Equine Information
Spring has arrived and we know you’re eager to spend more time with your four-legged best friend. It’s important to make sure your horse is healthy and feeling their best all year. Annual vaccinations are key to ensuring your horse’s health and well-being against potentially fatal equine diseases. But what vaccines does your horse absolutely need?
Every horse is unique, and every environment is unique. To determine what vaccinations your horse needs, talk with your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian can advise you on the potential disease risks in your area, the best time for core disease vaccination and what risk-based vaccines are right for your horse.
Horses should receive regular physical exams and routine vaccines yearly. Our hospital can help customize a yearly preventative care plan to fit the needs of your horse and your budget. In addition, our veterinarians can address any healthcare questions or concerns during the visit, helping you provide the best care that your horse deserves!
Lameness Diagnostics and Treatment
Lameness is one of the most common reasons for poor performance or discomfort in the horse. Appropriate diagnosis can help direct treatment and get your horse back to performing at their best. Determining the cause of the lameness begins with a skilled examination that may involve diagnostic nerve blocks, radiographs, and/or ultrasound. There are a number of treatment options available at our hospital, including intra-articular injections, stem-cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma, IRAP, physiotherapy, and surgery.
Diagnostic Imaging
Digital ultrasonography and radiography are available in our clinic or at your barn. These state-of-the-art imaging techniques offer high-quality digital images that can be key to early diagnosis of an injury. Digital images are also utilized during prepurchase exams to detect any potential problems. Additionally, these images are stored digitally for future reference and can be saved on a CD for your own use.
Prepurchase Evaluation
Purchasing a horse, no matter the price, is a tremendous investment. A comprehensive pre-purchase examination can determine the strengths and weaknesses of a new horse. Our prepurchase examination begins with several questions regarding the previous history and intended career of the horse, followed by a comprehensive physical examination to evaluate respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. Based on our examination, we may recommend additional diagnostics such as radiographs, endoscopy, or ultrasound. Upon completion of the evaluation, you will be provided with a written report of our findings.
Surgery
PAC offers a wide variety of surgical procedures including:
- Soft-tissue
- Cryptorchid castration
- Arthroscopy
- Ophthalmic
Our board-certified surgeon is available for advanced elective procedures. While many minor procedures can be performed in the standing patient, our hospital is also equipped for surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Patients are carefully monitored to ensure their safety.
Internal Medicine & Critical Care
The overall health and performance of your horse depends on proper function of multiple organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, among other). Our internal medicine service addresses any abnormalities that may affect the well-being of your horse. Just a few of the common problem that we frequently treat include heaves, weight-loss, cushings, metabolic syndrome, colitis, and laminitis. We offer comprehensive bloodwork, including in-house CBC and serum chemistry. Digital ultrasound and endoscopy provides images of many internal organs. We also provide hospitalized intensive care treatment for critically ill patients and foals.
Ophthalmology
Eye problems can cause a substantial amount of pain in your horse and can worsen very quickly. Prompt evaluation is critical to help determine the underlying problem, beginning with a thorough ophthalmic examination. If deemed appropriate, the intraocular pressures may be measured (via tonopen) to evaluate for glaucoma. Ocular ultrasound may be recommended to view structures in back of or behind the eye. Based on findings, our veterinarians will customize a treatment plan for your horse.
Emergency Medicine
Purvis Animal Clinic is available for 24hr emergency service, 365 days a year. One of our doctors can be reached at any time, day or night, to address your emergency concerns. Our portable diagnostic equipment gives us the flexibility to treat your horse at the barn and includes a stall side blood work unit. We also provide hospitalization if more intensive treatment is necessary. And if you contact us in the event that your regular veterinarian is out of town, we will send updates to your veterinarian and answer any questions they may have.
Chiropractic
The basis of chiropractic therapy is that proper function of the muculoskeletal system allows the rest of the body, particularly the nervous system to function properly as well, allowing the body to heal itself, fight disease, and maintain optimal health. Chiropractic should be considered for any horse that suffers from neck or back pain, joint stiffness, poor performance, or an altered gait that is not associated with overt lameness.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used successfully to treat many acute and chronic conditions. Clinical trials indicate acupuncture may also be effective in performance enhancement and prevention of disease, as it can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, and cause the release of hormones such as endorphins and cortisol, all of which have a positive healing effect on the body.
Dentistry
Every horse should have a dental exam at least once yearly. These exams are critical to ensuring any dental problems are identified early, and treated before they become a larger problem. Our veterinarians will perform a thorough dental exam, taking into account the overall health of your horse, and make recommendations regarding routine dental care and/or advanced dental treatment. Routine dental “floats” involve the use of a powerfloat to properly balance your horses mouth, not merely remove points.
Reproduction
Developing a breeding plan for your mare or management strategy for your stallion can become a substantial investment. Our veterinarians can help you establish a quality breeding program. Mare breeding services include both live-cover and artifical insemination, with fresh, cooled, or frozen semen, and deep horn insemination. We offer additional reproductive services:
- Mare palpation/ultrasound
- Breeding soundness exams
- Early pregnancy detection
- Late-term pregnancy evaluations
