General Care Blog Posts

I was just asked to join a cause to stop the re-opening of slaughter houses in the U.S. and here is my response. I welcome yours.

With my second year of college soon coming to an end, I look back at what I have done so far...pre-vet club, foal watch, livestock show team, beef unit employee, and not to mention countless hours studying for tests and exams!  Each one of these activities has thoroughly enhanced to my journey as a pre-vet student and confirmed my ultimate dream of becoming a large animal veterinarian.

We don’t like to talk about it.  It makes us twitchy and uncomfortable.  Our minds skim across it, delaying even thinking about it as long as possible.
Death.
Few of us are comfortable with the topic of death.  Even fewer of us know what to say to others in a time of loss, particularly to children.

What is so special about that you ask?! Well, I'll tell you.

Based on his latest release, WAR HORSE, this new kid – Steven Spielberg, I think his name is?

This issue is emotionally loaded for most people; myself included. I would move heaven and earth to be sure that no animal in my care ever suffered this fate. I would rather eat salad forever than have to consume horse meat, and I would never forget the images I would see if I were to visit an equine slaughter facility.

How many of us animal lovers have the childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. How many of those children actually accomplish that goal? In reality this is a very small number. As one grows older they may find their interests changing. They may find the undergraduate work overly rigorous. They may find the fellow pre-vet students extremely competitive.

“Dashing through the snow…” Come on, sing it with me!  “In a two-horse open sleigh…” Huh?  Two?

How on earth can a farrier be concerned about colic enough to warn the horse owner?

I have seen a number of horses in my area have come down with either recurring or in one case a fatal episodes of colic in the last few weeks. And I want to pass on some information about how a farrier or owner can spot problems before they get serious.

When I started writing this blog, I had an original plan to relate my equine healthcare experiences with my own animals. When I became a horse owner, I quickly learned that horses are fragile, and actually require a great amount of care to keep them healthy.