Harmony Veterinary Services, LLC

24/08/2024

You might be hearing of an equine encephalitis viral outbreak in New England. Eastern and Western Encephalitis viruses are part of our Core vaccinations. This is a timely reminder to maintain annual veterinarian-administered vaccines for your horses. 🐴

Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Vaccination Guidelines

23/08/2024

Here on Whidbey Island we’re pretty proud of Deputy Rang who seems to attract the loose animal (and emu) calls. He’s our favorite critter wrangler, always making sure the lost animals find their way safely home 🥰

22/08/2024

20/08/2024

Fall vaccines are nearly upon us! Make your appointments now!

20/08/2024

Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that is primarily transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies—which means that your animals are at risk even if they never travel or live in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine and no treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwR-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZp1fQwBC7LYpAzA3W2a5XUaYAd6gDO2mEtuHOjAAGJ_f4rvTxFRfg2_Lg_aem_Hacd9FBStUOI0FJdJHLmXA&_search=EIA

17/08/2024

🌟🌟🌟 AVAILABLE! 🌟🌟🌟

Your kids next best friend!

16y TB mare
Fancy broke, has all the buttons, sweet as pie, easy to have around. Climb on her ba****ck, take her to your 4H/open shows, hop over crossrails, take her on a hack. English/Western. Safe, kind girl looking for her next family!

9,###


Located Oak Harbor, WA

16/08/2024

Have you ever been told to not allow a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water because it could lead to colic, founder or tie up?

This notion is actually a myth, and a dangerous one too, because it could lead to dehydration and very serious (and real) consequences. A sweaty, hardworking horse needs to be rehydrated without delay (i.e. don’t wait for the horse to cool down first).

The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time — because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once.

Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. A horse’s daily water requirements are influenced by many factors, but the average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day. That amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at all times is of paramount importance.

Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/.../offering-a-horse-water...

16/08/2024

We are incredibly proud to announce our very own Amanda has been accepted and is starting on her journey toward Doctor of Pharmacy at Creighton University. The 4-year program of study will culminate in her doctorate as a Registered Pharmacist. This is big time!! 💜💜💜

09/08/2024

Always assume our bats have rabies, this is nothing new and why I strongly advise vaccinating horses and livestock against the virus. 🦇

A bat found on Whidbey Island has tested positive for rabies, prompting Island County Public Health to advise residents to exercise caution around wild animals, according to a release from the health department. Find the story at the link in our comments.

04/08/2024

Congratulations to the Mutch family for this new addition last night! Momma and baby are doing well and have already had lots of visitors 💜

28/07/2024

Farrier, veterinarian, other horse related services---How and when do you pay?

Years ago one of my friends who was a vet told me some pretty unsettling statistic about how often he provided services and never got paid. I have heard similar stories from farriers.

I wonder how big an issue this still is in the industry with credit cards, other up front methods of payment?

It’s a tough enough business when clients do pay in a timely manner, really tough when they don’t. Are there good solutions?

Thoughts?

24/07/2024

Give us a shout and we will connect you with their person 🙏🏻 Homegrown wild and organic Whidbey Island mousetraps!

18/07/2024

It is not the veterinarians job to subsidize animal ownership.
Cheers. 💩

17/07/2024

We were honored to be part of the rehoming and new adventure awaiting Blossom the Juliana piggie. She’s the sweetest little thing and her life is about to get very exciting as she meets a lot of other happy piggies at Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary 🥰

11/07/2024

Fun case of the day!
4 month old goat is brought in for castration. Hmmm, only seems to be one testicle in the sc***um! Now what?
Tell us the name of the “condition” and what should be done next! We promise to put photos up tomorrow with answers 🤩
No DVMs or professionals please 🐐

07/07/2024

It’s a heat wave in the Pacific Northwest and holding steady at 91 F with humidity! 😱 It’s tough to cool off for us and for the animals…consider a cold hose down for your horses and other large animals, plenty of cool water and shade. Fans are fabulous also but make sure they are clean of dust, new, properly grounded and monitored closely. Watch for low manure production, decreased appetite, or lack of sweating… and call your vet asap if you think they’re dehydrating ⭐️💥☀️

05/07/2024

When you’re a tiny goat but you’re also a Houdini and your people love you dearly you may find yourself being videoed as you wake up from anesthesia at the vet clinic. 🐐💜⭐️☀️

04/07/2024

Thanks to my deputy (who has his name on a halter he keeps in the patrol car for loose horse rescue) and all the First Responders who work tirelessly on this and every holiday 💜💥🇺🇸🤩⭐️🚔

30/06/2024

Call for sedation NOW, not on July 3rd please 💥

25/06/2024

Veterinary chiropractic appointments still avail this Saturday at the clinic!

22/06/2024

Ever dreamed of an Alaska adventure complete with sled dogs?! Here’s a super experience hosted by champion mushers 💜

22/06/2024

A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses after exercise in hot and humid conditions. Thoroughbreds were exercised until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to

17/06/2024

Home from a weekend officiating as Veterinary Delegate at Aspen Farms FEI 3-day! Beautiful courses, reasonable weather and so lovely to catch up with everyone 💜

15/06/2024

15 years of officiating at FEI Three Day Events! Guess where I am this weekend? 🏔️

14/06/2024

Starting the enthusiasm for veterinary medicine early! 💜

14/06/2024

We are the advocate for the animals. Some are harder than others to successfully advocate for their ultimate peace. 🙏🏻

Amelia's ghost dropped in today. We met her back in 2007, so she's long dead - but she still pops in at important times, like today.

One of our regular jobs is to counsel people who are on the fence about euthanizing a troubled dog. We get those inquiries sometimes several times a week -- 'Can you help my dog? I'm told you can rehabilitate.' Inhale. Listen. Here it comes. The dog is deeply troubled, not safe. Maybe a bite or two on their record. But their human still hangs onto hope that someone can take their burden away and make it all better.

Today's dog had told her person several times that they were suffering a mental illness, you could say, and despite years of good care, they were very broken and willing to hurt a human when pushed too far. Now living in a home with several other people including children, not manageable without extreme measures. The owner was scared of him and father was adding pressure. But darnit, more than one trainer suggested that the owner was making it worse and "if only" she made some changes, it might get easier. The ultimate guilt trip. Meanwhile, the dog's brain is misfiring and he's willing to hurt a human.

So, Amelia in all her beautiful blackness, hanging teats and skin torn badly from abuse, stepped into the phone convo. She was one of the rescued dogs from the MV case. She wanted to hurt us back then and was clearly done with humans. "No Time Magazine style heroics, please," she seemed to say. "I want PEACE." I won't get into full detail of her scary side - Not necessary. We heard her and asked the courts to please allow her be euthanized as soon as possible and they agreed.

And so the convo went today. The dog in question will be euthanized on Friday, and the vet staff will have to work very hard to safely contain him before the deed is done. How sad for all involved. But Amelia came by to comfort today's owner. "No blame. You heard me and helped me in so many ways. Peace will be the greatest final gift you can give to me."

Some weeping on the other end of the phone and an exhale and a thank you for making this horrible thing okay.

Thank you once again, dear Amelia.