Fredonia Veterinary Clinic

      Equine Newsletter

Summer’s here!

 

Tips for managing your horse in the busy summer time:

 

Make sure your horse is well-hydrated on hot days

      * plain water minimum; extra electrolytes/salt may also be needed

Provide time for your horse to cool-off/rest on long rides

Heat stress: is a high risk when the  temp. + % humidity  ≥ 150

      (for both you and your horse)

Have a first aid kit made up ahead of time at the barn

 

Tips for Traveling with your Horse:

 

Have a first aid kit with you for traveling

Have a cell phone with you for emergencies (& charger)

Have important papers & info with you:

Coggin’s papers

Health certificates if required or if you’re out of state (are good for 30 days from date of issue)

Emergency phone numbers & contact info.

Check your trailer over before leaving

check tires including the spare tire

check trailer lights/wiring

check for hazards (sharp edges) inside trailer

remove any old hay/bedding, especially if moldy

If your horse is finicky about new water (city water at some shows may have new odor)- take your own water along for short trips or add flavoring to your horse’s water at home for several days before leaving & then at new location

  Call us if you have questions on your horse’s care:  (262) 692-2439

If you have any suggestions for topics or questions regarding our newsletter or if you would like to be added/removed from our e-mail list, call us. We hope this info is helpful for you!  

 

Our Equine Assistants /Vet Techs at Fredonia Veterinary Clinic:

   

     We would like to formally introduce you to Renee, Megan and Jason, who often travel with Dr. Tani Ketter or Dr. Gloria Harrison on farm calls. They are valuable assets to us at Fredonia Veterinary Clinic to help us take care of your horses. In addition to assisting on farm calls, they also do a lot of “behind the scenes” work at the clinic. They can be very helpful for you on the phone to answer questions. They also get refills of prescriptions ready, help complete Coggin’s paperwork for you, and perform our “in-house” lab tests as well as many other tasks.

     Many of you have already met or spoken with Renee. She’s been with FVC as a veterinary assistant for over 3 years. She spends some days with Dr. Tani on farm calls and other days in the clinic assisting with small animal/pet appointments and in-house equine duties. Renee is very knowledgeable about horses and has an Associate Degree in Horse Training and Management. She previously managed and trained reining horses for 15 years. She currently enjoys training and breeding her Labrador Retriever dogs for Hunt Test, obedience and conformation events, and of course “sharing the couch” with them.

      Megan is our newest addition to FVC and has been with us for over a year. On some days she goes with Dr. Gloria on farm calls and on other days is in the clinic helping with small animal appointments and in-house equine duties. She is a certified veterinary technician and graduated from Madison Area Technical College with an Associate Degree in veterinary technology. She has a lot of previous “hands-on” horse experience. She competed in the Ozaukee County 4-H Horse & Pony Project for 7 years. She has taught at horsemanship camps, worked at a local breeding farm with Oldenburgs & Hanoverians, and completed a veterinary technician internship and clinical rotation at Wisconsin Equine Clinic in Oconomowoc.

     Jason is also a certified veterinary technician and has been with us for over 3 years. He spends most of his time in the clinic helping with small animal cases and small animal surgeries. He does the ordering of medications and supplies for the clinic. He also helps Dr. Tani with equine farm calls on some days, and Dr. Karen Secor on dairy or llama/alpaca farm calls on other days. He graduated from Moraine Park Technical College with an Associate Degree in veterinary technology.

 

What is a “vet tech”?

     A certified veterinary technician (CVT) has completed a 2-year associate degree program in animal technology and passed a Wisconsin state “certification examination”.  They then have a license as a “certified veterinary technician” in the state of Wisconsin. A CVT is a lot like a veterinary nurse + a lab technician + an assistant for whatever needs to be done to help care for our animal patients.  This includes assisting with procedures and surgeries for pets, horses and farm animals. A technician’s training includes monitoring anesthesia, drawing blood samples, giving treatments prescribed by a veterinarian, performing lab work, restraining patients, and other important parts of the daily routine at Fredonia Veterinary Clinic. They are also very knowledgeable about general care of animals and veterinary care. A veterinary assistant is trained “on the job” to assist the veterinarians. A CVT and a veterinary assistant are required to work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They legally can not diagnose, prescribe medications or perform surgery.

     Our CVT’s, veterinary assistants, receptionists, office manager, and veterinarians are all part of the team at FVC striving to provide top notch service and value to our clients and patients.

