West Wind Veterinary Hospital
51136 Range Road 212 T8G 1E7 Sherwood Park, AB, Canada

Can you spot the abnormality!? This senior horse presented for a routine dental float as part of our February Dental Health Month. During oral examination, a severely overgrown tooth #206 was present. Closer inspection revealed that this was caused because the opposing bottom tooth (#306) was missing!... This is a very common finding as horses age and begin to lose cheek teeth. Without a partner tooth to wear down on during chewing, the remaining tooth becomes overgrown with time and can cause significant problems for the chewing motion, resulting in a locked jaw or problems breaking down hay. This case stresses the importance of routine oral exams and floats. Because this horse has gone many years without floating, the tooth became severely overgrown. Regular floating would have been successful at catching the problem early and reducing this tooth to prevent it from developing to this degree. Now that the tooth is so overgrown, frequent dental floats every 3-4 months will be needed to slowly and safely reduce the affected tooth to a more appropriate length.

Dental Health Month is wrapping up this week! Don't forget to take advantage of our promotion and be entered to win an endoscopic exam! Contact the office for more details (780)662-0112.

COLOR ME! Lameness is a term used to describe a horse’s change in gait, usually in response to pain somewhere in a limb, but also possibly as a result of a mech...anical restriction on movement. You may have guessed what comes next lameness arising in the front feet accounts for most soundness issues in horses, and it continues to frustrate owners and veterinarians alike since the beginning of time! While lameness cannot always be prevented, it can be minimized through your understanding of the factors involved in its development. For example, the more you understand about basic horse anatomy, the more problems you may be able to identify early on and the better information you will be able to provide your veterinarian. Print out this image and have fun coloring while you explore the anatomy of the equine front limb. And if you want to learn even more, click the link to visit our website and read more about the lameness exam: https://aaep.org/horse/front-foot-lameness-dont-forget-exam #aaep #equinevets #horsedoctors #veterinarymedicine #equestrianlife #horseownership #horseownerslife #horseanatomy #lameness #coloring

Have you ever wondered what is involved in a dental cleaning at West Wind Veterinary Hospital? Upon arriving at the hospital, Frankie had a full physical exam and blood was collected for a pre-anesthetic blood panel. Her doctor and RVT made an anesthetic plan prior to administering a pre-medication to provide pain relief and sedation. She was then placed under general anesthesia for the entire procedure. During anesthesia, Frankie had a dedicated RVT who monitored her vital p...arameters including heart rate, oxygenation and blood pressure. Frankie had full mouth dental radiographs (x-rays) performed to examine for dental disease both above and below the gumline. She also had a complete dental examination performed by her veterinarian. Based on the radiographs a comprehensive dental cleaning, including scaling and polishing was performed to restore her pearly whites ! Luckily no tooth extractions were required. Frankie recovered surrounded by smiling faces with her sparkling clean teeth .

Daily teeth brushing is an important part of caring for your dog or cat. Getting your pet to accept brushing as a positive experience takes time. Be patient, it can take weeks to get to the stage of actual "brushing" but even 60 seconds each day can go a long way! This video demonstrates a variety of methods to introduce daily brushing to your pet. If you have questions about the dental health of your pet, one of our veterinarians would be happy to assist you!... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEwRugD4t_M&feature=youtu.be

We love hearing back from our clients! Thanks for reaching out Kelly, we were happy to assist you and Pandora today

In an effort to keep up with local and provincial recommendations, we are requiring that clients wear a face mask while interacting with our staff members and veterinarians both at the clinic and on farm. These efforts will help ensure the safety of our staff and all our clients. We greatly appreciate your support and cooperation!

Lest we forget... Today we remember the courageous men, women and animals who gave their lives for our freedom. West Wind Veterinary Hospital is closed today. We are available for equine emergencies 24/7 at 780-662-0112. For small animal emergencies, please contact Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency or Guardian Veterinary Centre.

