Evergreen
Veterinary Services LLC
Services
EVS provides emergency coverage for established equine clients in good standing. Please contact your normal veterinarian for emergency services if you are not an established client.
- As a reminder; please CALL for all emergencies, as text/e-mail/Facebook messages are not closely monitored after hours. If you do not hear back from Dr. Larson within 15 minutes, please call again.
Common emergencies in horses include (but is not limited to):
- Colic – signs of abdominal pain (not eating, pawing, kicking at belly, getting up and down constantly, rolling)
- Lacerations
- Swollen eyes
- Sudden, severe lameness in one or more legs
- Abnormal mentation/unsteady gait
- Fevers – often noticed because horse is lethargic and is not eating
- Severe diarrhea
- Respiratory distress
- Cellulitis (swollen, painful legs)
- Grain overload – horse breaks into the feed room and consumes a large quantity of grain
- Choke – a blockage of the esophagus. Horses will start coughing, may hold out their head in an abnormal position, and feed material will come from mouth and/or nose
If you think you have an emergency, but aren’t sure, please do not hesitate to call! 207-322-1286
Wellness exams with appropriate vaccinations are vital in keeping your horse healthy. EVS will be happy to discuss vaccinations and Coggins testing with you, and come up with a plan that best suits your needs. Below is a quick summary of the most commonly given vaccinations to horses.
- Core Vaccinations – recommended for all horses, regardless of lifestyle and use:
- Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Tetanus and Rabies
- These vaccinations are typically given annually to horses who remain in Maine year-round. Tetanus may require a booster if your horse suffers a wound or cut.
- Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Tetanus and Rabies
- Risk-Based Vaccinations – recommended for horses depending on use/lifestyle:
- Strangles, Rhinopneumonitis, Influenza, Lyme, Botulism, Potomac Horse Fever
- The vaccination schedule for these varies, but most are biannual vaccinations.
- Strangles, Rhinopneumonitis, Influenza, Lyme, Botulism, Potomac Horse Fever
Microchips: Some organizations are starting to require microchips, and some owners feel safer knowing their horse is microchipped. EVS does have a microchip scanner and is able to check for and place microchips.
A Coggins test is a blood test that checks for antibodies to a virus that causes Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). Once infected with EIA, a horse remains infected for life. Infections in horses are rare and incurable, and there is no available vaccine. The EIA virus is a member of the same family as human immunodeficiency virus. Some horses infected with EIA may die, but many recover and become asymptomatic carriers. These asymptomatic carriers then serve as a reservoir of the EIA virus, and at times may have enough of a viral load in their blood stream to spread EIA to other horses via horse and deer flies (or contaminated needles/surgical instruments).
Coggins testing requirements vary from state to state. In general, a Coggins test is good for 1-3 years, but occasionally some states and organizations are stricter. Please check your travel and show plans for the year to ensure your horse has an up-to-date Coggins test for what you plan to do.
A Health Certificate (HC) is a piece of paper that says a horse is healthy and fit for travel. A current negative Coggins, along with a physical exam that shows the horse is not sick at the time of the exam, is required for a HC to be issued. A HC is good for 30 days once issued. Please plan in advance; some states have additional requirements that need to be completed prior to issuing a HC, so time should be allowed for this to be done. Please contact EVS if you have any questions about HCs.
Horses have unique teeth called hypsodont teeth. Hypsodont teeth are tall, and continuously erupt from the gum after forming. The continuous eruption and wearing of teeth in horses results in an increase in dental problems and diseases of the oral cavity as the horse ages. Horses mostly chew in a circular fashion, and the type of forage and grain, as well as where the feed is placed, can affect how the horse chews and how its teeth wear.
Routine oral examinations (best with sedation and an oral speculum placed) with maintenance or corrective floating are important in keeping your horse comfortable while eating or working. EVS utilizes both hand and power dentistry. If your horse has a more complicated issue or requires that a tooth be extracted, EVS works with a local veterinarian who specializes in equine dentistry and is happy to refer these cases to her.
