04/06/2022
Spring greetings from On Point Veterinary Services PLLC!
As we all look ahead to the warmer months, and spending more quality time with our horses, I wanted to send an update regarding additional services I'll be offering and changes in pricing for current services. I know spring and summer often mean everyone is busier than usual, so I wanted to send this update as soon as possible.
I'm a huge believer in preventive care, and as such I'm offering additional services to obtain baseline information which will help me offer the best care possible. Acupuncture and herbal therapies can help maintain optimal health and peak performance based on your horse's baseline blood work values.
Baseline Blood work: $80- Complete blood count and blood chemistry to monitor bodily functions in their current state.
Lyme Disease Testing: $95- The Cornell Multiplex Assay provides information about exposure to the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, spread by ticks. In the future, if your horse has signs of Lyme disease and needs testing, having a baseline can be useful when determining acute vs. chronic infection.
Results can be shared with your regular vet. Prices are subject to change, as they reflect reference lab pricing.
Aquapuncture: $120- A 50:50 mix of Vitamin B12 and 0.9%NaCl solution is injected into acupuncture points. This is great for treating chronic inflammatory or arthritic conditions.
BEMER Blanket add-on: $10- BEMER is an FDA Class II Cleared PEMF device which improves microvascular blood flow. It's used in conjunction with Acupuncture/Chiropractic for an enhanced relaxation and treatment. This is different from the more powerful PEMF devices such as the PULSE System which aids in tissue healing and repair (more info about AV PulseWorks below).
NEW PRICING:
Current prices were set and maintained since the establishment of On Point Veterinary Services LLC, and unfortunately, I had to make this difficult decision because the cost of doing business has increased. New pricing will be effective as of May 1, 2022. I appreciate your understanding and continued business, as this work is my lifelong passion. I hope you feel the quality of service offered by my practice is exceptional, as I'm continually working to refine my skills as well as stay current with the ever-changing field of Veterinary Medicine.
Initial Acupuncture & Chiropractic Exam: $130
Maintenance Acupuncture OR Chiropractic: $120
Combined Acupuncture/IIIb Laser AND Chiropractic: $150
BEMER blanket add-on: $10
Discounted Pricing for more frequent treatments:
1-week Recheck exam and treatment: $80
2-week Recheck exam and treatment: $90
If finances are a concern, please ask about more discounted options.
Travel Fee: If >15 miles from Penfield - $25/15 miles
(Discounts may apply with 5 or more patients in one location)
Most horses in consistent work or with chronic disease processes benefit from treatments at 4, 6, or 8 week intervals depending on their work-load and body's response to treatment. It may take several treatments (5-6) for noticeable results with acupuncture alone. Results are seen sooner when combining chiropractic and acupuncture/laser.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR MONITORING HEALTH:
Hoof balance radiographs
- The hoof is the foundation of the horse. When there's an imbalance in the hoof it creates imbalance in the body. Corrective trimming, shoeing, and using corrective boots are options for managing imbalance.
EPM testing (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis caused by Sarcocystic neurona, Neospora caninum or Neospora hughesi)
- Exposure doesn't mean your horse has the associated disease and treatment may not be necessary. Knowing baseline antibody levels helps when comparing antibody levels in the future if your horse displays clinical signs of disease.
Gastroscopy to monitor the presence of gastrointestinal ulcers
- Ulcers may present as lameness or unpredictable behavior. The horse may be biting at their sides, grinding their teeth, losing weight, or they could act and look completely normal.
Please discuss these diagnostics with your regular Veterinarian. If you're currently working with your regular vet to diagnose existing conditions, please continue to work with them. Involving multiple practitioners may make diagnosing the primary problem more difficult, and my goal is to work alongside your regular vet to keep your horse healthy. My prices for lab work may differ from your regular vet. If their testing is more expensive, it reflects the higher overhead cost of their business.
IF THE TREATMENTS AREN'T WORKING:
Horses with chronic underlying problems may benefit from more frequent treatments. If finances are a concern, I may be able to offer discounted pricing to make this possible.
In my experience working with horses, if chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture treatments aren't holding, or if your horse seems worse after treatments, there's likely an underlying primary medical problem, chronic musculoskeletal asymmetry or imbalance within the body making them prone to subluxations and deficiencies. Below is a list of pathologies my patients have had in the past which caused dysfunction. Although I'm happy to provide information about these diseases, please discuss diagnosing the problem with your regular vet:
- Hoof imbalance
- Gastrointestinal Ulcers
- Dental disease
- Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID/Cushing's)
- Metabolic imbalances
- Osteoarthritis or other musculoskeletal dysfunction- Lyme Disease (Borreliosis)
- Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (Sarcocystic neurona/Neospora spp.)
- Respiratory disease such as laryngeal hemiplegia
- Reproductive or Urinary problems (Sometimes their ovaries hurt! Ovariectomy may be an option.)
- Unfortunately, there are many possibilities
AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO YOUR HORSE'S HEALTH:
There are many ways to keep your horse healthy. In addition to Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Laser Therapy here are some options that integrate well with regular veterinary care:
MASSAGE:
- Massage promotes blood-flow and muscle health as well as breaks down adhesions and prevents restriction of fascia which holds muscles together.
- Equine Bodywork and Sports Therapy: Kerri Gaffney LVT, Certified in Equine Rehabilitation, http://equine-bodyworks-and-sports-therapy.abmp.com/home, (585) 645-9093
- Balanced Strides Equine Bodywork: Kristy Taccone LVT, ESMT, [email protected]
- Forelegs Forward: Michelle White CTMT, http://forelegsforward.com/, (585)721-0206
PEMF (Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field Therapy)
- PEMF provides non-invasive pain relief associated with muscle soreness or arthritis, increased blood flow, promotes healing, and supports overall wellness and relaxation.
- AV Pulseworks: Allison Vidro, Certified Equine Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Practitioner (585) 880-1915
HOOF CARE:
- There are many Farriers in the area with varying expertise and training. Your regular vet may have recommendations on who can help with corrective shoeing, trimming, or if boots are in order.
If you have a practitioner you love, please let me know who they are and how they've helped your horse so I can let others know!
If you ever have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. My New Year's Resolution is to be better at responding to messages, but if for some reason you don't hear back from me, don't hesitate to blow-up my phone with messages. Texting is best, but email and phone work too.
Yours Truly,
Dr. Kate Huggler DVM, CVA,
Certified in animal chiropractic through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association