What's New
Permanent Microchip ID is now available! Please call the office for more information.
*EQUINE VACCINE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS*
The vaccine has been approved by the FDA and the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture. It is manufactured by Ft. Dodge Laboratories and is available now! Call the office for an appointment.Recently there have been stories circulating concerning the frequency of vaccination. According to Fort Dodge Laboratories and the USDA, yearly boosters after the initial 2 injection vaccination schedule is adequate for maximum protection. However, due to the increased risk to the horses in our area, we are recommending that horses be vaccinated every 6 months.
ALERT!
This notice is about an Equine disease that was prevelent in this area about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, it has resurfaced. Recently there has been 3 cases of Equine Botulism in the Edgewater/West River area. This disease is fatal in 90% of the cases.
THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE.
Please call the office to schedule an appointment to have your horses protected. Also, please feel free to call with any questions or concerns. Click here for more information about this disease.
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ON THE TRAIL
It's bad enough having an injured horse in the barn or paddock, but when you're on the trail, it's even scarier, as veterinary assistance is unlikely to be immediately forthcoming. If your horse becomes injured during a trail ride, dismount, assess the injury, and determine whether you can walk the horse out or not. "move him very slowly and with a lot of talking to calm the horse," suggests Earl M. Gaughan, DVM, associate professor and section head of Equine Medicine and Surgery, Kansas State University. For a non-weight-bearing injury, send one person for help while another stays with the horse. Try to keep the horse calm. You can tie the horse if he's calm and used to being tied; otherwise, you might increase his fright if you tie him. Don't attempt to tie up an injured leg or force the horse to walk out on three legs. "The horse is not meant to be on three legs," states Gaughan. "If you artificially do that on top of the pain of the injury, the horse's panic level goes up." Adds Venaye Reece, DVM, veterinary medical officer for the State Veterinary Office at Clemson University, "A horse that doesn't want to move has a good reason, and it's generally not safe to force one to move. You risk the horse's falling, reinjuring or increasing its injury, or hurting someone else." When you're riding alone (which is never advisable) and can't summon help via a cell phone, you have fewer options:
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Wait with the horse while others come looking for you (assuming you've let people know where you're going and when you are expected to return.
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If the horse will tie, leave it and summon help.
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If a road is nearby, encourage the horse to hobble close to the roadside so you can flag somebody down. Cautions Gaughan, "Horses can walk a long way on three legs if they have to, but it's preferable not to."
However, be very careful when near the road. "Lights and truck noises may panic the horse," warns Reece, "and you absolutely want to avoid a loose or frightened horse in traffic areas."
FIRST AID KIT
Every rider should keep a first aid kit handy to deal with wounds and injuries. Your kit at the barn should include the following items:
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Veterinarian's telephone number
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Sterile bandages
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Disposable diapers or sanitary napkins (both are excellent for stanching bleeding and using under a pressure wrap to cover large wounds)
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Non-stick pads
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Conforming gauze Cotton rolls or sheet cotton Stretchy bandage wraps
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Disinfectant such as betadine solution or Nolvasan (chlorhexadine)
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Sterile solution such as lactated ringers solution or saline solution
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Thermometer Stethoscope Bute paste (used only under a veterinarian's directions)
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Injectable antibiotics (used only under a veterinarian's directions)
When riding on the trail, consider taking a small kit packed with these necessities:
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Veterinarian's phone number
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Boot or foot protection for a lost shoe
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Sterile bandages
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Gauze Stretch wrap
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Stethoscope Multi-tool device with pliers, knife, etc.
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Cell phone
DOG FLU FACTS
* The H3N8 Influenza virus has jumped from horses to dogs. This H3N8 virus causes the 'dog flu'.
* The initial findings of H3N8 infected dogs were at a Florida greyhound racing track.
* The H3N8 virus causes symptoms similar to 'kennel cough' and is very contagious between dogs.
* Most cases of H3N8 infection are mild.
* The H3N8 virus has never infected humans.
* The H3N8 virus has been verified in New York City and Massachusetts.
REVIEW
THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS
BEFORE TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET
*Check
with a veterinarian. Be sure
your pet is fit to travel. Airlines
will not transport a sick or violent animal, most require a certificate
of good health from a veterinarian that’s been signed within 30 days
of the trip.
*Be
sure your pet wears a collar with complete identification and a license
tag. Have a rabies vaccination certificate if the
flight crosses state or international borders.
Be aware of any quarantine regulations that are being enforced
at your destination.
*Tranquilizers
and sedatives can have adverse effects on animals at high altitudes. Give medication to your pet only with the approval
of your veterinarian.
*USDA
requires that pets have food and water within four hours of the time
of departure.
*Pug-nosed
breeds such as Pekingese, Chows, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Persian
and Himalayan cats often have difficulty breathing at high altitudes,
and their short nasal passages can prevent them from eliminating extra
body heat through respiration. Airlines
advise against transporting such animals by air.
*Let
your airline know well in advance that you are planning to travel with
your pet, and reconfirm your plans 24-48 hours prior to your departure. This is especially necessary during periods
of adverse weather conditions. It
is also advisable to get to the airport with plenty of time to spare
so you won’t be rushed.
*It is preferable to book pets on direct, non-stop flights to minimize travel time.
