Fall 2009 Newsletter

SEVS News

                                      Dr. Jeske Noordergraaf

Welcome to the fall newsletter from Sunrise Equine

Veterinary Services.  After our mild September, the weather has quickly cooled off.  Horses adapt quicker to the

temperature change than we do, their hair fluffs up and they look warm.  Remember to run your hands down your horses sides during the winter as the hair coat hides weight issues.

 Our fourth annual open house is scheduled for Saturday, Nov 21^st from noon to 4 pm.  The schedule is included in this newsletter.  We will once again have a fun quiz to test your horse knowledge, door prizes, free fecals and a silent auction to benefit the MN Hooved Rescue Foundation.  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, artwork, and clothing.

 If you no longer have horses, please let us know so that we can take you off our mailing list.  The MN Hooved Rescue is always looking for foster homes so if you have the set up but aren't sure that you want to buy another horse,

fostering a horse in need would be a great help.  The phone number is 763-856-3119 and the website is www.mnhoovedanimalrescue.org.

 The excitement in the practice is that Dr. Kirsten Voigt got married in August and is now Dr. Frederickson.  Her husband doesn't own a horse yet but that could change.  Robyn

Chamberlain, one of the voices at the end of the phone, also got married during the summer and is now Robyn Dodge.  Robyn and her husband both have horses already.

 We have seen several lame horses recently that the owners waited too long before calling a veterinarian.  It is better to prevent arthritis, if possible, than to treat it.   Several of the protocols that we have include joint injections to decrease

inflammation,  Adequan, a muscle injection, which helps with cartilage healing and has been fabulous in older horses and Legend which is hyaluronic acid and helps replace joint fluid.  If your horse isn’t moving normal, please call us. 

The economy has affected our business just as it has affected yours.  We have had to reduce staff to help with this, but we are still able to meet all your horse needs.

 We hope to see you at our open house or at one of the classes that we will be teaching through community education.  The dates for these are Nov 5 on buying or adopting a horse and January 14 & 28 on hoof care and lower leg issues.  Register through North Branch Community Education for these classes.

 Thank you for your continued support of the practice and for referring us to your friends.

Items of Interest

Winter Dental Special!!

Back by popular demand!  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!

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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

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 2 to 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 20 pounds of roughage each day. 

Hay generally falls into one of two categories – grasses or legumes.  Legume hay 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:

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 overcured, 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.

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.

Reject bales that seem excessively heavy for their size of 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.

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 HealthCare Animal Health and Purina Mills.  More information about nutrition also can be found online at the AAEP’s horse health Web site,  www.aaep.org/horseowner.

 Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

****Bring a sample of the hay you are feeding for Dr Krishona Martinson to look at and identify ****

Suggested Deworming Schedules

For Adult Horses

Begin with a fecal exam ideally two months following the last deworming.

Low Egg Counts

Deworm twice a year

Fall:  Ivermectin with Praziquantel (after a killing frost)

Spring:  Panacur PowerPac (fenbendazole) or Quest

High Egg Counts

October: Ivermectin/Praziquantel (Equimax)

December:  Ivermectin (Equell)

February:  Pyrantel Pamoate (Strongid)

April:  Panacur PowerPac

June:  Ivermectin (Equell)

August:  Pyrantal Pamoate (Strongid)(Fenbendazole)

We recommend deworming foals at 30 days of age with a double dose of Panacur  by weight  each day for 5 days  in a row to kill parasite larvae.  Then every  month  with rotating dewormers.

•New horses  with no deworming history - Start with a fecal exam , then  deworm as directed by your veterinarian.

•We carry all these dewormers at our office along with Strongid C2X, the daily dewormer. We recommend a fecal test before and after to check to check your deworming program.

•The purpose for the  Panacur Powerpak is to kill the encysted  larva in the small intestinal wall.

Owner  Community Education Classes

These classes are offered through North Branch Public Schools and are open to everyone!

To register call 651-674-1025 or visit www.nbaceonline.org.  Cost is $8 each, two for $14, or all three for $21!

Is this the Right Horse for Me?

With Jeske Noordergraaf, VMD

November 5, 2009 from 6:30-8pm, Class #3331

We will discuss what to look for when buying or adopting a new horse. 

Horse Hoof Care Part I: Anatomy & Function

With Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

January 14, 2010 from 6-7pm, Class #3385

Participants will learn about the anatomy of the hoof and how it relates to proper function. 

Horse Hoof Care Part II: Common Problems

With Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

January 28, 2010 from 6-7pm, Class #3374

Topics include hoof abscesses, thrush, white line disease, laminitis, and navicular disease.

Open House and Client Education Day

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

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:

12:30 pm:  Hay & Nutrition ~ Krishona Martinson, Ph.D.,

U of M Extension

1:30 pm:  Distal Limb Presentation ~ Kirsten Frederickson, DVM

2:30 pm:  Conformation ~ Val Vetos, Show Judge & Coach

3:30 pm:  COPD/Heaves ~ Jeske Noordergraaf, VMD

 

Ongoing Events

Bring in a fecal sample (1 fresh apple in a baggie will do!) for a free 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