horses don’t have a verified foaling date, they are assigned a DOB based on their approximate age. We are able to make an educated guess based on their teeth, but have to give them the official birthdate of January 1st for their year. Happy happy birthday to so many of our great, grade patients. We look forward to seeing everyone this year! 🪩🎉

19/12/2023

Can you spot Dr. Fitzgerald? He snuck away last week to get some great practice at this training seminar! He’s excited to bring his new skills back to our patients. Thanks BVEH for hosting everyone!

Gratitude is in full swing as we kick off the hands-on portion of the 4th Annual Lonestar Sports Medicine Symposium! Huge thanks to our incredible sponsors for making this event possible. Your support drives our success, and we're thrilled to have you with us. 🐎💙📸

13/12/2023

Happy Day of the Horse 2023!
Every day is horse day for our team, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

05/12/2023

Great info from our friends at Waller Equine Hospital! Coggins tests may seem like an extra step but it’s important to stay safe, and there are now confirmed cases in our area.

Four Quarter Horses in Texas, located in Waller, Montgomery, Denton and El Paso counties, were confirmed positive for EIA and euthanized.

21/11/2023

Help us celebrate our vet tech Desiree! She is such a hard worker and always has a smile and a story ready to brighten our day. She is also our designated donkey tamer 🫏 Happy Birthday Desiree!

10/10/2023

It’s a great day for dental floating! This cool weather is wonderful for our patients and our team

21/08/2023

Happy Monday from F9. Our clinic flowers are sure loving this record heat!

05/05/2023

The F9 team had the awesome opportunity to speak to the SAS students about our veterinary practice. Thanks again for having us!

30/04/2023

Happy World Veterinary Day! We are thankful for our team and all of our colleagues that work together to bring your horses the best care! Special thanks to our “boss man”, Dr. Brian Fitzgerald, who can handle any job from head to tail!