As some of you may have noticed, we have been very busy at West Wind Veterinary Hospital. We are honored that you have chosen to entrust us with the care of your pets and horses as we all navigate the changes in how we practice veterinary medicine. Curbside veterinary practice is a challenge that we are happy to take on in order to ensure our doors stay open so we can keep helping your pets. ... Thank you for understanding that: your appointment may take a little longer than usual you may not be able to get an appointment immediately for non-emergent issues you may be on hold for a little longer when you call your prescriptions and special orders may take a little bit longer to prepare We will do everything we can to stay safe and in turn be able to keep our doors open to help your pets and horses. Thank you for being kind. We are all in this together

What is the value of hay analysis? During winter months hay is the primary source of forage for most horses. Unfortunately, not all hay is created equal. Variation in hay quality includes: digestibility, calorie content, protein levels, vitamin & mineral concentrations, as well as the content of sugars and starches. These variations can have significant impacts on the health of our horses and may exacerbate underlying medical conditions. This is especially notable in juvenile..., senior, pregnant and lactating horses who have higher nutrient requirements than the average adult horse. Hay analysis can be performed to provide valuable dietary information of the nutrient content of your hay. But the results can seem daunting and difficult to interpret. The following link provides a step-by-step explanation of each portion of the analysis process from sampling through to interpretation of results. As always, our veterinarians would be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns regarding your horse's nutrition! https://www.platinumperformance.com/artic/hay-analysis.html

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Share a photo of your pet dressed up in the comments!

Check out this yearling sale TODAY https://canadianthoroughbred.com//pierre-esquirol-host-y/

Horses can be tricky to treat! Here are some useful tips and tricks for administering oral medications. https://thehorse.com//2018/06/AAG_AdmMeds_SpecialReport.pdf

West Wind Veterinary Hospital will be closed tomorrow but we will be available for equine emergencies at 780-662-0112. For small animal emergencies, please contact Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency at 780-570-9999 or Guardian Veterinary Centre at 780-436-5880.

Its National Dog Day! Show us a picture of your pooch in the comments below

We had a great day at Mission Ridge Stables today!

Here are some good guidelines to help you determine if your pet needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If your pet needs to see a veterinarian during our business hours, please give us a call prior to arriving so we can prepare for your emergency visit. If you encounter a veterinary emergency after hours or on a weekend, we are lucky to have two fully staffed small anima emergency veterinary clinics in our area: Pulse Veterinary Specialists and Emergency and Guardian Veterinary Centre. If you have an equine emergency we are available 24/7 at 780-662-0112.

We love seeing kitties! Hope to see yours for their wellness checks, vaccinations and deworming.

Its International Cat Day! Lets see your fabulous felines!!

There is road construction on Range Road 212. You can access the clinic from Highway 14, but not from Twp 510. Please plan accordingly.

We are all looking forward to some heat this week! Keep your pets safe. In hot weather, ensure you pets are well hydrated and are able to stay cool. If in doubt, leave them at home (NOT in your car!)

Buy One, Get One Looking to maintain muscle condition in your performance horse? Hard keeper struggling to build or maintain muscling? Senior horse losing their topline? Equitop Myoplast is a daily supplement containing 18 amino acids, including nine essential amino acids, designed to support lean muscle growth.... To learn if this product is right for your horse, or to take advantage of this limited time offer, contact our office! For more information about Myoplast, Gonex and Pronutrin visit the Equitop website: https://www.bicanadaequine.ca/nutritional-support-p/equitop

Hey Calgary (and Alberta) friends! Do you know a kid (grade 6-9) that wants to become a veterinarian? This year the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Univer...sity of Calgary is offering a social distancing friendly online vet camp! We are offering two interactive sessions with an additional 4-6 hours of online content DAILY. Campers will also receive a swag bag valued at ~$100, which will include cool items like a stethoscope, a scrub top, bandaging materials, and more! Check out our poster and promo video, and feel free to share with your friends! The link to sign up is below. If you have any additional questions feel free to DM me. :) https://www.ucalgary.ca//regist/Program/Veterinary%20Camp #UCalgary

Tomorrow is Canada Day! West Wind Veterinary Hospital will be closed tomorrow but we will be available for equine emergencies at 780-662-0112. For small animal emergencies, please contact Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency at 780-570-9999 or Guardian Veterinary Centre at 780-436-5880.

We know how scary it can be to drop your puppies and kittens off for their checkups and vaccines with us. Rest assured, your babies are getting lots of love from our team when they are in the clinic. During a puppy or kittens first three months of life, they will experience a socialization period that will permanently shape their future personality and how they will react to their environment as an adult dog or cat. Gently exposing them to a wide variety of people, places, and situations can make a huge, permanent difference in their temperament. We know socialization is challenging when social distancing is encouraged. We can help! To book your puppy or kitten in for a visit, give us a call at 780-662-0112.

