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

Holiday Hours

We will be closed on December 25th & December 28th, 2015 and January 1st, 2016. We will be in the office until noon on December 24th and December 31st. 

As always, our 24 hour emergency service for our clients will be uninterrupted and you can reach our on call veterinarian at 403-242-1913. 

Wishing you all the very best of the holiday season!

2015 Fall Seminar

 

2015 Fall Seminar

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

7:00 PM

Westlife Church, Springbank

Doors open at 6:30 PM

Directions: South from #1 Hwy @ Calaway Park for 1/2 km, turn east on Twp Rd 245, watch for signs.

 

Modern Parasite Control

What’s best for your horse?

Dr. Ela Misuno DVM, MVSc

 

Vaccine Reactions

What’s normal? What’s not?

Dr. Doug Myers DVM

 

 DISCUSSION PERIOD

EIA (Coggins) Update – Dr. Alyssa Butters

Lameness Locator – Dr. Crystal Lee

Wellness Plans – Dr. Kirby Penttila

 

Admission is a donation for the Food Bank

Cash Donations Welcome – Tax Receipts Available

Phone: 403-242-1913  office@burwashequine.ca   

Misty - Enucleation surgery

Misty - Enucleation surgery

An enucleation is the surgical removal of a horse's eye. There are many indications for which this surgery would be performed, including trauma, neoplasia (cancer), extensive infection, or any condition causing pain in a blind eye. In Misty's case, the procedure was recommended due to an acute worsening of uveitis and ulceration along with equine recurrent uveitis flare-ups that had been occurring over the last four years.

Junior - Sarcoid removal

Junior - Sarcoid removal

Sarcoids are the most common tumour that occurs in horses. They are locally invasive, and difficult to deal with because recurrence is common even with aggressive therapy. One study showed that 14% of sarcoids occur exclusively in the periocular region (near the eye), and these tumours can be particularly tricky to deal with as it is difficult to get good margins to remove all tumour cells during surgical excision.

Flor - Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)

Flor - Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an endocrine disease that is thought to affect between 15-30% of aged horses. The most obvious clinical sign in more advanced cases is hypertrichosis (hair growth, abnormally long curly hair, and/or a failure to shed out normally in the summer). Other clinical signs can include increased drinking and urination, chronic infections, muscle wasting, weight loss, regional fat deposits, and an increased propensity to develop laminitis (founder). Because this disease occurs in older horses, it is often missed as the owner assumes that their horse isn't looking and feeling as well merely because they are getting older. The following is a report of one case in a horse used for competitive polo, written by her owner Connie: