Technology Today

Technology is both a blessing and a curse. Here at Merritt & Associates, we are fortunate to have a wealth of technology at our fingertips. We utilize computers to keep track of appointments, billing and medical records. We enjoy the ability to have nearly instantaneous results with radiographs thanks to digital radiography, and can image soft tissue structures like tendons, ligaments, or a mare's reproductive organs in multiple planes utilizing ultrasound. Other such equipment includes endoscopes, some with video capability to capture real time images of the function of a horse's upper airway, and machines that deliver shockwaves to increase the rate of healing of certain injuries.

These technological advances make our ability to diagnose and treat horses superior to what it would be without this equipment, but it doesn't come without a caveat. Frustration abounds when a machine doesn't work properly or when electricity is not available. Usually we are able to solve the problem in a reasonable amount of time and move on with the day, but there are times when it isn't that simple.

Unfortunately, power outages are not an uncommon occurrence in the area, mostly occurring, as you would expect during stormy weather. While we have a generator, it can only provide a limited amount of power, not enough to run everything that we normally use. It is times like these that we are reminded how dependent our work is on technology. However, on a day to day basis, technology increases our communication abilities, diagnostic opportunities and overall quality of care available for our equine patients. This makes the occasional frustrations well worth it.

Does your horse have a current coggins?

When was your horse’s coggins last drawn? A current coggins means that the coggins has been pulled within the last year. And sometimes it is required that a coggins be pulled every 6 months. A current coggins is needed for the veterinarians to write a health certificate for you. When having a pre-purchase done on a horse it is important to try and have a name for the horse picked out so that name can go on the coggins. A health certificate is required to be written exactly the same as the coggins is as far as the owner information, and horse information.

A coggins takes 7-10 business days to be processed and returned, this is the most cost effective way to purchase a coggins. A rush coggins is also available with in 2 - 3 days, but it is more expensive. Please keep this in mind for the next time your horse needs to be hauled out of state. Information MAEH needs from you when you call for a health certificate is the destination, horse or horses to be on trailer (up to 10 horses can be on one health certificate), reason for traveling (show, training, sale…), and the coggins if it has been done by another clinic.

Remember a current coggins is required for the veterinarian to sign a health certificate. A health certificate is valid for 30 days. Illinois equine traveling out – of – state on an IL health certificate are not required to obtain a certificate to return home, unless they are out of the state longer than 30 days. A health certificate must be issued by the state where horse has been residing if it is there longer than 30 days.*

*Information obtained on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website.

Own my own horse.....

Most women who become equine veterinarians started out as young horse-obsessed girls. I, of course, am no exception. The irony of being an equine veterinarian is you have very little time to actually enjoy horses in the riding aspect.

While there is no shortage of horses that need to be worked, long days and general exhaustion tend to prohibit any regularly scheduled riding.

One of the most common questions I field is whether I have my own horse. I would love to have my own horse. However, it would be impossible to actually find the time to ride, let alone show a horse at this point in my career.

I also say other veterinarians in our practice are the best horse “birth control”. Equine veterinarians that are lucky/unlucky to have horses of their own are famous for having accident prone animals. For some reason, horses that have veterinarian owners tend to come down with the most bizarre afflictions and soundness issues. None of with are easily diagnosed nor easily managed. I swear they read textbooks on interesting and rare conditions to “try”.

I know, eventually, I will again own my own horse. When that time comes you know I will have lost my mind!