Dentistry
Kirby Penttila
What happens to wild horses that don't get ...

As many of you are aware, one of Dr. Butters’ special interests is equine dentistry.  Knowing this, one of our fantastic clients generously provided us with a wonderful and very interesting skull specimen that we wanted to share.

This skull is from a stallion that lived in a wild/feral state west of Cochrane.  Our client knew the stallion, and relayed that he died during the very cold, deep snow winter we experienced several years ago.

Dr. Butters believes she knows what may have contributed to this early death.

What happens to wild horses that don't get dental care?
Wellness
Kirby Penttila
Saying Goodbye: a discussion about euthanasia

Euthanasia is a term that comes from the Greek language and translated into English means “good death.”  The most common method of euthanasia is via a lethal injection of a barbituate drug, but other methods may also produce a “good death.”  There are many reasons for an owner to choose euthanasia and the decision to euthanize a horse is often a difficult and deeply personal for the owner.

Saying Goodbye: a discussion about euthanasia
Vaccines
Kirby Penttila
What's in my vaccine?

What is in a “3-Way” vaccine?  A “4-Way?” “5-Way?” “6-Way?”

              We get a lot of questions about these confusing terms!  The “3-Way” vaccine has long been used to describe the combination vaccine containing Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE), and Tetanus.  For a “4-Way,” add influenza to those three vaccines just listed.  A five way provides protection against EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Influenza and Equine Herpesvirus (“rhinopneumonitis”), and a “6-way” contains all 5 components of a 5-Way, plus West Nile.  Although there is a combination vaccine that includes EEE, WEE, tetanus, and West Nile, the combination of EEE,WEE, tetanus, and influenza was on the market for years prior to the introduction of the combination with West Nile, so the “4-Way” term is usually reserved for the vaccine containing influenza and not West Nile.  Clear as mud?

Contact the clinic and we can help you determine what vaccinations are appropriate for your horse.  Stay tuned in the coming days for more information on these diseases and why we vaccinate against them, as well as more answers to your frequently asked vaccination questions.

What's in my vaccine?
Breeding
Kirby Penttila
Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at ...

Whether this is your first adventure into the world of mares and foals, or you have been down this road before, you may be wondering what happens between the time you say your farewells at the clinic and the time you get that wonderful news. Well, wonder no more! In this article I will explain all of the techniques, technologies, and tricks we have at our disposal to make the process as reliable and smooth as possible.

Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction
Lameness
Kirby Penttila
New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

Wireless inertial sensor-based technology is at the forefront of lameness evaluation research today, and we are excited to now be incorporating this cutting edge diagnostic tool into our lameness examinations! The Equinosis Lameness Locator is the result of over twenty years of gait analysis research, and it allows objective quantification of lameness during a routine clinical exam.

New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

Vaccination FAQ - My horse is vaccinated—why did it still get a cold?

Vaccination FAQ - My horse is vaccinated—why did it still get a cold?

  An upper respiratory tract infection or “cold” in a horse, like in a human, can be caused by many different viruses or bacterial infections—adenovirus, herpesvirus (Type 1, 2, 4, 5), influenza virus, rhinitis A or B virus, Strep equi (“Strangles”)—or even a combination of these agents.  Horses can be vaccinated against some respiratory pathogens, namely herpesvirus Type 1 and 4, Influenza, and Strangles, but many other viruses especially are not included in the routine vaccinations (much as humans can be vaccinated against influenza but not the common cold).  Additionally, each horse’s immune system will respond differently to a given vaccine, and a small percentage of horses will be “non-responders.” These horses do not mount an adequate immune response following even properly administered vaccinations.  If your horse develops an upper respiratory infection even when they have received their yearly vaccinations, they could be infected by one of these other viruses (adenovirus, other herpesvirus types, rhinitis virus), or their immune system simply did not respond to the vaccine as well as some other horses.

Vaccination FAQ - I’d like to vaccinate my horse myself. Where do I give it, and how?

Vaccination FAQ - I’d like to vaccinate my horse myself. Where do I give it, and how?