An examination for lameness can be anywhere from simple and quick, to complex and time-consuming. A lameness exam starts with a general physical exam and thorough history from the owner, rider and/or trainer. Once this information is obtained, musculoskeletal and movement exams are conducted. These exams may include some or all of the following:
- Palpation of the neck, withers, spine and sacroiliac joint
- Palpation of the muscles of the neck, back and hindquarters
- Palpation of the joints, tendons and ligaments in each limb
- Watching the horse walk and trot in a straight line, on hard and soft surfaces
- Watching the horse walk, trot and/or canter in circles on the lunge line
- Watching the horse move with a rider on its back
- Flexion tests
- Hoof tester examination
- Joint and/or nerve blocks
- Joint injections
Further diagnostics, imaging modalities and treatment plans will then be made based off of the initial assessment, which may include ultrasound examination, digital radiographs, or referral.
A pre-purchase exam (PPE) is a very thorough and comprehensive physical exam that many buyers choose to have done before purchasing a horse. The purpose of a PPE is to identify any potential problems there may be with the horse before it is purchased. A basic PPE consists of the following:
- Horse History – any information that is known about the horse will be collected and written down, including past medical history, current work schedule, intended use of the horse, diet and any known vices.
- Comprehensive Physical Exam – The horse will be examined from head to tail. The heart, lungs and GI tract will all be auscultated for any problems, such as arrythmias/murmurs (heart) or crackles/wheezes (lungs). Scars, swellings, and painful spots will all be recorded. The legs will be palpated thoroughly, including tendons/ligaments and joints. The eyes will be examined to look for any evidence of cataracts, corneal scaring or internal damage, and the mouth will be inspected for any dental abnormalities.
- Movement Exam – The horse will be walked and trotted in a straight line on hard and soft surfaces. If trained to do so, the horse will be lunged at a walk, trot and canter in both directions. Flexion tests and a hoof tester exam will be conducted. The horse may also be observed while being ridden, as a rider’s weight can sometimes change the way a horse moves.
- Neurological Exam – The horse will be put through a neurological exam to look for any weaknesses. Standing and moving strength will be tested, as well as proprioception. Cranial nerves will also be assessed.
Further testing and/or imaging can always be done based on the results of the PPE or the buyer’s wishes, which includes (but is not limited to):
- Radiographs
- Reproductive Exam (if the horse is intended to be used for breeding)
- CBC/Chemistry – bloodwork that assesses the overall health of the horse
- Fecal – to check for parasites
- Coggins test
- Drug Screen
General notes will be taken during the PPE, which will then be typed up into a word document and sent to the potential buyer.
Pre-Purchase Evaluations should be conducted by a veterinarian who is not the horse’s normal veterinarian, as this is considered to be a conflict of interest. Please contact EVS if you have any questions about PPEs.
EVS provides the following reproductive services:
- Ultrasound of the mare reproductive tract to monitor her estrus cycle, check for pregnancy, and/or assess overall uterine and ovarian health.
- Uterine cultures – This is procedure is important in certain situations if a uterine infection is suspected, or if there is a “pre-breeding” requirement for a culture due to a breeding contract.
- Artificial Insemination (AI) – EVS currently only offers AI services utilizing fresh-cooled shipped semen.
- Caslicks – EVS can open or place caslicks in mares who require one due to their individual reproductive needs.
- New Foal Exams – EVS recommends a physical exam and blood testing in new born foals. The exam time is typically scheduled approximately 12-24 hours after birth, and includes a physical exam, and blood testing for IgG (immunity obtained from colostrum consumption) and SAA (Serum Amyloid A – infection test, which may be high if there was a possible infection in-utero or during the birthing process).
- Castration- EVS provides castration surgeries for stallions and stud colts. Requirements include:
- Two fully, descended testicles
- Horse is halter-broke
- Client has a suitable location for the surgery, pending weather/temperature
- Client can provide post-operative care – forced exercise (trot or faster) twice/day for 7-10 days + post-surgery, and medication administration, if needed.
- Horse is up-to-date on tetanus vaccination (this can be given at the time of castration, but ideally the vaccine is given at least 3-4 weeks prior to surgery).