We all had a chuckle this afternoon after these two adorable goat kids came in for a weight check and then got loose outside. It took half our staff to catch these two little trouble makers!

If your find a tick on your dog, cat or horse, we would be happy to submit it for you. Or, if youd rather avoid ticks all together, give us a call to pick up some preventative medication.

Covid-19 Update We know that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way many of us work and live. At West Wind Veterinary Hospital, we were able to keep our doors open, to provide both preventative and medical care for your pets and horses. We were able to do this by keeping our doors closed to you, but open to your animals. This has been challenging for everyone involved, but it allowed us to safely continue to provide the care we needed to for our patients. As we move into S...tage 2 of re-opening the economy, we have had some questions about when our doors will reopen. While we are anxious to return to business as usual, we have decided that for the safety of our staff and pet owners, we will be continuing to operate in a curb-side manner for the time being. We know this is frustrating for some. We understand the frustration. What we can promise is that your pets will continue to receive outstanding care. You will always get a chance to see your veterinarian outside or talk with them on the phone to ask any questions you might have or just to say hello. If you want to watch your appointment, we may be able to let you watch through the window. We will continue to cuddle your puppies and kittens, to give your horses cookies and let your dogs show off their tricks. We care about your dogs, cats and horses, we care about you, and we care about the health and safety of our staff and our families and yours. Thank you for understanding.

E. coli O157 Outbreak From Raw Pet Food: Canada https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com//e-coli-o157-outbreak-f/

UPDATE: RALPH HAS RETURNED HOME!! Neutered male dog found loose near Hwy 14 and RR 211 Sunday at 9PM. Wearing a collar with no tags. Please share!... (780)662-0112

Thank you Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, for taking the time yesterday in the Alberta Legislature to recognize the adaptations... and ongoing commitment of veterinary medicine profession in maintaining the safety, health and welfare of the public, our animals and security of our food supply during this pandemic. See more

Nurse Mare Available. Please contact West Wind Veterinary Hospital at 780-662-0112 for more information.Nurse Mare Available. Please contact West Wind Veterinary Hospital at 780-662-0112 for more information.

Please contact Moni if you spot Jax!

Pet Hazards! Be aware!

Breeding season is still ongoing at West Wind Veterinary Hospital! Our reproduction team has been busy and so has Guys Keepin The Fame aka Rush, who is fully booked for the 2020 breeding season. Guys Keepin the Fame is an own son of Frenchmans Guy, the decades # 1 Leading Living Sire and the Living Broodmare Sire of Barrel Horses! He is a 1D barrel horse and amateur rodeo money earner with very limited hauling. ... Rush has a special place in our hearts. His first season with us dates back from when Dr. Macedo and Alana became members of our repro team in 2017! Rush is accepting bookings for the 2021 season. If you have any questions about our reproductive services please email us at [email protected] or call us at 780 662 0112.

This thank you from one of our patients REALLY made our day! Thanks Elke!

A great resource describing clinical signs, treatment and prevention of Scratches in horses! https://thehorse.com/149717/infographic-scratches-in-horses/

Another Nurse Mare needed @ Burwash Contact Shannon 403-992-9917Another Nurse Mare needed @ Burwash Contact Shannon 403-992-9917

Update: Thank you for sharing, we found a suitable mare Nurse mare urgently needed, contact West Wind at 780-662-0112. Please share!Update: Thank you for sharing, we found a suitable mare Nurse mare urgently needed, contact West Wind at 780-662-0112. Please share!

Step by step instructions (with photos!) of how to properly apply a first aid bandage for leg wounds. https://thehorse.com/188571/how-to-bandage-a-horses-wound/

It has been a very challenging couple of months adjusting to the changes we have made to keep both our staff and our clients safe, while continuing to care for your dogs, cats and horses. We would like to thank you for your support and understanding! Stay safe and be kind

Tick season is here. Ticks can be a vector for a number of diseases. If you are interested in starting your dog or cat on tick prevention please give us a call at 780-662-0112

Nurse mare update!! Thanks to an amazing community response, a nurse mare was found for our orphaned foal within hours of the Facebook post! Sadly, this mare had recently lost her own foal. Fortunately for us, that meant she was still lactating and had great maternal instincts. With a little patience, perseverance and some medications to stimulate bonding, this mare was paired with our orphaned foal.... We are excited to report they have been discharged from the hospital and are doing excellent at home! Thank you to everyone who shared our post

Nurse mare urgently needed, contact West Wind at 780-662-0112. Please share!Nurse mare urgently needed, contact West Wind at 780-662-0112. Please share!

