Equine Services We Provide
Our mobile ambulatory practice makes it possible to meet the equine veterinary needs of horse owners in our community. We travel regularly to farms and ranches in Loveland and Front Range communities to provide timely care. Appointments may also be made with the veterinarians at our conveniently located Berthoud facility giving horseowners’ the most convenient options.
Our ambulatory truck is fully stocked with the diagnostic and medical equipment required for routine treatments and emergency care. This includes the latest technology in digital x-rays for diagnosing your animal’s condition and motorized and hand powered tools for providing equine dental care.
We offer preventative dental care and dental treatments to help keep your horse’s teeth in good health. Dental issues can hinder your horse from chewing and digesting his food, which could impact his overall health. By monitoring your horse’s oral health, we can detect and treat problems early on before they have a chance to spread.
As preventative care is key to keeping your horse in optimal health, we offer medical evaluations twice a year to identify and treat issues that can impair your horse’s health. We also provide customized equine vaccinations and deworming programs for your equine friend.
VETERINARIANS AND VACCINATIONS
Protect Your Horse with Veterinarian-Administered Vaccinations
With vaccines readily available at farm supplies stores, online pharmacies and other retailers, it's sometimes tempting to save a few dollars by purchasing and administering them to your animals yourself.
There are hidden risks and costs associated with vaccinating animals yourself, therefore "cheaper" vaccines aren't the value they first appear to be.
Ask your veterinarian to develop a customized vaccine program for your horse. Having your veterinarian administer vaccines is always safer, easier and a better value in the long run than doing it yourself.
Here are several good reasons why your veterinarian is the best choice for administering vaccines:
Proper Handling of the Vaccine
Many vaccines require special handling and storage, for instance, protection from extremes of temperature or exposure to light to preserve its effectiveness. Rely on a licensed veterinarian to store and handle the vaccine properly—and to make sure the vaccine isn't past its expiration date!
Safe Administration
A licensed veterinarian knows about safe administration: clean environment, an appropriate injection site and good documentation. They also know the best time of year to vaccinate and whether vaccinations would react with any medications being administered to the horse. Your veterinarian will document the vaccine’s serial number and administration date—especially important in the event of a manufacturer’s recall. This is one instance when poor documentation could put your animal in peril.
Availability for Treatment of Adverse Reactions
Any injection can result in adverse effects—mild swelling at the injection site, lethargy and a slight fever for one to two days, the immediate outbreak of hives and life-threatening anaphylaxis. If your veterinarian is administering the vaccine, he or she will know what to do to counteract a reaction—and they will have the medicine to do it.
When you think about the risks of doing it yourself, it only makes good sense to have a licensed professional administer vaccines.
DENTAL FLOTATION
THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUINE DENTAL FLOTATION
As a horse owner and lover, you want nothing more than to preserve the health and vitality of your beloved animal. At Michael J. Suit, DVM, a Loveland equine veterinarian we feel the same way. That’s why we offer equine dental flotation along with a full range of equine dental and healthcare services.
Why Your Horse’s Dental Health Is So Important
The dental care of your horse is much more important than you might think. Quality equine dental care can also protect your animal’s health and alert you and your veterinarian to other possible health problems.
Other conditions often associated with dental or periodontal disease can include serious disorders of the heart muscle, the kidneys, and liver. That’s why your horse needs an annual exam and dental services that can include cleaning and repair, adjustments, extractions, and the floating of your horse’s teeth.
What Is Equine Dental Flotation?
“Floating” involves maintaining your horse’s teeth so they can chew and digest food properly for proper digestion. The upper jaw of a horse is wider than the lower jaw. This misalignment affects the chewing motion and can result in teeth that get worn unevenly. When this happens, they do a poor job of chewing food. This, in turn, can result in digestive problems that cause the horse to not get enough proper nutrients as it feeds. Regular dental flotation will keep your horse’s teeth flat, maintaining proper digestion while also protecting the mouth against the damage that jagged, sharp teeth can often cause.
How Equine Flotation Works
The first step is to insert an instrument in your horse’s mouth that will keep it open during the procedure. Then, another tool, known as a float, is used to gently file your animal’s upper and lower teeth until they are flat as they should be.
Don’t worry. Your horse will feel no pain during this procedure.
Ambulatory Care and Other Services Offered
Other services we provide include your horse’s vaccines, comprehensive wellness care, and diagnosis of illness and injuries. The equipment we carry also includes the latest in digital radiography and an ambulatory truck that is taken into the field. There’s no need for you to load and haul your sick animal to a clinic.
We can also serve your equine healthcare needs with late-night emergency care in Loveland as well as in the Berthoud, Estes Park, and Fort Collins areas.
Make Contact Today
We’re happy to be able to meet the routine and emergency healthcare and dental needs of your horse. Give your Front Range equine veterinarian practice a call today to set up your first appointment with Berthoud Equine.
We invite you to make initial contact by calling our practice at 970-218-7947!