- Blood Testing: In conjunction with a physical exam, EVS can pull and send blood out to check for possible reproductive tumors or cryptorchidism (male horses with retained testicular tissue being passed off as geldings).
Unfortunately, EVS is unable to collect stallions for breeding-soundness exams, freezing of semen or sending fresh-cooled semen, performing mare uterine biopsies, embryo collection or transfer, or AI utilizing frozen semen. EVS recommends a professional reproductive facility if these services are needed, and/or if you need a mare monitored 24/7 with her foaling assisted.
EVS is capable of providing the following surgical services as a mobile practitioner:
- Castration- EVS provides castration surgeries for stallions and stud colts. Requirements include:
- Two fully, descended testicles
- Horse is halter-broke
- Client has a suitable location for the surgery, pending weather/temperature
- Client can provide post-operative care – forced exercise (trot or faster) twice/day for 7-10 days + post-surgery, and medication administration, if needed
- Horse is up-to-date on tetanus vaccination (this can be given at the time of castration, but ideally the vaccine is given at least 3-4 weeks prior to surgery).
- Caslicks – EVS can open or place caslicks in mares who require one due to their individual reproductive needs.
- Lump/tumor removal – A physical exam will be required prior to this procedure, but most small lumps can be removed on the farm.
- Enucleation – When an eye has been damaged to the point it can no longer heal or be repaired, often the best recommendation is enucleation (removing the eye). EVS can provide this service on the farm as a sedated, standing procedure.
- Laceration Repair – EVS provides surgical services for laceration repairs. Major lacerations that affect or may potentially affect sensitive structures (joints, abdomen) may be referred to specialists.
EVS has a wide variety of equipment to help diagnose conditions in and treat your horse. The following are available at EVS:
- ULTRASOUND: An ultrasound is useful for a wide variety of purposes, including imaging the soft tissues in the leg (which won’t show up on radiographs), assessing the heart and lungs for abnormal fluid or masses, taking a peak at the GI tract in horses with colic, finding soft -tissue abscesses to drain, or even looking at the structures in the eye.
- DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY (DR): EVS has a portable, wireless DR system which allows x-rays to be taken at the barn, with the images instantly available. Instantly available images are very important in emergency situations, extremely helpful when working with farriers in the trimming/shoeing of horses, and saves valuable time in regards to re-takes. Being wireless, this means Dr. Larson can take x-rays in the middle of a field in an emergency situation if needed.
- UPPER AIRWAY ENDOSCOPY: This portable, 1-meter scope, is valuable for diagnosing conditions in the upper airways. It can be used to check for masses in the nasal passages or throat, find the source of nasal bleeding, check laryngeal function or look for other abnormalities that may be causing airway noise or causing the horse to not breath correctly, and to assess the guttural pouches for infection or sources of nerve trauma.
- GASTROSCOPY: New 2019, EVS has a portable, 3-meter scope that is long enough to reach the stomach in horses. Gastric ulcers are an important cause of pain, discomfort and performance problems in horses, and the only true way to diagnose them is to visualize them. Previously, EVS had to refer horses to other clinics for this procedure to be done, but now it can be done in the comfort of the horse’s own barn! Although not very common, stomach cancer can occur in horses (typically light-pigmented horses such as paints and appaloosas), and with this gastroscope, EVS can check for stomach cancer as well.
- PRO-STRIDE: Pro-stride is an innovative way to treat joint conditions in horses. Typical “joint injections” are done with a steroid and/or hyaluronic acid. While steroid injections are very common and effective in reducing joint inflammation and relieving pain, they do not possess healing qualities, whereas Pro-stride does. Steroid injections also need to be used with caution in horses that are overweight and may have Equine Metabolic Syndrome, as steroids can induce laminitis. Pro-stride is a proprietary system whose output produces a concentrated solution of cells, platelets, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins within a 20-minute processing time (no incubation required). Pro-stride is all-natural (it uses the patient’s own blood), is convenient (done stall-side, no repeat visits necessary), and has clinically demonstrated effectiveness at treating joint conditions. Please contact EVS, or check out www.omveterinary.com, for more information about Pro-Stride and how it may help your horse.
