Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services, PA

SEVS News

Dr. Jeske Noordergraaf

Welcome to the fall newsletter from Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services.  Another summer has sped by and once the anxiety over the EHV outbreak went away, it has been a healthy summer.  Luckily no horses in MN were affected.  This disease is unfortunately not going away so come to our open house and find out the latest recommendations from Dr Julia Wilson.

 We are currently planning our annual open house and client education day.  Please see the schedule for what we have planned.  We will also, once again, have a silent auction to raise money for the local horse rescues.  Last year we raised $2339.00 and we hope to do even better this year.  We are looking for donations of new horse related items and services. If you have a suggestion for a donation, let us know and we will follow up on it.  Items donated have included riding lessons, fun horse shirts, saddle racks and decorated plates.

 I recently attended a wet lab on equine dentistry and purchased more equipment so we can do an even better job on your horse’s mouth.  This fall/winter we are once again waiving the haul-in fee for dentals done here.  At the seminar I learned that quidding, which is when a horse drops balled up feed, is always abnormal but that dropping grain may indicate a problem or be because the horse is a messy eater.  Just as we go to the dentist once or twice a year, so should your horse.

 Thank you for your continued patronage and for recommending us to your friends.  I hope to see you at our open house on November 12 or out on the trails this fall.

Items of Interest

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Cat Castration Day

To help reduce the cat overpopulation problem, we are once again neutering male cats at a reduced fee.

When:  Saturday, October 22nd.

Cost:    1 cat - $60

            2 cats - $50 each

            3 or more - $40 each

Vaccinations available:  PRCC $15.00

                                       Rabies $10.00

Nail Trim: $5.00

Drop  your cat off Saturday morning between 8-9 am and pick him up between 2-3 pm.  Cats MUST be in a carrier (we have several available) with a blanket.

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) 

Bulking up for Cold Weather

Dr. Kirsten Frederickson

Winter is around the bend and it takes extra energy for horses to stay warm in cold weather.  They need to be in good condition in order to insulate from the cold. If your horse is a little on the thin side, now is the time to address the issue before winter arrives.

 Here is a list of questions to help determine why the horse is skinny.

  1.  Is the horse getting enough food or are the others chasing it away from the food?

  2.  Have the teeth been checked to make sure there are no dental issues?

  3.  Does the horse have a good appetite?

  4.  Are there any breathing issues?

  5.  Is there a chronic lameness?

  6.  Does the horse have parasites?

  7.  Is there diarrhea?

 If it is unclear what is causing the weight loss, a visit from the veterinarian involving a physical exam, fecal, and lab work as needed can help reveal the problem. This will result in faster improvement than a trial and error approach with various supplements.

 Hay: Rule of thumb for feeding hay is 1.5-2% of body weight for maintenance. This means 15-20 lbs of good quality hay a day for the 1000 lb horse. If the hay is not the most nutritious or if the horse needs to gain weight you will need to feed more.  Grass is lower calorie than alfalfa. When possible feed free choice hay.  That means the horse has access to hay 24/7 at least until an ideal body weight is achieved.

 Extra calories and nutrition: Start a high quality pelleted feed designed for the life stage of your horse.  Be sure to follow the label instructions on how much to feed.  Feed the amount appropriate for what the horse’s weight is supposed to be instead of what he is currently at.  You will need to weigh it on a scale at first since the instructions are usually in pounds.  Be accurate and don’t guess.  This will ensure that your horse gets the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

 Even more calories: Beet pulp is a highly digestible fiber that not only plumps horses up quicker when added to the feed but is also great for intestinal health. Beet pulp should be soaked before feeding to prevent choking.

Corn oil can be added to feed to boost calories without adding a lot of volume since fat is more calorie dense than protein or carbohydrates.

Note: If your horse can no longer chew hay well, a senior feed will need to be given at roughly the same feeding rate as hay.

Remember: Make all feed changes gradual!

If you have any questions on how to feed your horse, please call the office for more information.

When is it Time to Say Goodbye?

Dr. Jeske Noordergraaf

We are the caregivers for our horses and it is our responsibility to make sure they have food, water and shelter, that they aren’t suffering needlessly, and that when the quality of life starts to be poor, we say goodbye.  I am frequently asked by clients if euthanizing their horse is the right thing to do.  Veterinarians are not required or mandated to euthanize an animal, we do it because we feel that it is in the animal’s best interest and the other options are unaffordable or not available.

 The common issues that horses develop which cause their owners to start thinking about euthanasia are: arthritis or constant lameness which can’t be cured, weight loss, degenerative diseases, old age, and loss of interest in life.  I euthanized my own old horse when he developed severe arthritis in his neck and was unable to bend his neck to turn anymore.  He had to turn around like a big truck.

 It comes down to quality of life.  If you dread going out to see your horse every day because you think he is suffering, it is probably time to say goodbye.  If you board your horse, ask the stable owner who sees your horse everyday what she thinks.  Let them go while they still have some dignity.  I have had several clients over the years tell me that they should have made that decision earlier for their horse’s sake.  You can show the ultimate respect for your horse by relieving it of unendurable pain or disease.

2011 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.

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.

Spring 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.  

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

Open House and Client Education Day

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

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  “Laminitis: Causes and Treatments”

by Jeske Noordergraaf, VMD

1:15  “Nutrition Updates”  by Leo Windschitl/Erin Ring  from ADM

2:15  “The Use of Casts for Heel Bulb Lacerations”

by Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

3:15  “Equine Respiratory Diseases and the Value of Vaccinations”

by Julia Wilson, DVM   Diplomate ACVIM, Turner Wilson Equine Consulting, LLC

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  local horse rescues

 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