Happy Mothers Day from all of us at West Wind Veterinary Hospital. Have a wonderful day!!

If you've been asking yourself "are my horse's spring shots considered essential care?", the answer is YES. The Infectious Disease Committee of the American As...sociation of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has issued revised guidelines for the administration of selected core and risk-based vaccines to horses. The committee also emphasizes that routine vaccinations are considered essential during this COVID-19 pandemic, and overdue vaccinations should be completed to help prevent disease in horses. Duration of immunity for some vaccines might be limited to 6 months; therefore, maintaining a routine vaccination schedule is critical for horses at high risk of developing these diseases, and vaccinations should be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible to ensure the health and welfare of the horse. In all cases, veterinarians should consider local conditions and current state-imposed regulations to determine when vaccinations can be completed safely during this unprecedented time. If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling your horse's vaccinations, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible! To learn more about the updated vaccination guidelines, visit https://aaep.org//aaep-updates-vaccination-guidelines-rout

Happy Star Wars Day!

Are you ever lying in bed thinking- I need to order dog food? Do you live in town and want to feed the food recommended but would rather not make the trip into the clinic? Do you love buying treats, toys and accessories for your animals? West Wind Veterinary Hospital is pleased to announce our new online store. From our store you can place orders for pet food, treats and accessories for all of your animals. You can also view and purchase a wide range of non-prescription suppl...ements. Orders can be shipped to the clinic for free or to your home (for a fee). When you enter the site, you will need to register to view prices. We hope you find this new service useful! https://westwindvet.clientvantage.ca/

Our ambulatory and reproduction team had a busy Sunday! Dr. Flemming received a call from a client that their mare was experiencing difficulty foaling. Only the foals feet were present and the mare had stopped pushing. This was considered an emergency and needed all hands on deck! Dystocia is the term used to describe difficulty foaling. It can happen at either the first or second stage or parturition. Dystocia is life threatening for both the mare and foal so action must b...e taken immediately when a problem is detected. It is important to get the foal out as quickly as possible, but care needs to be taken not to damage the foal or the mare in the process. On arrival to the clinic, Dr. Macedo confirmed the foal was in normal presentation (front feet emerging from the vulva and nose following just behind) and assisted delivery. Great teamwork got this filly on the ground in no time! However, our team wasnt done. After foaling, the mare was diagnosed with a retained placenta (also known as retained fetal membranes). Retained placenta is the most common postpartum complication in mares. Typically, expulsion of the placenta occurs shortly after birth. It is considered retained if not expelled within 3h post-partum. This can lead to serious illness in the mare within hours if left untreated. The mare was treated and the retained placenta was successfully retrieved without further complications. Mom and filly are doing well, and went home healthy! If you have any questions about our services, please give us a call at 780 662 0112, or contact us by email at [email protected] or [email protected]

Happy World Veterinary Day to this amazing veterinary team. Every member of our team plays a vital role in ensuring your dogs, cats and horses receive the highest quality and most compassionate care during their visits with us. Help us thank our team for the awesome care they provide.

If youve been asking yourself "are my horses spring shots considered essential care?", the answer is YES. The Infectious Disease Committee of the American As...sociation of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has issued revised guidelines for the administration of selected core and risk-based vaccines to horses. The committee also emphasizes that routine vaccinations are considered essential during this COVID-19 pandemic, and overdue vaccinations should be completed to help prevent disease in horses. Duration of immunity for some vaccines might be limited to 6 months; therefore, maintaining a routine vaccination schedule is critical for horses at high risk of developing these diseases, and vaccinations should be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible to ensure the health and welfare of the horse. In all cases, veterinarians should consider local conditions and current state-imposed regulations to determine when vaccinations can be completed safely during this unprecedented time. If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling your horses vaccinations, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible! To learn more about the updated vaccination guidelines, visit https://aaep.org//aaep-updates-vaccination-guidelines-rout