High Water Veterinary Services

06/24/2025

Great information! Rambler is a non-sweater! Definitely important to watch for in this super hot and humid weather!

06/24/2025

If I save one horse. One family.

Every post, every time I tell your story. Will be worth the gut wrenching heart break of losing you in a fire.

This message made my day.

💚💙I try my best to honor you every day, my beloved and cherished, High Water Walter. 💚💙

06/23/2025

🥵With the first major heatwave of the year, I would like to encourage everyone to be very keen on Fire 🔥 Prevention. 🔥

Fans are the largest cause of barn fires. When using fans, please only use Closed Motor Fans. This keeps dirt and dust from getting into the motor. No box fans! Not every “outdoor” fan is the same. Please look at the Motor Box. If you can see parts of the motor, the fan is still a fire hazard.

I walk through a barns every day, and do my best to educate owners of possible hazards. I took pictures of several different fans in the same barn. Can you tell which ones are safe? And which are not?

Closed Motor Fans are often more expensive. But nothing like the cost of a fire. Ask me how I know. What I’ve lost…

Suffering a barn fire while in vet school has made me have a very unique knowledge of fires and prevention. I am married to a paid firefighter. We both have taken advanced education on barn fires and large animal rescue. I have witnessed multiple house and barn fires, treating any patient I can save.

🔥Please make sure you are paying attention and using the safest equipment possible! 🔥

🧯Also make sure you have enough Fire extinguishers! And you know how to use them! 🧯

If you can see the motor, IT ISN’T SAFE!

Your local fire department will do inspections for free. Please utilize their skills and knowledge!

06/20/2025

I am a very big proponent that Dental Care is a large and important branch of Veterinary Medicine. Your horses’ teeth can affect weight, heart health, soundness and overall well being. I saw two cases this week where clients indicated both horses hated to have their mouths managed, can be difficult to be ridden with a bit, and slow to eat.

This horse is 12 years old. Early for this disease. I personally feel it is grossly under diagnosed. I meet lots of horses who suffer for years due to never seeing a legitimate doctor.

This horse has EOTRH. EOTRH stands for Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis. It is a painful dental condition primarily affecting the incisor and canine teeth of older horses. The condition involves the breakdown of tooth structure (resorption) and abnormal growth of cementum (hypercementosis) around the tooth roots.
Key characteristics of EOTRH:

Painful: EOTRH causes significant pain and discomfort for affected horses.

Progressive: The condition worsens over time, leading to tooth loss and other complications.

Older Horses: It is most commonly seen in horses over 15 years old.

Resorption: The body's cells (odontoclasts) resorb (break down) the tooth roots and surrounding bone.

Hypercementosis: There is excessive growth of cementum, a hard tissue covering the tooth roots.
Incisors and Canines: Primarily affects the incisor teeth (front teeth) and sometimes the canine teeth.

Possible Symptoms: Difficulty eating, dropping food, unusual head shaking, bad breath, and gum swelling.

Diagnosis: Dental radiographs (X-rays) are used to diagnose and assess the severity of EOTRH.
Treatment: Extraction of affected teeth is often the recommended treatment.

Cause Unknown: While the exact cause of EOTRH is unknown, factors like chewing habits, endocrine diseases, and genetics may play a role.

This horse had standing sedation, pain medication in both anti-inflammatory and synthetic opioids forms. He was then blocked in the upper portion of his face and jaw numbing his incisors and premolars in his maxilla. He stood quietly and comfortably for his procedure. Appropriate pain management is essential for the patient! These horses often do fantastic right after extraction. This horse was eating well just 8 hours after surgery.

Please consider only having a Doctor manage your horse(s) Veterinary Dental care.

After all, Dentist does equal Doctorate. If you wouldn’t allow a lay person to do an extraction on a tooth in your mouth without a regional dental block and appropriate pain management….why let a lay person do it to your horse? Extractions are absolutely surgery and veterinary practice by law in the state of Ohio.

