Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services Newsletter

Volume 16, Issue 2

Fall 2010

SEVS News

Dr. Jeske Noordergraaf

Welcome to the fall newsletter from Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services.  After our hot and wet summer, we are hoping for a long, mild fall without bugs so we can get lots of riding in.  I finally got a trailer that my horse fits in so I hope to make it to the park.

   We are planning our annual open house for November 20th, from noon til 4pm.  We will once again have a silent auction benefiting the MN Hooved Animal Rescue, fecals at a reduced rate, a fun quiz and informative speakers, along with refreshments. Representatives from several horse related businesses will also be present.  We would appreciate the donation of any new equine related products and services.  Last year the items donated included riding lessons, photography, clothing, and saddle fitting.  We hope to see you there.

   Having a staffed office makes our job easier, but please call before coming to pick up drugs to make sure that we have it in stock and the Dr okays it.  Our staff can’t just dispense prescription drugs such as phenylbutazone paste without checking with one of the vets.

   We continue to provide 24 hour emergency coverage.  If you have a horse emergency, call the office for the cell phone number of the vet on call.  Please check with the office first so you reach the correct vet. 

    We are considering having one of our Coggins clinics at the Northwest Saddle Club in North Branch.  What do you think?

   Thank you for your continued patronage and for referring us to your friends.  I hope to see you at our open house in November and if you have an item you would like to donate to the silent auction, please call us.

Items of Interest

Cat Castration Day

To help reduce the cat overpopulation problem, we will neuter male cats for a reduced fee.

When:  Saturday, October 30th.

Cost:  $40

Vaccinations available:  PRCC $10

                                    Rabies $10

Drop  your cat off Saturday morning between 8-9 am and pick him up in the afternoon.  Cats MUST be in a carrier (we have several available)

Please call to make your cats appointment!

Winter Dental Special!

During the months of November, December and January, we are waiving the office call fee when you bring your horse(s) to our heated barn to get their teeth floated!  We have stocks which make the whole procedure easier for all involved, including the horse.

Call to schedule your appointment today!

Owner’s Corner

Here are a couple of websites that you, as a horse owner, may find useful:

www.sunriseequine.com

www.americashealthyhorse.com

www.aaep.org

www.kppusa.com (nutrition information)

Get to the Point of Injecting a Joint

By Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

A joint injection is a procedure by which medication is injected directly into a horse joint.  This can be used to treat a variety of conditions that affect the joint. Before performing this procedure it must be determined which joint is affected.  This requires a comprehensive lameness exam which includes flexion tests and nerve blocks. Once the area is pinpointed, x-rays are used to determine the cause and extent of the problem.  The information gathered from the exam and the x-rays allows us to decide the treatment and which medication will be most helpful for that joint.

  The main class of medication we use is steroids.  These are potent reducers of inflammation.  When a joint is inflamed it becomes painful and more prone to self-induced trauma from normal wear and tear.  Reducing the inflammation alleviates pain and stops the self-destruction.  Another medication we use is hyaluronic acid (HA).  HA is an important part of joint fluid that also reduces inflammation and also promotes healing and lubricates the joint as well. Unhealthy joints often have poor quality joint fluid so adding HA is a lot like changing the motor oil to increase lubrication and stop detrimental friction.  A small amount of antibiotic is always used as part of the injection to minimize the small risk of contaminating the joint during the procedure.

  Once the problematic joint is identified and the medications are chosen, the entry point for the injection is prepared by disinfecting with surgical scrub for several minutes and rinsing with rubbing alcohol. Proper restraint is very important to prevent the horse from moving both while the needle is being inserted and while the medications are being injected. This can be done by sedation or using a lip twitch.  Often some joint fluid comes back out of  the needle before the syringe is attached.  The consistency of the fluid can give us information about the health of the joint.  Once the medication is injected the needle is removed and a light wrap is applied

  There is the potential for the horse to be a little sore for a few days after the injection so it is recommended to stall rest him and give some bute for two or three days.  After that he can be turned out on pasture. One week after the injection, light work can resume.  Regular work should be started when lameness has resolved.  This is the average protocol but may vary depending on the nature of the issue and the type of work the horse is expected to perform.

  Joint injections are the fastest way to decrease inflammation and discomfort since the medication is put directly into the joint space.  It starts taking effect immediately.  It can however, take several weeks to see the full effect. The time injections last will vary from horse to horse.  Once or sometimes twice a year

is often adequate.  They can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments such as Cosequin oral supplement, Adequan IM, or Legend IV.  Adjunct treatments can also help to extend the time between injections.  When used appropriately,  injections can preserve the joint health of your horse allowing him to remain your riding companion longer along with improving the quality of life.

2010 Vaccination Recommendations

Strategic Deworming

We used to want horses to be parasite free.  In order to prevent resistant worms, the new goal is  to maintain a low level of parasites.

Recommendation:

  Fecal: to know your horse’s parasite load.

  If low and the horse is healthy, 2 fecals per year and deworm in the fall.

  If fecals are high, deworm in spring and run another fecal 2-3 weeks after deworming to check effectiveness of dewormer.

  There are a few horses who will need to be dewormed every 8 weeks but this is the minority.

 Fall- all horses should be dewormed with an ivermectin/praziquantal product after the first hard frost to kill bots and tapeworms along with other intestinal parasites.

  We will be happy to discuss your horse’s specific needs.

Open House and Client Education Day

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

12pm - 4pm

 Please come meet our staff &enjoy refreshments with  us!    Place your bids on the silent auction items!     Register for great door prizes to be given throughout the day!

 (Must be present to win - door prizes only)

 Schedule of Events:

12:15 pm:  Nutrition:  from the Young horse to the Overweight horse ~ Kristin Hanson, Land O’Lakes

1:15 pm:  Insulin Resistance ~ Nichol Schultz, DVM,

U of M

2:15pm:  Emergency Care ~ Jeske Noordergraaf, VMD

3:15pm:  Potomac Horse Fever ~ Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

 

Ongoing Events

Bring in a fecal sample (1 fresh apple in a baggie will do!) for a $5 parasite check provided by Intervet

Test your horse knowledge with a fun quiz  & get a  prize!!

Poisonous Plant Display

 Silent Auction!!

Great products and Services donated  from

local horse related businesses

Proceeds benefiting the  MN Hooved Animal

Rescue Foundation

 Directions

7 miles East of North Branch on Hwy 95  ~  then North on Poor Farm Rd

(just East of County Road 9) 3rd place on the left.

                    More information on our  website !       www.SunriseEquine.com