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!

My Life as an Intern

During the last year and a half of veterinary school, I was on
clinical rotations through different services in the hospital at two week
intervals. That was just enough time to settle in and start my own routine
before having to move on and start a new service.

On the large animal rotations I would see roughly one or two
horses per day. We take a case in, work it up (which involved getting a
detailed history, physical exam, and perform diagnostic tests), make a
diagnosis, treat the animal as needed, and then I would finish the mountain
of paperwork that is required by the University's teaching hospital.

The unfortunate side of being just a student (and those darn
licensing standards for doctors) is not being able to perform the more
involved diagnostic or treatment procedures (i.e. practicing without a
license). Another major downside is rotating off the service so quickly
that often times I was unable to see the end result of a case or interact
with the owners beyond initial consults.

As a licensed veterinarian working at Merritt & Associates, we often see
up to 20 horses a day. Since this is a
performance horse practice, we perform a lameness exam, conduct any
necessary diagnostic tests (including radiographs, ultrasound, joint and
nerve blocks, etc), determine the working diagnosis, treat accordingly, and
then complete the necessary paperwork.

As a newly licensed veterinarian and intern, I work alongside one doctor each day assisting him/her with appointments. I perform many of the diagnostic and treatment procedures on each horse.
One of the many highlights is being
able to easily follow up on each case and work closely with our clients. I
recheck appointments and can see the results of our work. It is very rewarding to work a case from start to finish
(even if that means getting kicked,
stepped on, bitten, snotted on, or attacked by a vicious barn cat).

Transitions

My recent transition from veterinary school to equine private practice is one of ups and downs, as just about any major change will have, but overall, I see my career choice as the right one for me. One of my favorite things about Merritt & Associates is the wide variety of horses that we see and treat. The cornucopia of equine talent present in the area is impressive and makes each day fun. From the reiners, to the jumpers, hunters, dressage horses and Saddlebreds, watching a talented horse and working to keep them at their best is a rewarding occupation.
I must admit that one of my favorites is watching the Hackney ponies under harness. The amount of energy and motion from such a small package is impressive. It doesn’t hurt that they are some of the smaller patients that we work on, and holding up their limbs for flexion tests is much less work than a 1400 lb Warmblood who likes to see how much weight you really can hold up. However, one still must be cognizant of dangers, as the ponies can be very light with their limbs, and no one wants to get kicked. One of my co-workers refers to them as “ninjas”, a correlation I find amusing but quite accurate.
Another part of my job that I particularly enjoy is seeing horses improve under our care. Recently we saw a horse for a re-evaluation after initial treatment, whose improvement was outstanding. Had I just seen a short clip of his gait before and after his treatment, I would have thought he was a different horse. The suspension and energy in his gait compared to the very flat, lackluster movement initially present, made my day. It’s extraordinarily rewarding to see such a noticeable difference in a patient due to treatment. I look forward to continued learning and more rewarding moments throughout my journey here.

All is Well That Ends Well

You have all heard that every story deserves a happy ending. Previously I had written of my adventurous mare that managed to be on the losing end of a horse “fist-fit”. Well I thought it would only be appropriate that I conclude her story with my next entry.

The surgery and recovery was not without drama. (It is of course my horse!). I learned that it is possible for a 900# horse to receive 4cc Xylazine, a 2000# dose of Ketamine/Valium, 250mL triple drip bolus, and still be awake enough to have to be gassed down with Iso before being able to be hoisted onto the surgery table. The surgery itself was relatively uneventful and the fractured splint bone fragments were successfully removed without complication. Recovery was a nail-biting experience, and her mad bolt from the recovery room into her stall netted her an additional banged up hip and a few cuts and scrapes on her legs. But the end result was she was alive, the left hind leg was still stitched up, and she only had a few bruises to her pride.

The stress of the event resulted in her breaking with diarrhea the morning after surgery. After 2 days of her receiving any and every anti-diarrheal medication available that could be shoved down her throat, her feces were normal, her attitude mildly resentful, and her body deemed ready for discharge from the hospital.

It has now been 6 weeks since surgery. She has healed up quite nicely after countless days of handwalking, bandage changes, and a few choice words here and there. She is enjoying her last week in small paddock turnout before I “brave the treacherous waters” and begin her back in a light work program.

Those who know me know that I say my horses are like a free continuous education workshop! I am happy to say the last “session” had the quintessential happy ending. So, until the next time…….class is dismissed.

Another countries perspective on horses

I recently traveled to the central mountainous region of Mexico for a family trip. In addition to the fantastic food, bucolic vistas and inspiring architecture, I was impressed with the hardiness of the equine population.

Horses and donkeys that live in the Guanajuato region of Mexico appear to be a scrappy bunch. Unlike horses here that are contained in nicely fenced pastures or paddocks, most (but not all) of the equines outside San Miguel de Allende are tethered to stakes and “leashes” to keep them on property. As we were exploring the countryside on ATVs, I was amazed at the complete lack of interest these animals had in the loud, fast, dust cloud-producing, vehicles. I couldn’t help wondering how horses back in Illinois would react to a similar stimulus.

While most of the animals appeared reasonably well cared for, it was obvious that these horses and donkeys have to have a stronger constitution that most to survive. It is easy to forget that most people in the world do not see horses, donkeys and mules as pleasure animals or pets, but rather a means to survive and work the land.

Vaccinations-Risk or Reward?

Equine vaccinations and other preventive medicine present a classic risk-reward scenario. Post vaccination reactions vary from nothing to soreness and swelling at the vaccination site accompanied by a fever and in a few cases, a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction. Obviously the post vaccination reactions are undesirable and often dangerous. So why vaccinate? First the incidence of severe reactions is rare; 90+% of vaccinates show little if any after effects. A few horses have some transient swelling and a light fever; this is the most common adverse reaction. Severe anaphylactic allergic reactions are very rare. Second the diseases that one vaccinates for are much worse than any adverse reaction to a vaccine. Anyone who has witnessed a non-vaccinate with tetanus, WNV, EEE, WEE, rabies, or severe influenza or rhinopneumonitis has no doubt as to the benefits of vaccinating against these diseases. The vaccines have become a victim of their own success. They have reduced the incidence of some of these dread diseases to the point where many younger people have never seen them and often they associate vaccinations only with the rare side effects of the vaccine rather than the prevention of the targeted diseases. It’s a classic risk-reward; vaccinate and risk a small chance of adverse reaction (a minor risk); don’t vaccinate and risk contracting a deadly disease (a huge risk). Obviously the risk of vaccination is very small while the risk of not vaccinating can be extreme. The reward for vaccinating is immunity from the disease (a powerful reward). The reward for not vaccinating is freedom from rare side effects (a small reward).