  

 Be Prepared for an Equine Health Emergency

     If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency.  From lacerations to colic to foaling difficulties, there are many emergencies that a horse owner may encounter.  You must know how to recognize serious problems and respond promptly, taking appropriate action while awaiting the arrival of your veterinarian.

     Preparation is vital when confronted with a medical emergency.  No matter the situation you may face, mentally rehearse the steps you will take to avoid letting panic take control.  Having a cell phone with you while attending the horse can help with communication, especially if you’re away from home or out on the trail. Follow these guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help you prepare for an equine emergency:

 

1.  Keep your veterinarian’s number by each phone, including how the practitioner can be 

       reached after hours.

2.  Consult with your regular veterinarian regarding a back-up or referring veterinarian’s number

       in case you cannot reach your regular veterinarian quickly enough.

3.  Know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center in case you need to

       transport the horse.

4.  Post the names and phone numbers of nearby friends and neighbors who can assist you in an       

       emergency while you wait for the veterinarian.

5.  Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place.  Make sure that

        family members and other barn users know where the kit is.  Also keep a first aid kit in your

        horse trailer or towing vehicle, and a pared-down version to carry on the trail.

    

First aid kits can be simple or elaborate. Here is a short list of possible items:

Cotton roll

Cling wrap

Gauze pads, in assorted sizes

Sharp scissors

Cup or container

Rectal thermometer (digital)

Surgical scrub and mild antiseptic solution

Saline solution

Latex gloves

(Stethoscope)

(Clippers)

 

     Many accidents can be prevented by taking the time to evaluate your horse’s environment and removing potential hazards.  Mentally rehearse your emergency action plan.  In an emergency, time is critical.  Don’t be concerned with over-reacting or annoying your veterinarian.  By acting quickly and promptly, you can minimize the consequences of an injury or illness.  For more information about emergency care, ask your equine veterinarian for the “Emergency Care” brochure, provided by the AAEP in partnership with Educational Partner Bayer Animal Health.  More information can also be obtained by visiting the AAEP’s horse health web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioner, with some editing by FVC.

10 Tips for Choosing the Best Hay for Your Horse

 

     High-quality hay can be an important source of essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. A horse’s protein and energy requirements depend on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. A mature horse will eat 1.5-2.5% of its body weight a day, and for optimum health, nutritionists recommend that at least half of this should be roughage such as hay.  For a 1000-pound horse, that means at least 10 pounds of roughage each day. 

     Hay generally falls into one of two categories– grasses or legumes.  Legume hay (alfalfa; clover) is higher in protein, energy, calcium and vitamin A than grass hays. While hay alone may not meet the total dietary requirements of young, growing horses or those used for high levels of performance, high-quality hay may supply ample nutrition for less active adult horses.

     Once you’ve determined the best category of hay for your horse, most people select hay based on how it looks, smells and feels.  Use the following tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners to select the best hay for your horse:

 

1. It’s what’s inside that counts.  Ask that one or several bales are opened so you can evaluate the hay inside the bales.  Do not worry about slight discoloration on the outside, especially in stacked hay.

2. Choose hay that is as fine-stemmed, green and leafy as possible, and is soft to the touch.

3. Avoid hay that is over-cured, excessively sun-bleached, or smells moldy, musty, dusty or fermented. 

4. Select hay that has been harvested when the plants are in early bloom for legume hay or before seed heads have formed in grasses.  Examine the leaves, stems and flowers or seed pods to determine the level of maturity.

5. Avoid hay that contains significant amounts of weeds, dirt, trash or debris.

6. Examine hay for signs of insect infestation or disease.  Be especially careful to check for blister beetles in alfalfa.  Ask the grower about any potential problems in the region.

7. Reject bales that seem excessively heavy for their size or feel warm to the touch, as they could contain excess moisture that could cause mold, or worse, spontaneous combustion.

8. When possible, purchase and feed hay within a year of harvest to preserve its nutritional value.

9. Store hay in a dry, sheltered area out of the rain, snow and sun, or cover in the stack to protect it from the elements.

10. When buying in quantity, have the hay analyzed by a certified forage laboratory to determine its actual nutrient content.

 

     Remember that horses at different ages and stages of growth, development and activity have different dietary requirements.  Consult your veterinarian or a qualified equine nutritionist when formulating your horse’s ration.  He or she can help you put together a balanced diet that is safe, nutritious and cost-effective.

     For more information about choosing hay, ask your equine veterinarian for the “Hay Quality and Horse Nutrition” brochure, provided by the AAEP in partnership with Educational Partners Bayer Animal Health and Purina Mills, Inc.  More information about nutrition also can be found online at the AAEP’s horse health Web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.

 

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.