Routine Exams
Animals benefit from routine check-ups to maintain optimal health. During a routine exam, a veterinarian will assess general health, diet, shoeing and lifestyle and discuss any improvements or changes that can be made. Along with routine exams, bloodwork or disease screening may be recommended. See the diagnostics section for more details on our stall side and outside diagnostics that Premier Equine offers.
Vaccination
Vaccines are essential for equine health. There are 5 ‘core vaccines' recommended for all horses over the age of 6 months. These vaccines protect against diseases that are readily transmissible to any horse, regardless of environment. how often they travel, if they live alone or in a group setting. The core vaccines are:
EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis)
WEE (Western Equine Encephalitis)
West Nile Virus
Tetanus
Rabies
Additional risk-based vaccines include Rhino/Flu and Strangles. Most horses traveling to shows require influenza vaccination.
For more information on vaccine recommendations see the AAEP Vaccine Guidelines.
Parasite Control
Parasite Control has been evolving as new research and protocols are implemented. The use of fecal-egg-count (FEC) based deworming assesses your horses worm burden, or amount of parasite load your horse carries. Based on the FEC, a strategic deworming protocol reduces the development of parasite resistance and administration of unnecessary medication.
Once starting a FEC based program, fecal samples are typically collected twice a year during vaccine visits. Using an egg-counting technique correctly can yield valuable information for deworming selectively. Many insurance plans require FECs done by a veterinarian to be compliant.
Dentistry
Equine dentistry has become increasingly important aspect of routine veterinary care. Having a sedated oral exam by a veterinarian can determine any underlying issues with chewing or performance.
A routine dental float is the process of correcting the bite and chewing ability of the horse by removing sharp points from the horses teeth. These sharp points can create painful areas that can cause oral ulceration, head tossing, or bit resistance.
Equine dentistry has advanced in the last decade, and with advancement comes with more specialized care. In addition to routine floating with cordless powerfloats for stall side dentistry, Premier Equine provides more specialized dental procedures such as dental radiographs and tooth extractions.
Farrier Consultations
Premier Equine believes that a collaborative partnership between equine veterinarians and farriers is a vital component to healthier hooves and horses. As a team, the veterinarian and your farrier can discuss various hoof and performance issues your horse may face. With the access of digital radiography, your veterinarian-farrier team can establish a customized trimming and shoeing plan for your equine athlete.
Insurance Exams
Equine insurance companies may require an insurance exam certificate signed by a veterinarian before a policy is activated or after a procedure. Insurance forms cannot be done based on previous exams, thus a current exam solely for the insurance purposes is required.
Call our office today to discuss potential insurance options!
-
Nutrition Consults
Nutrition has become a wide topic as equine feed companies and performance has grown. There are thousands of feed options for horses- including but not limited to pasture, hay, grain, and supplements. With many companies providing similar products, not all feed will be right for your specific horse.
It is important to provide balanced nutrition necessary for your horse to maintain health and performance levels. A variety of diseases and metabolic disorders have specific nutritional requirements that must be addressed to properly treat.
At Premier Equine our veterinarian team works with equine nutritionists to determine what may be the best diet for your horse.
-
Emergency Care
Equine emergencies can be frightening for both horse and owner. Premier Equine is available and trained for many different types of emergencies from colic, to lacerations and fracture. Premier Equine provides 24/7 care for current clients in good standing. When the veterinarians and staff are not available there are relief veterinarians on call that can attend to the emergency. When treating on the farm is not possible or ideal, referral clinics can be arranged.