Equine Services provided by Fredonia Veterinary Clinic        
 
Wellness care = preventative medicine:     
   "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
That saying holds true for horses also- good preventative care can help keep your horse healthy. As part of our routine preventative care we provide examinations, vaccinations, deworming (including fecal egg counts), Coggins testing, dental care and more.   We can discuss any issues you may have with your horse including nutritional needs, training programs, geriatric care, reproduction concerns and more. Additional lab testing can be valuable to evaluate your horse. Geriatric blood screenings can be especially helpful to detect problems early.  Horses needing to be on long-term medications, such as "Bute" (phenylbutazone), can have blood tests done to screen for early signs of potential problems or side-effects.

Time of need care:
We also offer care for your horse in the event of a problem including colic, illness, lameness, injury, lacerations, metabolic problems, chronic illness or any other concern or issue you have with your horse.  We also provide emergency care and have a veterinarian "on call" after our regular business hours.
  
  Our equine services: 
 
Wellness/Preventative Services-  These include examinations, routine vaccinations, dental care include teeth floating either by hand or using a Powerfloat, fecal egg counts & deworming recommendations, feeding/nutritional assessments, lab testing & performance horse assessments.

Coggin's Testing and Health Certificates-  A current negative Coggin's blood test and a health certifcate are required for any horse to cross state lines. Some equine events/shows may also require a Coggin's test. In Wisconsin, a "current Coggin's test" = a blood sample that was drawn & found to be negative for EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia) during the current calendar year.  In other words, a negative Coggin's test is good until Dec. 31 of the year it's taken. A health certificate is provided after a veterinarian examines the horse, record's the body temperature and finds that the horse has no signs of infectious/contagious diseases. A health certificate is usually good for 30 days from the date of the exam.  Some states or equine events may require additional testing such as for Piroplasmosis.  Always check with the event staff ahead of time for their requirements. These tests/paperwork can take some time to get back. Health certificates to Canada also take extra time to get back. 

Pre-Purchase Examinations-  A PPE is an extensive physical examination including a locomotion/lameness evaluation done for the potential buyer of a horse prior to purchase. The information gathered is used by the prospective buyer and/or agent to help them decide if they want to purchase the horse. The PPE may also include laboratory testing, drug screens, radiographs,  and ultrasound exams. If the horse is to be used for breeding, reproductive evaluations may be done. A written report is usually provided to the potential buyer.

Geriatric Care- Aged horses can have sub-clinical health care issues that can be identified and treated before they become a problem. If your horse is over 15 years of age we recommend a complete physical examination and blood testing to establish baseline values. Any special concerns can be addressed, such as teeth problems, nutritional needs, chronic lameness concerns or other medical issues. Many problems can be treated &/or managed to help improve the older horse's comfort and quality of life.

Lameness Exams-  A lame horse may have an obvious problem such as a non-weight bearing or swollen leg or a more subtle lameness. We use a variety of techniques to help identify the source(s) of a lameness including physical examination and palpation, checking the hooves for soreness with a hoof testers, walking & trotting the horse in-hand, lunging, flexion tests, nerve blocks and joint blocks.  Digital radiography (X-rays), ultrasound, and laboratory tests may also be done to further evaluate the source of your horse's lameness. 

Reproductive Services-  These include pre-breeding mare exams and uterine cultures with uterine cytology; AI (artificial insemination) with shipped cooled semen; pregnancy exams with ultrasound; pregnancy blood tests (often used for Miniature Horses); monitoring during pregnancy & health programs; "rhino" vaccinations during pregnancy to help prevent abortion associated with EHV (Equine Herpesvirus; "rhino"; rhinopneumonitis)

Newborn foal & mare Exams:  We recommend having newborn foals examined on the first day of life. The mare and the afterbirth (placenta) are also examined. An IgG blood test on the foal can be done at the farm to make sure the foal ingested enough colostrum (first milk) and has sufficient antibody levels to help keep it healthy.

Surgery-  We provide routine surgeries such as "gelding" (castration), repair of lacerations, biopsies, and lump/tumor removals. These are usually done at the farm, but can also be done at the clinic. We also have laser surgery available if needed. This is often very useful for removal of some tumors/growths.  More complicated procedures and colic surgeries may be referred to a specialist/equine surgical hospital (for more info, click on: Referrals from Fredonia Veterinary Clinic).

Ultrasonography-  This can be a valuable diagnostic tool. It uses sound waves to evaluate soft tissues like tendons/ligaments, the reproductive tract, and swellings/lumps. It is painless and non-invasive. Ultrasound exams can be done at the farm or at our clinic.

Digital Radiography (X-rays)-  At FVC, we have portable x-ray units that can be taken to the farm or used at our clinic. Our digital radiography is DR, which allows us to view the radiographs right away on a laptop computer while still at the farm. The radiograph images can be stored for you on a CD to keep. The x-ray images can be easily sent to other veterinarians or specialists for a second opinion or consult via email.

Please call us for more information about our equine services, if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule a farm call or clinic visit:  262- 692-2439. We look forward to helping you keep your horse(s) healthy!