Newsletter
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Pacific Crest Sponsors Lauren Billys and Ginger:
On the Way to the Pan Am Games
Lauren Billys and her horse “Ginger” (Ballingowan Ginger), a 2002 Irish Sport Horse are headed to the Pan American Games in October. Lauren, a 23-year-old Visalian who is also a student at CSU Fresno, will compete for the newly formed Puerto Rican team in the sport of three day eventing. Lauren, who has been competing in eventing since she was 9, has been bringing Ginger slowly up the ranks from training level to advanced.
Recently, the pair competed at the CIC** and CCI** level, finishing third at both. Lauren’s ultimate goal is to try for the Olympic team in 2016, which is going to require Ginger to be in top form. As with all athletes, Ginger requires some veterinary management to stay strong and sound. Pacific Crest has been providing Ginger’s medical care for the last few years and has partnered with Lauren to help support her and Ginger as they move forward as a team. Traveling to compete at an international level is costly, and Lauren and her family welcome any support from the local equine community. To learn more about Lauren and Ginger, see their website at Laurenbillys.com.
Equine Rabies
By Helen Christian, MRCVS
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The recent discovery of a rabid bat in the city of Tulare has raised awareness of Rabies in our community. Rabies is a life-threatening disease to both animals and people alike. Awareness and prevention of this disease in our cats and dogs is high and well maintained through pet licensing schemes. As an equine veterinarian I am responsible for raising awareness in our horse community of the risks, signs of disease and preventative measures available to all horses.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can affect all mammals and although horses account for less than 1% of Rabies cases in the USA, they are more susceptible to the disease than most animals due to their environment. Exposure occurs primarily through the bite of an infected animal, such as a bat, squirrel or possum. Horses are curious animals and a small wild animal acting strangely in their pasture is something they can’t resist investigating, maybe a little too closely.
Once a bite wound has been sustained the virus may incubate for 2-6 weeks before signs are seen. Signs vary widely and can include lameness, colic, difficulty swallowing, fever, incontinence, unusual gait, paralysis and death. Unlike dogs and cats, who often show a “furious” form of the disease, horses usually show the “dumb” form, seen as depression or stupor. The most common way for people to be exposed to the disease from a horse is due to the affected animal showing difficulty swallowing. The urge of a diligent horse owner is to open the mouth and check for an obstruction or injury, thus exposing them to saliva containing the virus.
Unfortunately horses that have not been vaccinated often succumb to the disease within 5-7 days of showing signs. If you suspect your horse is acting strangely, showing an unusual temperament or having difficulty swallowing, please contact your veterinarian. If your horse has been previously vaccinated for rabies and you suspect he may have been exposed to the disease, then prompt post exposure treatment and vaccination can save his life.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners does list Rabies vaccine as one of their core vaccines that all horses should receive throughout the USA. At Pacific Crest Equine, we highly recommend Rabies vaccination due to the risk of transmission to people and the lack of treatment available. Rabies vaccination is often given in the Fall, along with the second Rhino/Influenza vaccination of the year. In the Spring we protect horses against the mosquito borne diseases with the Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Tetanus and West Nile vaccine combination. The first of the Rhino/Influenza vaccinations is administered at that time also.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your horse’s health or vaccine status.
A Star is Reborn
By Jessica Dahlberg DVM, MS,DACVS
Cash is a 10.5 year old Westphalian gelding who was admitted to Pacific Crest Equine in June 2011 for re-evaluation of an upper airway problem. Cash was once a decorated Grand Prix level dressage horse before developing difficulty breathing over five years ago. He underwent two surgeries to correct his upper airway abnormalities but continued to have problems moving air at work. Sadly, his airway ailments forced him to retire.
During his three years in retirement, this talented gelding was seen performing passage and extended trots in his paddock. Cash was full of passion and fire and not suitable as a pasture or pleasure horse. This horse was hard-wired to perform.
Cash’s recent upper airway evaluation showed a greater than 50% decrease in upper airway diameter, inhibiting him from working at an upper level. The only treatment available for Cash’s disorder was to perform a salvage surgical procedure called a permanent tracheostomy. The surgery involved sharply removing the lower 1/3 of three cartilage tracheal rings near his throat and suturing the inside of the trachea to the skin on the neck using over 50 small sutures. The surgery was approved by the regulations committee of the United States Equestrian Federation and allowed him to breathe directly from his trachea to his lungs, bypassing his collapsed upper respiratory tract. The procedure was performed with him standing and sedated in the standing surgery suite at Pacific Crest Equine.
Cash was discharged 24 hours after the successful surgery and spent three weeks in a stall at home before small turnout. At four months after surgery, Cash was gradually returning to training for the first time in three years. All of us at Pacific Crest Equine are truly inspired by Cash’s story. We are excited to see him return to the arena where his colossal movements will, once again, astound and amaze the crowd.
Pets & Dental Health
By Kelly Anez, DVM
A dental cleaning is an important part of your pet’s general health. Statistics show that over 70% of dogs and cats have some form of oral disease by the time that they are 3 years old. Symptoms of dental disease can include brown discoloration and tartar buildup on the teeth, red swollen gums, and bad breath. Tartar is basically a bacterial “cement” that adheres to the tooth and causes a constant source of infection in the pet’s mouth. Left on the tooth’s surface over time, the tartar and plaque inflames the gums and causes gingival disease that can lead to abscesses and extreme pain.
A cleaning by a professional veterinarian is very similar to the experience you have when you go to the dentist. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures (ie, a human dentist) can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet’s health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment.
Recently there have been individuals advertising “anesthesia free” dental cleaning. This type of cleaning, besides being illegal in the state of California, is actually doing the pet a great disservice. The teeth may look cleaner, but the effect is purely cosmetic. Without anesthesia, it is impossible to do either a thorough examination or effectively address any periodontal disease. As well, this type of scaling leaves deep grooves in the external surface of the tooth, actually making the pet MORE prone to dental disease. Finally, patients are often presented with severe plaque and tartar and/or bleeding guns and root abscesses. The oral pain resulting from the examination and treatment of these dental tissues would be cruel to inflict, if not impossible to perform on an awake animal.
Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient monitoring techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year in veterinary hospitals. With today’s anesthetics the pets are often fully awake 3-5 minutes after the finish of the dental procedure. As well, patients with health problems can be screened with pre-operative bloodwork if needed and treated with fluids and other medications to ensure a safe anesthetic experience. Often clients will decline a dental cleaning for their pet due to concern over anesthesia, when in reality the pain and constant infection present in their pet’s mouth is a far more dangerous situation than any anesthetic. For almost all animals, the benefits of a professional cleaning far outweighs any risks as long as proper steps are followed.
If you have noticed brown discoloring on your pet’s teeth, bleeding or redness of the gumline, or bad breath, these are indications that your pet needs an oral exam and probably a dental cleaning. By scheduling an appointment before severe oral conditions arise, you will be helping your pet stay free of oral pain, keep their teeth into old age, and lead a happier and healthier life.
Pacific Crest Small Animal Takes Off!
Dr. Kelly Anez has been seeing small animals since February. We've built from two days a week to four and are really enjoying our small furry patients! We offer a wide range of procedures from wellness care and dentals to surgeries. Feel free to call the office at 559.592.4753 if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment!
