Black Diamond Equine Veterinary Clinic

08/22/2025

🌟 Staff Highlight: Ciara! 🌟

Meet Ciara – one of the amazing members of our team! 🐴💙

A little bit about her:
👨‍👩‍👧 She loves spending quality time with her family
🐾 She's an animal lover through and through – big and small!
🐎 Riding and being around her horses is her happy place

We’re so lucky to have her passion and care on our team!
Drop a 🐴 in the comments to show Ciara some love!

08/19/2025

What Are Summer Sores—and How Can You Prevent Them?

Summer sores might look like stubborn wounds, but they’re actually caused by a parasite called Habronema, which is carried and spread by flies.

These parasites are typically deposited on moist areas of your horse’s body—such as existing wounds, around the mouth, eyes, nostrils, sheath, or even the third eyelid. When this happens, the body reacts with significant inflammation, leading to painful, non-healing sores.

Treatment involves a few key steps:
🔹 Wound care: Cleaning and debriding the sore to remove parasite-related debris
🧴 Anti-inflammatories: Applying medications to calm the body’s reaction
💊 Parasite control: Deworming or antiparasitic treatment when needed

Prevention is just as important:
🪰 Fly control: Reduce exposure with sprays, masks, and proper management
💉 Regular deworming: Keep internal parasites under control
🩹 Prompt wound care: Treat minor injuries before flies find them

If your horse develops a sore that isn’t healing, especially during fly season, don’t wait—give our office a call. Early treatment leads to faster recovery and less discomfort for your horse.

08/16/2025

🌟 Staff Highlight Time! 🌟
Join us in giving a huge welcome to one of the newest members of the Black Diamond Equine team — Ashlyn! 🐴💙

✨ A few fun facts about Ashlyn:
📚 Loves reading, crocheting, and dancing
💃 Spent 18 years doing Irish dancing (yes, 18!)
📖 Favorite book series? Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

We’re so excited to have her on board — say hi next time you stop by!

08/11/2025

🚨 Extreme Heat Warning! 🚨
Help keep your horse safe - here are some essential Do’s & Don’ts of equine heat stress and stroke from AAEP!

⚠️ If you suspect heat stroke, call your vet immediately!
Stay safe out there — your horse depends on you. 💧☀️🐎

08/09/2025

🌟 Staff Highlight: Meet April! 🌟

We’re thrilled to introduce the newest shining star at Black Diamond Equine — April! With a background as a skilled veterinary technician and a heart full of enthusiasm, she’s brought incredible energy and expertise to our team. 💪🐾

When she's not caring for animals, April is out soaking up the great outdoors! 🚴‍♀️🐶 You'll find her horseback riding, cycling, hanging with her adorable pup Daisy, or off on a camping adventure with her husband, family, and friends. 🌲❤️

Drop a warm welcome for April in the comments! 👇💬

08/06/2025

🐴💡 Fat Leg or Something More Serious? 💡🐴

We’ve all seen it — a horse comes in from the pasture with a swollen leg, and the question pops up: “Is it just a stocked-up leg... or something more serious?”

The AAEP has shared a great resource on how to tell the difference between routine swelling and signs that your horse needs veterinary care ASAP. Check it out!

The term "fat leg" is pretty self-explanatory, but do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis (or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis), however, is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in. The swelling will be extreme, hot, very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your equine practitioner will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

08/01/2025

Staff highlight: Sarah!

Fun Facts about Sarah:
🎣She ties her own flies
🏃‍♀️Used to to be a marathon runner
🐈Current Cat trainer
💛 Favorite horse color is bucksin

07/25/2025

Staff Highlight: Stephanie!

Favorite Hobbies
📚 Reading
🧩 Puzzling
✈️ Traveling
🎤 Singing with Central Oregon Mastersingers
🐾 Hanging and hiking with her dogs

Favorite Country: Italy - the food!

07/18/2025

Staff Highlight: Madi!

Favorite Hobbies:
✅ Taking her Cats for Walks
✅ Cat Snuggles
✅ Baking
✅ Any Outdoor Adventure

07/15/2025

🔥Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners - Be Ready Before the Fire Starts!🔥

Summer means heightened wildfire risk - are you and your horse(s) ready to evacuate at a moment's notice?

Being prepared can make all the difference. Here's a checklist to get you started:

🚛 Make sure your truck and trailer are in good working order
🥕 Pack 2-3 days' worth of hay and grain (consistent with their normal diet)
💊 Include emergency supplies (such as bute or banamine) and any regular medications
🆔 Horse Identification - in case your horse gets loose. The most common forms of ID are microchipping or braiding a dog tag with name and number into your horse's mane or tail
📍Identify evacuation centers such as fairgrounds, and/or make a list of friends with a barn or pens who could temporarily house your horse

Being prepared means peace of mind and could save your horse's life. If you need help creating a plan, reach out to your local vet for support.

Stay safe this season! ♥️

07/12/2025

Happy Farrier Appreciation Week!

This week, we tip our hats and raise our hoof picks to the farriers whose grit, sweat, and dedication keep our horses sound, comfortable, and performing at their best.

Let's show them some love! Consider adding a little extra tip at your next appointment or surprise them with a special gift package.

Thank you, farriers, for all you do - our horses wouldn't be the same without you.

07/11/2025

Staff highlight: Kayla!

Favorite drink: Iced dirty chai

Dream vacation: A beach where I could go horseback riding and learn to surf

Things I'm trying to keep alive at home: 5 kids, 2 horses, 1 pony, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 kittens, 4 pigs, 2 sheep, 13 chickens and multiple raised garden beds!