Along with spring comes vaccinations and preventative care appointments for our equine friends. We all understand the importance of preventative medicine, but it’s easy to miss things, so we’ve prepared a list of what you should be doing with your horse to make sure they’re healthy and prepared for summer riding season. Vaccinations We will start with the easiest – vaccinations. Vaccine protocol for the spring varies depending on your geography and your individual horse’s exposure potential and travel schedule. Always consult with your veterinarian if you are going to travel somewhere new with ..read more

MVS is excited to announce our new associate, Dr. Jenna Moline, is on the job! She’s heading up Team Dixie and we’re delighted to have her as part of the team. Learn more about Dr. Moline below, and be sure to say hi if you see her. I am a Wyoming native that grew up in Sundance on the outskirts of the Black Hills.  Growing up on a cattle ranch, horses were both an instrument for getting work done, but also provided an outlet that took me beyond the confines of the ranch through 4-H, FFA, and rodeo.  Being unable to decide between two diverse pasions, after high school I i ..read more

Most horse owners are comfortable treating minor** scrapes and wounds on our ever-accident prone horses. But the myriad of available topical products can be overwhelming – what is best to use and when? **As always, if you have ANY concern over the depth of the wound, if it’s a grossly contaminated wound, a wound near a joint, a puncture, or there’s a potential need for sutures, ALWAYS check with your veterinarian BEFORE applying any topical product.** What is ‘Minor’? First, let’s review what can be considered a minor scrape or wound. Most superficial wounds over areas of dense muscle (such as ..read more

When feeding your senior horse, there are several important factors to keep in mind that can change their dietary requirements. Dental Condition Number one is the status of your horse’s teeth. You may have heard the term “expired” teeth when your veterinarian is examining your horse’s mouth. This term refers to the fact that horses’ teeth become worn down over time with all the grinding of their feed and can even wear all the way down to the gum line. These expired teeth can no longer effectively grind forage into the small pieces necessary for a horse to gain nutritional value. The lack of e ..read more

What a year here in Colorado!  From fetlock deep mud in the spring to humidity, summer storms and a fly plague of biblical proportion…. No wonder our horses are struggling to keep their skin intact and healthy this year! When mammalian skin spends a prolonged period subjected to constant moisture, its natural, inherent defense mechanisms become weakened, making them susceptible to any number of dermatological conditions.  For horses this year, the most common skin issue we encountered was pastern dermatitis, commonly known as “scratches”.  This condition presents as an accumulat ..read more

Over the past several months our practice has aided in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of several patients with neurologic disorders.  Horses with neurologic deficits can be dangerous to themselves, other horses, humans and surrounding property.  They can be extremely reactive and unpredictable so the identification of neurologic disease in horses is imperative on the part of the owner, barn manager, rider and trainers in order to secure the patient in a safe place and to avoid injury to horse and human alike.  Ataxia is demonstrated by poor voluntary muscle control.&nb ..read more

Most horse owners have heard about equine Cushings disease and are familiar with some of the common clinical signs: a long curly haircoat, delayed shedding, topline loss, pot-bellied appearance, and sometimes laminitis. Additional signs include recurrent infections, delayed healing, increased water intake and urination, and lethargy. Especially as our equine companions live longer than ever before, a diagnosis of Cushings disease is very common. But what causes these clinical signs and what can be done for horses with this condition? What is Equine Cushings/PPID? Equine Cushings is the most c ..read more

Thirty years ago, laminitis was usually a career-ending diagnosis, if not a life-ending one.  Aside from mechanical support and pain management, little was known about the contributing factors associated with laminitis and the multitude of clinical factors that affect the severity, outcome, and likelihood of recurrence.  Today, we know a great deal more about metabolic laminitis and specifically the role that insulin plays in mediating this disease process.  Current data shows that horses with an elevated baseline insulin value are at a higher risk of developing hyperinsulinemic ..read more

The days are getting longer, the snow on the ground is FINALLY melting off, and spring is in the air… which means trail riding season is just around the corner! Trail riding is an excellent activity to share with your horse. Whether you are taking a backcountry trip for several days or hauling down to the local open space for an afternoon, proper preparation helps ensure a safe and enjoyable experience! Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for trail season: Conditioning Before embarking on a trail ride, it is important to make sure that your horse is in adequate physical condit ..read more