|
Newsletter Spring 2006 SEVS News Dr.Jeske Noordergraaf Welcome to the spring newsletter from Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services. I hope you and your horses have had a good winter. Spring will be here soon and along with that the trail riding and showing season. We are planning our Coggins clinic, our new barn is up and ready to be used, and we are gearing up for our busy season. Please plan ahead when you are scheduling your spring appointment. Joining us this spring to help us with our busy season is Dr Stephen Graham. He started with us on February 3rd and will be with us until the end of May when he goes to Chicago to start his internship. Dr. Emily Decker has been with us almost a year now and is fitting in well. Dr. Dave Schwinghamer left us in November to pursue his interest in surgery at a practice in Texas. We plan to hire a full time replacement veterinarian for him this summer. With 3 veterinarians available this spring, along with our terrific support staff, Sue, Julie and Tina, we will be able to meet your horses needs. As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at Christmas time. I have excellent doctors and am able to work during my treatments. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes. We look forward to seeing you and your horses this spring either at your barn or mine. Thank you for your continued support and referrals. Meet Steve Graham, DVM
Our New Barn
As some of you may know from visiting our office or reading recent news articles, we have nearly completed work on our new barn facility! We decided to go ahead with this project after receiving feedback from many of you about wanting to be able to bring your horses to us. Your wish has been granted! We are now able to perform procedures such as castrations, pregnancy palpations, x-rays and major dental work here for your convenience, in addition to routine care such as vaccinations and Coggins testing. Our barn is equipped with stocks for procedures and two box stalls for the recovery of those horses that require sedation. Currently we are equipped for day work only – not for procedures requiring overnight stays. Our office call charge is $15. Equine Herpes Virus - EHV-1 There have been several cases of the neurologic form of the equine herpes virus diagnosed in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Kentucky, Michigan and Maryland. EHV-1 is one of the more important, contagious, infectious pathogens in horses and can cause abortion in pregnant mares, early neonatal death in foals, respiratory disease and occasionally neurologic disease. Outbreaks of the neurologic disease due to EHV-1 infection are often reported in association with fever, nasal discharge and cough in a group of horses. The infection is acquired by aerosolized infective droplets which occur over limited distance or by infected hands, water or feed. There is unfortunately no vaccine currently available that specifically protects against the neurologic form but the Pfizer Rhinomune vaccine seems to help prevent the disease. The virus is debilitating as it attacks the spinal cord and brain stem. Prevention by isolating new and sick horses is the best way to avoid the disease spreading. www.SunriseEquine.com We’ve entered the electronic age! Look for us on the web for the latest vet news and information. There’s a form to fill out to update your records & many horse care articles. See you at our home on the web!! Intranasal Flu and Rhino It may be difficult to tell from the weather outside right now, but spring will soon be upon us. It is also the time of year that most of us have our horses vaccinated. With so many different vaccine choices available, I’d like to tell you about some relatively new, very effective vaccines that we offer. They are Fort Dodge’s Pinnacle IN (intranasal) for protection against Strangles, and Intervet’s Flu Avert IN for protection against equine influenza (flu). These vaccines are administered by squirting the vaccine in mist form into the nostril of the horse as opposed to injecting it into the muscle. The reason they are more effective is that intranasal vaccines produce a local immune response at the site in the greatest need of protection ~ the upper airway where these diseases attack your horse. Flu is transmitted by inhalation and infects the cells lining the upper and lower airways. Signs are a cough that can persist for 2 to 3 weeks, nasal discharge that may look like pus due to bacterial infection, an elevated temperature, lethargy, depression, stiffness, swelling in lower limbs and lack of appetite. The disease is passed in respiratory secretions and attacks the horse in the upper airways. Intervet’s Flu Avert I.N. (intranasal) produces an immune response in the upper airways. This is important because of the way this disease is transmitted and contracted. Strangles is transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of mucopurulent discharge from infected horses or contaminated equipment. The disease then spreads to the lymph nodes in the back of the horse’s mouth and pharynx. Signs are enlarged lymph nodes at the corner of the jaw, depression, anorexia, fever, nasal discharge, cough and difficulty breathing. Lymph nodes can rupture and drain. Fort Dodge Animal Health’s Pinnacle I.N. (intranasal) does the best job of protecting your horse from contracting this disease. Intranasal vaccines offer longer lasting immunity than those injected into the muscle. In high risk environments, the intranasal vaccine can offer 6 months of immunity from the flu as opposed to only 3-4 months with the traditional intramuscular vaccine. Each horse has different vaccination needs, so we offer these two intranasal vaccines in addition to the traditional intramuscular vaccine to help us choose what we believe is best for your horses. Expecting a Foal this year? Unlike other animal babies, at birth foals have virtually no immunity, or internal protection from disease. They are completely dependent on antibodies from the mare’s first milk, colostrum to protect them from infection. Mares require pre-foaling shots 4-6 weeks before their due date to ensure that appropriate levels of antibodies against common diseases are present in the colostrum. After 12 hours, the foal loses the ability to absorb colostrum. Therefore, we recommend examining the mare and foal within 12 hours of birth and testing the foal’s blood with an IgG test to determine whether the foal received sufficient colostrum. Normal foals should stand within 1 hour and nurse within 2 hours. The mare should pass her placenta by 3 hours after birth; if not, it is a medical emergency. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any concerns. EIA Clinic
When: Saturday April 22,2006 Where: Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services 39750 Poor Farm Road No. Branch Time: 1:00 pm. - 3:00 pm. Have your horse Coggins tested at a reduced rate. Vaccinations also available at a reduced rate. Directions: From North Branch - 7 miles East on Highway 95 to Poor Farm Road.(1/2 mile east of County Road 9) Turn left (north) on Poor Farm Road. Sunrise Equine is the 3rd place on the left and is the staging area for the incoming trailers. Please bring your last EIA form along to assist us with the paperwork! Thanks! Keep your fingers crossed for good weather!!!
Special Thanks to Fort Dodge Animal Health for sponsoring our newsletter!
|
Site developed and programmed by Veterinary Management Services of Minnesota. Copyright 2006