FALL AND WINTER 2010:
ON FARM / ON SITE SERVICES AVAILABLE:
HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
vaccination, de-worming, wellness exams, nutritional counseling, field surgeries and sick horse diagnosis and treatment
DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES
physical exam, digital radiographs (x-ray), ultrasound, endoscopy, thermography, shockwave, artificial insemination, chiropractic, dental and farrier consults
EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR ESTABLISHED CLIENTS
HELP US HELP YOU:
Our office phone lines continue to be extremely busy. Dianne, Sarah and I are often unable to return non-emergency phone calls as quickly as we would like. For your convenience, we suggest that if you have questions or concerns that are non-emergency in nature, such as information questions, scheduling routine appointments, billing concerns, prescription refills, or health certificates, that you take advantage of our e-mail addresses.
drlauraharris@cox.net
lauraharris1@cox.net
E-mail will be checked once daily at a minimum and every effort will be made to answer them within 24 hours. If you do not receive an e-mail response in 24 hours please assume that we did not get your e-mail. If you e-mail us with an appointment request be sure to include an appropriate telephone number so that one of us can call you with scheduling choices. For prescription refills at an outside pharmacy please include the pharmacy phone number and a prescription number if available.
Occasionally everyone experiences interruption of internet service. If we have not responded to an e-mail in 24 hours please either resend or telephone ( 602 494 9669 ). We hope that e-mail communication will help expedite our service to you, but we also continue to welcome your telephone calls at any time on any subject.
CONSIDERATIONS IN A TIGHTENING ECONOMY:
Economic recession in the United States will affect the horse industry at all levels from international sales to individual trail riders. However, if we all make an effort to maximize our economic efficiency as we manage our individual equine programs we will lessen the impact of the tightened dollar.
Efficient, organized healthcare management will reduce or limit the incidence of infectious disease, colic, and non-accidental unsoundness. Consistent, proactive management will not only limit disease but will maximize success in both competitive and reproductive programs.
Vaccination will always be the first and most effective line of defense against infectious disease. Respiratory and systemic infections are not only expensive to diagnose and treat but, also, decrease efficiency of growth, reproduction, training and competition. Effective vaccination programs tailored to individual or farm needs can be customized to maximize efficiency and minimize unnecessary expense. See the FAQ page on this website for general recommendations or use the e-mail addresses mentioned above to discuss a customized vaccination program tailored to the specific needs of your horse(s).
De-worming (“worming”) at regular intervals, using a rotation of quality products through the calendar year, is proven to decrease the incidence of colic and improve efficiency of weight maintenance. Even horses without pasture exposure can acquire intestinal parasites from contaminated hay, irrigation water and exposure in occasional group environments such as heavily used trails to permanent stalls at show facilities. Prevention of establishment of parasitic infections decreases the incidence of associated syndromes ranging from unthriftiness, to uveitis, to colic. The economics of effective de-worming programs are simple: de-worming is relatively inexpensive, whereas treatment of secondary disease syndromes and/or increased feed costs can be devastating. There is a chart outlining a recommended de-wormer product rotation on the FAQ page of this website. Or, if you prefer, fecal samples can be sent to the laboratory on a quarterly basis. Please call the office (602 494 9669) to arrange sample drop-off Monday through Friday.
Dentistry, scheduled on a regular, routine basis, optimizes feed use, decreases incidence of colic and digestive disturbances, while maximizing training efficiency and success at competition.
While routine dental maintenance by a qualified individual is, on the surface, a relatively expensive procedure for the owner of multiple horses; it is foolish to overlook the true health benefits of proactive dental management. There is an article on the Client Education page of this website that discusses equine dentistry in more depth.
Good, basic environmental management is also extremely important for maximization of equine wellness and performance and for minimization of disease and sub-optimal performance.
Arizona horses in particular need adequate, appealing water sources. Water supplies that are too warm, stagnant, or that flow too slowly from an automatic waterer will not promote intake of adequate water in the dry Arizona climate. Without adequate water consumption, no other management measures will be efficient or successful.
Recommended equine diets are more varied now than at any other time in history. Multiple products in every feed category are readily available at all feed stores. It is important that no matter what dietary program is recommended or instituted that the program meets the needs of the horses being fed for the job they are being asked to do. Requirements for calories, protein, fat, and fiber vary with use and environment. The only universal truth is that consistency is the golden rule. Do not jump around from one program to another. Do not make sudden changes. Have a reason to make any change. And, if you current feeding program is working for your horses approach change with caution. Please consult your veterinarian or qualified nutritionist before making radical changes in feed management.