**Steps off soap box.***

Please let us help your horses,
(419) 577-9060

06/18/2025

—-Just a reminder to Clients—-

We are without Kim for the next two weeks. This means no one is sitting by the phone with a computer ready. I am on the farms, in barns with little service and without my lab top. Things like Heath Certificates or sending Coggjn’s will wait until I arrive home. I guarantee that will be after hours. And I will likely send them the next day while drinking my coffee. Scheduling appointments or returning texts happen before starting the next appointment or as we pull out of the farms.

Please have patience I will get back to you when I can. If I don’t answer, PLEASE leave a message and/or send a text. If you don’t, I ll assume it was a butt dial.

PLEASE don’t wait until it is urgent. And please make sure you have all the pertinent information!

It’s hot. 🥵 I am tired and we are booking well into the next two weeks. Please plan ahead!

A weary and tired,
Dr. Meer

My “nephew” living his best life in Montana.

06/17/2025

I would like to wish Kim and Chris a very happy Anniversary! 40 years! Which is absolutely AMAZING!

(I’m a day late… but I was a little busy this weekend. And she’s in a different time zone😅😂)

Have an amazing, wonderful trip!

Love you both! 🥰

(Btw, Kim is not short, she is close to 6 foot. Chris is THAT tall!)

06/16/2025

It has been a busy week for so many of our clients! We pride ourselves in treating multiple breeds and disciplines!

We offer a plethora of services for our competitive partners. From Lameness evaluations, Digital Radiographs, Digital Ultrasound, Meso Therapies and Joint injections. To Spinal Manipulation, Acupuncture, Shockwave, Laser therapies and several other treatments along the way. We not only keep them healthy with general wellness care and dental services but sound and competitive at the show grounds.

We have strong ties with local referral hospitals for those needing advanced care or imaging.

Please let us know if we can help you reach your competitive dreams. Several bundles allow for multiple services with discounted rates.

Congratulations to ALL our clients!

06/13/2025

Kim is officially on Vacation and on her way to Europe for the next two weeks!

Please do not use the back line. You will not get a response!

Please use the office number, (419)577-9060.

Please call or text. Texts might be best during business hours.

Emails will be addressed last.

**Again please use the direct office line!***

(419)577-9060
[email protected]

Tango is going to miss his mom!

06/12/2025

This is one of those… I am a human being posts.

I need a minute.

I had a very tragic, traumatic loss of a beloved patient yesterday evening. I am in processing mode and it is hard. I know everyone wants to believe I adore and love all my patients equally. But I would be lying if I said that was true. Those who know, know. I have a few, I love like my own. And everyone around knows it.

This was one, who was like my own. I loved him a little extra.

So I need a minute. I have a migraine from crying. I can’t seem to stomach a meal. God delayed today’s schedule several days ago… I didn’t realize why until now.

So please don’t take it personal if you only get Kim today.

I need a minute.

Kim leaves for her 2 week vacation tomorrow. You’ll have unlimited access for that whole time.

Please go hug your horses.

06/11/2025

Great sequel to my previous post!

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

06/11/2025

Gastroscopes and recheck gastroscopes are SO IMPORTANT!

Your horse is acting out of character, or even seems stiff, uncomfortable, and out of sorts. Check their stomach.

28 days between the first and second image. With the magic of Gastrogard.

Now we work in prevention!

Please let us know if you are interested in Gastrscopes on the farm.

(419)577-9060

06/09/2025

Today marks 13 years since Oath and Hooding.

So much has changed, yet also the same. I am grateful for my classmates now colleagues. The residents who have continued to guide my medicine and the mentors at OSU who always answers my calls, texts and emails. My veterinary community is strong, supportive and loving.

Ohio State Veterinary Medicine Class of 2012.

Still kicking ass and taking names. 😇😁

Dr. Katie McCool, Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, and me from Oath and Hooding night. So incredibly proud of all my classmates!

Added a little bit of grey hair, wrinkles and a whole lot of experience.

Still a very proud Buckeye.