BLLA Newsletters
Newsletter - Fall 2006
It's Equine Dentistry Season!! (5% off total dental bill now through February)
Dr. Emery, Dr. Van Lente, and Dr. Dolan are looking forward to working on your horse's teeth this fall or winter. This is the best time to do dentals for a few reasons. First, a healthy set of teeth helps all horses' abilities to effectively grind food for improved digestibility and nutritional absorption, which is especially needed during the winter months when forage nutrition is poor. Second, regular clients who pay at the time of service will receive 5% off each dental. Third, we love doing dentals during the winter months when we are not as pressed for time.
Pregnant Mares
It's a good idea to have your “mother to be” checked one more time. A fall check will help ensure everything is progressing “normally”. It will also confirm whether your mare needs to continue on her Rhino vaccination program and whether you need to manage her diet to meet her nutritional needs during the last three months of her pregnancy.
Potomac and West Nile
This summer and fall our practice treated a handful of Potomac cases and one West Nile case in a horse who was not vaccinated. There have been other West Nile cases found among different species in the area. Therefore, it is critical that you have your fall boosters.
Attention! Important Client Information:
- Unfortunately due to the increasing number of problem accounts, we will be instituting our policy of payment at the time of service. The exceptions to this policy are those clients who pay their account in full monthly. Any clients who need to make special arrangements for partial payments on their account will be required to put a credit card on file with us.
- In addition to the previous policy, we will be requiring that each client complete a client information form if we don't already have a complete form on file.
Reproductive Clinic
We are planning a basic equine reproductive clinic for one Saturday in January. The clinic will focus on the basic equine reproductive cycle and its manipulation for breeding purposes. The location is dependent on the number of people attending. If you are interested, please contact us by November 30th so we can present the best clinic possible.
Great Christmas or Birthday Gift Idea!
BLLA will be offering gift certificates again this year! They can be made for any amount you desire. What a great gift idea for the animal lover or special animal in your family. Just call us or stop in to purchase them.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Newsletter - Fall 2005
What is Potomac?
Potomac horse fever (PHF) is an acute gastrointestinal infection caused by the bacteria neorickettsi (ehrlichia) risticii. Studies have shown a seasonal nature of the disease, with a higher incidence in summer and fall. The exact means by which horses become infected is unknown although the infection has been strongly associated with rivers and other aquatic habitats. Clinical signs include lethargy, anorexia, fever, colic, diarrhea, and laminitis. Treatment includes oxytetracycline given in the vein, and depending on the horse's condition banamine and oral or intravenous fluids may be necessary. You can help protect your horse by making sure they are vaccinated and boostered during this time of year.
It's West Nile Time!
West Nile is a seasonal and sometimes fatal disease of birds, horses and humans. It is a virus carried and transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus travels in the bloodstream and if it crosses into the brain causes swelling. It is difficult to diagnose in horses. They may be asymptomatic (not showing signs) or neurologic (stumbling, ataxic). Fever tends not to be a presenting sign. There is no specific treatment and it is best to prevent by vaccinating. The AAEP recommends boostering during this time of year.
Dentals...Dentals...and more Dentals!
We greatly appreciate your dental business in the fall and winter. It's the best time to optimize your horses chewing/digesting ability because the quality and quantity of forage decreases during the cold months. Call soon and get on our list or set up a fall or winter appointment.
Expecting??? (Your horse - not you!)
It is wise to do pregnancy checks this fall on mares you are expecting to foal. No use sleeping in the barn if you don't need to. Early pregnancy checks are accurate for the day they were done. There are also important vaccination and nutritional recommendations for the pregnant mares.
Deworming
It is recommended to deworm with Equimax, Zimectrin Gold or Quest Plus for bots and tapeworms after the first hard frost. Deworming is an important routine maintenance procedure that should be taken seriously. Parasites are a leading cause to many problems. Tapeworms are a common problem easily missed in a deworming schedule. Yearly fecal examinations are recommended to tailor your deworming program.