Use discretion when choosing supplements. General vitamin/mineral supplements may augment base nutrition but will never replace quality feed. When purchasing supplements cost per unit delivered is the only way to determine value of product. (If the concentration of ingredients in supplement A is half the concentration of ingredients in supplement B; A is only worth one half as much as B when purchased.) When purchasing need specific supplements, such as hoof and joint supplements, in addition to the guidelines for purchase of general supplements, you must honestly assess individual need. Feeding unneeded supplements does not benefit the horse and can significantly affect management costs. Use discretion when purchasing need specific supplements for general use. Be cautious when purchasing “herbal” formulations with non-specific or undisclosed ingredients. Herbs are chemicals just
like formulated products. Actually, for example, sugar is a “chemical” and a “natural ingredient” and sugarcane could be
labeled as an “herbal source” or “natural plant ingredient”. Or, more insidiously, diazepam is a “chemical”, based on the original pharmaceutical Valium which is an “herbal extract” from valerian root which is an unregulated “herbal source” or “natural plant ingredient”. Be sure what you are feeding even if the label says that it is all natural.
And, remember, additive supplementation may cause unintentional over-dosage of vitamins or minerals in addition to increasing management costs. As you purchase each product or supplement, remember the ultimate goal is to provide for the needs of your horses with out duplication of effect, over-dosage, or unnecessary expense.
Finally, as we all try to maximize effective management while controlling or minimizing cost; remember that with the ready availability of on-line purchasing it is your responsibility to investigate alternate sources for medications, supplements, and supplies. However, as you do so, remember to add the cost of shipping and the effect of potential delay of availability to the cost/benefit ratio when shopping for product on line.
BREEDING: Making plans to breed mares in a depressed economy requires careful analysis of the profit/loss scenario expected for each pregnancy. Evaluate the potential market value of the foal you expect to produce. If the market value of the foal produced does not offset expenses incurred it makes more economic sense to let the average mare stay open until the economy and the market improves. When evaluating expenses incurred to produce a marketable foal, you must factor in all costs after usual food, shelter and care for the mare beginning with pre-breeding veterinary care and stallion contracts through the sale date of the foal produced. Exceptions to this analysis might include the older or extremely valuable mare whose foals could potentially be kept until the market improves without incurring expenses that will exceed the foal’s eventual value.
Be brutally honest in your economic evaluation if the foal you plan to produce is intended for sale. If you are producing a foal for your own use, the economic equation is not as important as important as a determining factor in the decision to breed an individual mare.
Good organized general management, proactive routine health care, and prudent use of the discretionary dollar to reduce or eliminate unnecessary or redundant expenses will go a long way to get all horse owners through tight economic times.
THINGS TO DO AS 2010 COOLS OFF (FINALLY!):
A. Be sure that you are ready for the late summer and fall rains
- 1.have plenty of bedding, grindings, or shavings stored
- 2.be sure that your barn roofs and shades are ready for the winds and possible micro-bursts
- 3.clear gutters and drainage ditches and culverts
- 4.have plenty of feed and hay stored in case deliveries are delayed or interrupted
- 5.have trailers parked so that you can get them off property without getting stuck
B.If you plan to travel to another state with your horse(s), be
sure that you have a current Coggins test. Most states require a Coggins test once yearly but California and Nevada require retesting every six months. It takes about 3 days to get a new blood test run through the lab after a veterinarian draws the blood.
C.“Fall” vaccinations should be given approximately six
months after “spring” vaccinations were given or two weeks before major group competitions or travel. (See the FAQ page on this website.) If your horse has not had dental work done within the past twelve months we strongly suggest that you request that a dentist accompany Dr. Harris on the vaccination appointment. (See the Equine Dentistry article on the CE page of this website.)
D.Remember to deworm your horse(s) every eight to twelve
weeks using alternating products. (See the product chart near the bottom of the FAQ page on this website.)
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:
A. http://www,soft-ride.com an excellent protective and supportive boot to be worn as the hoof heals and repairs itself after injury or during laminitic episodes
C. http://www.heifer.org a non-profit organization dedicated to providing livestock to families in under-privileged regions worldwide
F. http://www.foalcare.com excellent organizational materials and information for equine healthcare programs
for both large and small barns and training facilities
CHANGES IN USEF MEDICATION REGULATIONS:
A.Ketoprofen should be given at the recommended dose / pound no closer than 6 hours prior to competition.
B.EQUIOXX is now acceptable for use at USEF competitions. (See the CE page on this website for a link to the complete USEF Drugs and Medication Program regulations.)
PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN THE ARIZONA SUMMER (OR WITH HORSES IN HEAVY WORK IN OUR DRY CLIMATE):
A.As soon as daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees or when your horse is working and sweating hard it is
advisable to add electrolyte powder (available from your feed store) to your horses’ feed daily. NEVER ADD ELECTROLYTES TO A HORSE’S WATER – IF THEY DON’T LIKE THE TASTE THEY MAY NOT DRINK AT ALL!
B.High velocity fans under the shades or in the stalls will help circulate air and improve air quality in closed barns and will reduce flies as the flies will not cross the moving air stream.
C.Horses will consume more water from a barrel or water trough that from the smaller or paddle style automatic waterers. Consider adding a trough or barrel to your horse’s stall or pen in the summer. If you use automatic waterers be sure that the water lines are not in the direct sun (even during the “cooler” months in Arizona) and that the water in the automatic waterer bowl is not hot.
D.Be certain that your horse sweats normally every time that it is worked. (See article on anhydrosis on the CE page of this website.)
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