Kate Robinson DVM

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to keep our horses at appropriate body conditions!

In case you missed it...

We were fortunate to have company-wide Large Animal Rescue training recently through Equine Guelph. It is training that we hope we will ever need however we are so grateful to have information to be better prepared if the situation arises. Life Skills: Education and Training for Large Animal Rescue In this article Marisa Markey, DVM explains what happens during a rescue, the role of the veterinarian and the need for more hands-on training.... #largeanimalrescue #beprepared #alwayslearning #education

Horse are herbivores by design and foragers by nature. Our equine friends are most content when they can nibble almost constantly. Although it's not always poss...ible to let them graze to their heart's content, feeding high-quality hay is a good way to satisfy their urge to chew and provide essential nutrients at the same time. A mature horse will eat 2-2.5% of its body weight per day; roughage should contribute to at least half of this percentage, but most agree forage should be a minimum of 75% of the horse's diet. For a 1,000-pound horse, that means at least 10 pounds of hay each day. This said, please remember that not all horses are made equal, so a horse's total protein and energy requirements will ultimately depend on the individual's age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Consult your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist when formulating your horse's ration. They can help you put together a balanced diet that utilizes grain, hay and supplements in a safe, nutritious and cost-effective way! #aaep #equinevets #horsedoctors #veterinarymedicine #equestrianlife #hay #forage #thursdaytips #hay #haybasics

This is a bit of a longer read, but very important information regarding the deworming of ADULT horses. Remember, young stock (foals to yearlings) are approached differently when it comes to deworming, as we are targeting different worms in them! There is recent evidence that small strongyles (the most important worm in adult horses) are developing resistance to ivermectin and moxidectin (Quest). We all have to do our part to deworm in responsible and effective ways, and hopefully decrease the spread of resistance in these worms! https://thehorse.com/198267/parasite-control-faqs/

As global travel and commingling of horses becomes more prevalent, the risk of spreading infectious equine diseases becomes more likely. This was demonstrated r...ecently with the EHV-1 outbreaks in Europe and North America. Tune into the #VirtualRAWF at 3pm tomorrow for an interesting and educational discussion on EHV-1 and other infectious diseases. Respected veterinarian, Dr. Kate Robinson, of McKee-Pownall Equine Services will provide information and her insight into best practices for your farm and competition biosecurity. Register for FREE! at royalfair.vfairs.com See more

Deworming horses may be something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember. However, you should know that this old-school approach is quic...kly becoming outdated. Commonly used strategies for parasite control in adult horses are based largely on knowledge and concepts that are more than 50 years old; they are not only a waste of time and money, they especially build drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines. Working with your horse doctor to create a targeted deworming plan for each horse/farm is actually less work, less expensive and more effective than the rotational deworming program of the old days. It’s very important to have your veterinarian perform fecal egg counts to determine the amount of eggs your horse is shedding and check the efficacy of the dewormer used last. Finally, don't rely on dewormers alone when it comes to parasite control. As parasites are primarily transferred via manure, good pasture maintenance is also necessary. For more information, the AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines can be found on our website at https://aaep.org//InternalParasiteGuidelinesFinal5.23.19.p As always, consult your equine veterinarian for questions specific to your horse and to set up an effective deworming program.

We are so excited to introduce Equine Body Work to McKee-Pownall Equine Services! Marnie Raymond has joined our team! Marnie has been a Certified Equine Massag...e Therapist for 16 years and adds PEMF and Equine Physio Tape to her modality toolbox. Our veterinarians and Marnie work closely to ensure your horse benefits from a continuity of care. She will provide these services at your farm and our Rehabilitation Facility. Whether your horse is getting ready for the show season, recovering from an injury or you just want to pamper them for the hard work they do talk to Marnie or one of our veterinarians to create a plan right for your horse. For more information visit: www.mckeepownall.ca/equine-body-work

An interesting new option for horses suffering from asthma (also know as inflammatory airway disease or heaves). https://thehorse.com//ciclesonide-offers-help-for-horses/

A podcast about...me! I had a lot of fun chatting with Dr. Kyle Goldie and Karen Foell of McKee-Pownall Equine Services. Enjoy

First new case of terrestrial rabies discovered in Ontario since September 2020. Found in a skunk in Niagara region. Full yearly stats and more details available here: https://www.oahn.ca//ontario-rabies-update-for-march-24-2/ #Rabies #OntarioRabies #OneHealth #VetMed #AnimalHealth

Competition season is upon us! Are you up-to-date with the EC vaccination rule? All horses attending Equestrian Canada sanctioned competitions must have been a...dministered Equine Influenza and Equine Herpes Virus (1&4) vaccinations within 6 months (+21 days grace period) before arrival at the event. No horse shall receive vaccination within 7 days prior to arrival at the event. Horses not in compliance with this rule may be asked to leave the event site at the discretion of Competition Management. Learn more by visiting: bit.ly/ECVaccinationRule --- La saison de concours approche à grands pas! Connaissez-vous bien les règlements sur la vaccination de CE? Tous les chevaux participant à des concours sanctionnés par Canada Équestre doivent avoir reçu les vaccins contre la grippe équine et l’herpèsvirus équin (1 et 4) dans les 6 mois (période de grâce de 21 jours) précédant leur arrivée à l’événement. Aucun cheval ne peut recevoir ces vaccins dans les 7 jours précédant son arrivée à l’événement. Si un cheval ne respecte pas ce règlement, les responsables du concours peuvent exiger qu’il quitte le site de la compétition. Pour en savoir plus, veuillez visiter : bit.ly/RéglementationsVaccins

https://thehorse.com//horse-hay-analysis-dry-matter-vs-a/

As the weather gets warmer and we’re out in our barns more, it is a good time to go through your horse’s medicine cabinet. Check expiry dates and dispose of any medications that are past their date. Your vet or local pharmacy can help with proper disposal. Expired medications may be ineffective, or worse, may cause harm. Ensure you have been storing medications properly. Keep those that should be protected from light in a cupboard. Make sure only medications that need to be r...efrigerated are in the fridge. Medications, particularly suspensions, that should be stored at room temperature can become difficult to mix when stored in the fridge, meaning you may not be getting the correct dose for your horse! Check bottles, jars, etc. for cracks, leaks and other issues that might negatively affect the medication inside. If a liquid medication has frozen, ask your vet about whether it is still safe to use or not. Dispose of any unused portions of eye meds, as they should not be reused or shared between horses. Here’s to happy, healthy horses! Kate See more