With the exception of Strangles, all our commonly used equine vaccines are given intramuscularly.  Rabies must be administered by a veterinarian, so it cannot be dispensed for owners to give, however the others can be dispensed.  A note of caution, however—any vaccine can produce immediate, unpredictable adverse effects such as hives or anaphylaxis, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.  If a veterinarian is administering a vaccination, they are required to have medications on hand that can address these concerns.  If administering a vaccine yourself, monitor very closely for signs of these adverse effects and have a plan in place for prompt treatment.

Vaccination FAQ - My horse doesn’t go anywhere—does (s)he still need to be vaccinated?

Vaccination FAQ - My horse doesn’t go anywhere—does (s)he still need to be vaccinated?

              What vaccinations your horse receives should be dependent on their specific risk of exposure to given diseases.  For horses that do not travel to other barns, shows, or arenas, and do not mix with other populations of horse, vaccination against respiratory pathogens that are passed from horse to horse such as herpesvirus, influenza, and Strep equi (“Strangles”) is probably not necessary.  However, not all diseases that are commonly vaccinated against do not pass from horse to horse.  The bacterium that causes tetanus is ubiquitous in the soil, and enters the body via wounds—no contact with other horses is necessary to be afflicted with tetanus.  Other diseases can be spread by blood-sucking insects, namely West Nile Virus and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis (EEE/WEE).  The source of the virus that the mosquitos carry is not other horses, but rather wild birds.  Finally, rabies virus is found in the saliva of an infected animal, and is usually spread by bite wounds from infected bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, or other infected animals.  Although a “pasture ornament” may not require all the same vaccines as an actively competing show horse, we still recommend that they are vaccinated against these diseases that are not spread by horse to horse contact—tetanus, West Nile virus, EEE/WEE, and potentially rabies.

What's in my vaccine?

What's in my vaccine?

What is in a “3-Way” vaccine?  A “4-Way?” “5-Way?” “6-Way?”

              We get a lot of questions about these confusing terms!  The “3-Way” vaccine has long been used to describe the combination vaccine containing Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE), and Tetanus.  For a “4-Way,” add influenza to those three vaccines just listed.  A five way provides protection against EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Influenza and Equine Herpesvirus (“rhinopneumonitis”), and a “6-way” contains all 5 components of a 5-Way, plus West Nile.  Although there is a combination vaccine that includes EEE, WEE, tetanus, and West Nile, the combination of EEE,WEE, tetanus, and influenza was on the market for years prior to the introduction of the combination with West Nile, so the “4-Way” term is usually reserved for the vaccine containing influenza and not West Nile.  Clear as mud?

Contact the clinic and we can help you determine what vaccinations are appropriate for your horse.  Stay tuned in the coming days for more information on these diseases and why we vaccinate against them, as well as more answers to your frequently asked vaccination questions.

Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction

Breeding Your Mare: A behind-the-scenes look at the science of mare reproduction

Whether this is your first adventure into the world of mares and foals, or you have been down this road before, you may be wondering what happens between the time you say your farewells at the clinic and the time you get that wonderful news. Well, wonder no more! In this article I will explain all of the techniques, technologies, and tricks we have at our disposal to make the process as reliable and smooth as possible.

Focus on Lameness Evaluation

Focus on Lameness Evaluation

Please join us for the evening as we give an overview of what to expect during a typical lameness examination, demonstrate instrumenting a horse and collecting data with the wireless inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation technology (Equinosis Lameness Locator), discuss the advantages of objective lameness evaluation, and summarize further imaging techniques that are available.

Nasty Little Parasites - An Update on Deworming

Nasty Little Parasites - An Update on Deworming

 

The staff of Burwash Equine Services, Ltd. enjoyed an evening of education last night courtesy of Vetoquinol and Dr. Ela Misuno.  Dr. Misuno is a board certified internist with an interest in parasitology and the problem of emerging resistance in this field.  She gave a fantastic presentation with all of the latest updates and recommendations for deworming our equine friends.  I have summarized her recommendations below.

New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

New Technology in Lameness Diagnosis

Wireless inertial sensor-based technology is at the forefront of lameness evaluation research today, and we are excited to now be incorporating this cutting edge diagnostic tool into our lameness examinations! The Equinosis Lameness Locator is the result of over twenty years of gait analysis research, and it allows objective quantification of lameness during a routine clinical exam.