Walkerton-Hanover Veterinary Clinic

04/11/2025

A good read as we get closer to pasture season for our horses!

03/16/2025

As spring approaches, and unfortunately so does "mud season", sooner or later nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean? This diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

02/20/2025

✨Attention Clients✨

The office will be closing today at 2:30pm for a Staff meeting. If during this time you have an emergency, please call 519-881-2090 and a Vet will be dispatched. Our regular office hours will resume tomorrow at 8am. Sorry for the inconvenience.

02/18/2025

02/18/2025

Good wintery morning to everyone!❄️❄️❄️

The clinic will be delayed in opening this morning until 10am. We hope this will give a chance for plows to get out and roads to open up.

We will keep you updated as we get closer to that time.

Stay safe!!🩵

02/13/2025

Check out this fantastic video of what we look for and address on our routine sedated oral exams on your horses! Periodontal disease, diastema and food packing are such a common problem that we can address on farm or in clinic to help your horse be more comfortable and happy! This disease can only be identified and addressed with a sedated oral exam utilizing a speculum and mirror/oroscope.

Video credit to veterinary equine dental specialist Dr Oliver Liyou!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1aojowGb0OiGBPYlVtVe2DMT1zSw-amGw09nvkP-LPoU24DAYX0a3skrY_aem_YO-hPzPQKAQjnWuQRb_c7w&si=FcufL0g5GSgoDD9y&v=AHpj9Yn5wE4

Periodontal disease is the most common disease in ALL mammals - including horses! If your equine dental practitioner has not been checking for and showing yo...

02/09/2025

02/08/2025

Great photographs of a red bag delivery for mare owners. This is why all foaling kits should include scissors as this membrane is VERY tough and can often not be broken by hand!

Here is some very timely and important information courtesy of the horse doctors at Pine Ridge Equine Hospital:

As we are in the midst of foaling season, let’s talk about what is normal and abnormal. The placenta is made up of two major parts: the red bag (chorioallantois) and the white bag (amnion). The red bag attaches to the uterine wall, which allows the exchange of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. In a normal delivery the amnion is visible and characterized by a white appearance. A red bag delivery is characterized by a red velvety appearance.

A red bag delivery is considered an EMERGENCY as it signifies premature separation of the placenta leading to a lack of oxygen to the fetus so **you need to intervene immediately.** The red placental membrane should be opened carefully to release fluid, the foal should be delivered/pulled with your assistance and then stimulated to breathe. Foals may develop problems associated with lack of oxygen even though they appear normal at birth.

If your mare is having or had a red bag delivery, you need to call your horse doctor ASAP!

01/14/2025

This time of year it is common to see impaction colics due to reduced water intake in our horses. Take time to ensure horses have water readily available and not frozen over or blocked by snow banks. Also, be sure any tank heaters are properly grounded and being used safely especially in plastic tanks! Stay warm, hydrated and healthy out there this winter!

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

Colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is — the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:

• Alert your veterinarian immediately

• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings

• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs

• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself — but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe

• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of colic signs. Horses are individuals and may display signs of pain in a variety of ways. Always consult your horse doctor for more information.

01/04/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/06/2024

Our office currently has no power and our phones are down. If you have an emergency please call 519-292-9157 or 519-540-8192. Hopefully the power is up and running soon.

10/17/2024

This coming Saturday (October 19th) our office is closed. If you are in need of any products please make sure to pick them up before Friday at 5pm. If you have an emergency, please call 519-881-2090 and your call with be directed to the on call vet. Regular hours will resume Monday morning at 8am.

10/16/2024

🌟 Attention equine clients using Prascend! 🌟

We have exciting news for you!

✨ Introducing the Prascend Rebate Program✨

If your horse has been on Prascend for at least a year, you are eligible on this special offer. Consistent daily treatment can significantly improve your horse’s health and quality of life.

Claim your rebate today at: www.Prascend.ca/rebate

Take advantage of this opportunity for your equine partner! 🐴

12/12/2023

Last week we helped a lovely horse by removing his eye that had been giving him discomfort from equine recurrent uveitis. Treatment was no longer managing his flare ups adequately. On dissection of his eye after removal it was noted that he had a mature cataract (opaque lens- round white structure in the photo below) causing complete blindness in that eye.
In adult horses, most cataracts occur as a result of the inflammation of the anterior uvea associated with equine recurrent uveitis.
Thankfully his R eye continues to be happy, healthy and visual!
We wish him a speedy recovery!