Spring vet day at our place came and went, but it is still on my mind.
Our vet sold the company to a larger out of State company, and is easing his way into well deserved retirement. He is currently part time, and counting the days. We thought it would be best to "rip the bandaid off" and try the fresh out of school vet that helped us with Hope. While our vet is still around to answer questions. She is very nice. However, you can't replace experience.
With an aging herd, this leaves me unsettled. Especially where Koda is concerned. He has been stalled for 6 months. I know his current injury can take up to a year IF it even heals. I need someone and something to help my boy. I do not want Koda to spend the rest of his life stuck in a stall!
I asked the new vet to review his lameness history, and come up with some type of plan or suggestions. I haven't heard back. I know they are busy with everything that Spring adds. In an effort to be helpful, I gathered some history and dates. Thank goodness for blogging! Koda's off/on lameness issues have been going on for a good decade. Seeing it listed was eye opening.
The new vet didn't do anything wrong, but we may end up trying some of their more seasoned vets again. A few of them have treated our horses upon occasion. Or, we may switch clinics. There is another good one a bit further away from us that offers more services, like Chiro. In the meantime, we will wait to see what the new vet comes up with for Koda.
Taping weights is part of the equine wellness package we purchase for our horses each year. It saves us a few pennies. With the exception of Hope, I doubt all our horses lost weight over the Winter. This time they were taped by an intern vet that is about to graduate. It is just a guestimate anyways.
Our herd at home, from oldest to youngest:
Harmony: 1097 lbs (Fall 1117 lbs)
Koda: 1237 lbs (Fall 1257 lbs) Teeth floated. Ultrasound...yep, still lame.
Nemo: 1174 lbs (Fall 1187 lbs) Teeth floated.
Cierra: 1197 lbs (Fall 1117 lbs)
Hope: 950 lbs (Fall 932 lbs)
All of them received Spring vaccines & exam, per our wellness plan:
- Physical exam (spring & fall)
- Dental float with sedation, if needed
- Fecal egg count (spring & fall)
- Lyme vaccine (spring & fall)
- Rhino vaccine (spring & fall)
- Flu Intranasal vaccine (spring & fall)
- EWT/WN vaccine (spring)
- Strangles vaccine (spring)
- Rabies vaccine (fall)
- Coggins Test
Spring vet day was uneventful. Which is a good thing.
4 comments:
There is a vet I follow on fb, Deb Johnson. She is from Texas and has been an equine vet for 30 years. She is very interesting. Can't beat experience, and she talks about the way new vets are taught as compared to the older generation. Its an eye opener.
Sounds like your herd is doing well . My 26 yr old Velvet has lost quite a bit of weight; I hope she picks up once the pasture comes on full bore.
Hope also that you find a way to help Koda that isnt just keeping him on stall rest.
The whole vet situation is scary everywhere. We lost my main vet to a heart attack a few months ago and he was only 62. It was tragic and sad for our community. He had so much knowledge and is the one who saved Cowboy from Equine Headshaking Syndrome.
I will say though, some of the younger vets have impressed me. I dealt with one this weekend on an emergency call. He was very knowledgeable and common sense.
My vet who passed away recently had a lot of contacts throughout the entire US. He was willing to think outside of the box and reach out to various sources. That is actually how he learned to treat Cowboy. No one person has all the answers, but it sure helps if they’re willing to go above and beyond to search for them.
I had one right out of vet school one time who insisted Cowboy had an abscess. I knew it was more and demanded x-rays. She called me later that day and said the x-rays were good, it was an abscess. Three long months later I went to a different clinic for a second opinion, got all my x-rays from the first, took them to the new vet. Bang! A clear fracture of the p3 on DAY ONE X-rays. There is no way she could have looked at those. It was the best picture of the fracture you could have got.
So, long story short, I want a vet who entertains every possibility and doesn’t get too opinion biased.
We do have a few large animal vets left, but they are aging out. Little Richard is 35 this year! His teeth are in sorry shape but he is enjoying dandelions in the yard!
I'm glad you had a good vet visit.
Your animals are well cared for.
It is hard when a trusted Vet retires. I hope you find a good one:)
Post a Comment