Parsons Equine Internal Medicine

There is a lot of research about the fear of fireworks and noise in dogs, but very little research has been done on this subject in horses. Stabled horses gener...ally cope with New Year's Eve well, but it is important not to forget that horses are so called ‘fight or flight’ animals. Horses that have been frightened by fireworks outdoors, can unfortunately be seriously injured, which is both sad and unnecessary. Therefore, it is best to take precautions to avoid accidents occurring if at all possible. Bring your horse in from the field well ahead of it becoming dark outside, when fireworks are likely to start, and put them in the stable. It may also be appropriate to close barn doors (and windows) during the fireworks to reduce noise. You can turn on some calming classical music which can also help drown out some of the noise from the fireworks. We wish you a safe & happy start to the New Year. May 2021 bring lots of positive changes for everyone

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

While your number one concern is, of course, the horses in the barn, it’s also important to remember that a lot of barns have a barn cat or dog that come to visit. While some decorations might be fine for horses they could pose a risk for cats and dogs. This is the case with holly, whose leaves and berries are toxic to cats and dogs and can cause severe gastrointestinal upset. Holly is also mildly toxic to horses. Please be careful while hanging those reaths & decorating the barn.

As the winter weather approaches, avoid icy areas for both you and your horse's safety. One of the big challenges with winter riding is cooling down a horse with a winter coat. Leaving a hot, wet horse standing in a cold barn can lead to illness. Give us a call with any questions or concerns you may have

Regarding the wildfire smoke and air quality advisories, here is some good information: https://www2.vetmed.ucdavis.edu//currenthealth_wildfiresmo

https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/

Some good advice while we have these unusually high temperatures.

Staying involved at the forefront of medicine: Dr Parsons has just returned from the ACVIM conference where she met with Internal Medicine colleagues from around the world to discuss pertinent equine internal medicine topics, and hear about the latest scientific research related to these issues. Feel free to contact Parsons Equine Internal Medicine Services with questions, or to make an appointment [email protected]

What is an internal medicine specialist? The answer to that question and a few other questions can be found at parsonsequine.com

The team at Parsons Equine Internal Medicine would like to wish everyone a wonderful and successful New Year