Equine Services

All equine services are provided on either a farm call basis or haul-in basis to our hospital.  There is a farm call fee assessed in cases of ambulatory calls, which can be avoided with haul-in situations.  Some services are restricted to being performed only at the hospital due to the nature of the equipment or procedure being performed.

Wellness care-"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" That saying holds true for horses also. As part of our routine care we provide vaccinations, deworming, Coggins testing, and dental care. At the time of service we can discuss any issues you may have with your horse including nutritional needs, training programs, geriatric care, etc..

Time of need care-We offer care for your horse in case of medical colic, sickness, lameness, injury, metabolic problems, or chronic illness. We are equipped to provide intravenous fluids and most laboratory results are obtained within 24 hours. Emergency care for our regular clients is provided on a 24 hour basis.

Pre-purchase examinations- An extensive physical examination, lameness evaluation, neurologic examination, and drug screen is offered by us prior to purchasing a horse. The information gathered is used by the prospective buyer and/or agent to determine whether the horse will be servicable for it's intended use. The exam often includes laboratory testing, digital radiographs, endoscopy, and ultrasound exams.

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.

Lameness examination- Evaluate the locomotion of your horse. We use a variety of techniques to identify the source(s) of lameness including physical examination and palpation, flexion tests, and joint and nerve blocks. Digital radiography, ultrasound, and laboratory tests help us to further evaluate the source of your horse's lameness.

Surgery-Standing or recumbent surgery of the horse is performed for castration, biopsy , laceration repair, abdominal procedures as well as other soft tissue surgeries.  More difficult or involved procedures may be referred to a University for continued care.

Specialized procedures:

Ultrasonography-uses sound waves to evaluate soft tissues like tendons and ligaments, reproductive organs, lumps, and tumors. It is painless and non-invasive.

Digital Radiography-uses x-rays to visualize bone for abnormalities including arthritic changes, fractures, ocd, bone cysts and bone infection. Our unit is based on Computed Radiography and allows us to obtain an image within 90 seconds on a computer screen.  The image can then be enhanced, enlarged and even copied to a CD for farrier evaluation or referral.

Endoscopy-utilizes a fiber optic device for evaluating the upper airway of the horse, including the larynx, sinuses and guttural pouches. The trachea and upper esophagus can also be examined with this flexible device. Useful in prepurchase examinations, pneumonias, or reactive airway disease.  Our endoscopy unit is connected to a TV monitor for full viewing during the examination as well as image saving and retrieval.

Tonometry-is a procedure that measures the intraocular pressure of the eyeball and is useful in detecting glaucoma and uveitis.