Equine Veterinary Services, Tresa Apke, DVM

10/21/2021

FURst Aid is a series of virtual and in-person events for animal lovers. You'll learn practical first aid skills from experts at the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine to help care for your furry friends in crisis. In this first installment, Dr. Kate Schoenhals, DVM and r...

10/21/2021

HAS YOUR HORSE RECEIVED HIS FALL SHOTS YET? 🍂🍁

As a horse owner, the good thing about the colder season is knowing you won't have to deal with as many insect-related issues as during the spring and summer months. The cold weather, however, brings different challenges to your horse’s health such as respiratory viruses — which is why fall vaccines/boosters usually include inoculations against influenza and the respiratory form of herpesvirus (rhinopneumonitis).

If your horse has yet to receive their fall vaccinations this year, contact your veterinarian today and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your animal. Based on their situation, your horse may need additional specific risk-based vaccinations and your horse doctor will be able to provide accurate information on what products to use and why.

If you are interested in learning more about horse immunization, the AAEP's Vaccination Guidelines are available on our website at https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines

09/15/2021

09/15/2021

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09/04/2021

We can dream... right?

09/04/2021

Every. Single. Day.

😬

09/04/2021

Does your horse suffer from "spook brain?" 🤣

09/04/2021

08/25/2021

Did you know?

Snakes are conspicuous in the spring when they first emerge from their winter dormancy but actually reach their highest numbers in August and September, when their babies are born.

Snakes commonly found in the United States, like copperheads and rattlers, can cause serious injury to a horse. Equines are at the top of the list of sensitivity to snakebites, and are followed in order by sheep, cows, goats, dogs, pigs, and cats. Horses almost always get bitten on the muzzle, and the spread of the venom containing enzymes, peptides and neurotoxins can be fatal. The resultant swelling can be so extreme that the nostrils almost close and breathing can become difficult or impossible. Shock is the most common problem following snakebites, and prompt treatment is necessary.

If you know or suspect that your horse has been bitten by a snake, call your veterinarian immediately. Better to have a false alarm than to play catch-up later in a crisis situation. Talk to your horse vet about the likelihood of snake attacks in your area, and learn about the best preventative and treatment options.
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Related resources:

"Snakebit!," written by Dr. Kenneth L. Marcella: https://aaep.org/issue/snakebit

Snakebite vaccine guidelines: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines/snake-bite

08/25/2021

UNDERSTANDING HOOF ABSCESSES

The scenario is all too familiar for many horse owners: yesterday your horse was sound, but today you find him three-legged lame, with no apparent injury. What could have happened? Well, you say, my horse is likely working on a foot abscess.
But what does that actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.
The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

Read more about hoof abscesses on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/hoof-abscesses