San Dieguito Equine Group, Inc.

"HOT" TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER RIDING As you prepare for fun in the sun with your favorite equine, make sure you understand how the combination of heat and humidity... can take the fun part out the equation and potentially even turn into a dangerous situation for your horse. When riding in hot weather, remember to take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and for signs of heat exhaustion, as the situation can quickly escalate into heat stroke. If your horse looks hot and tired, it's time for a drink, a cold bath and a break in the shade. Consult your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about the signs of heat stroke on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke

SUMMER IS COMING! After the restrictions and the uncertainties we experienced last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, equestrians everywhere are surely l...ooking forward to many summer adventures with their equine partners. While we hope your summer will be one for the books, please remember to remain vigilant to your horse’s needs in hot weather and on the road. Heat stress and dehydration should not be underestimated, as both can have serious consequences for our equine friend. Pro Tip: Consult your veterinarian for additional recommendations on how to keep your horse safe and comfortable on the road this summer. Happy trails!

DID YOU KNOW? Gastric ulcer disease is a common problem in equines and it affects over 60% of adult horses (depending on age, performance, and evaluated populat...ions.) While Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is more prevalent in high performance horses, it's important to remember that any horse can be affected, as all equines suffer from stress (like traveling, stall confinement, changes in diet, etc.) which over time may result in gastric ulcers. The signs of ulcers a horse might show are highly variable between individuals, but they usually include variations of "bad behavior" like general grumpiness, reluctance to perform, cribbing and teeth-grinding, tail-swishing and other behaviors suggesting restlessness and physical discomfort. Rough hair coat, weight loss and poor body condition are also common. If your horse is exhibiting any of these signs, it may be time to consult your veterinarian rather than just chalk them off as behavioral or training issues. Proper diagnosis is crucial to get appropriate treatment started promptly, and your horse doctor will also be able to make recommendations for environmental and management changes that can you help prevent a relapse of ulcers in the future. More information about EGUS is available on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcer-syndrome

ARE YOU PREPARED IN CASE OF NATURAL DISASTER? Tomorrow, May 8, we observe #NationalAnimalDisasterPreparedness Day. After the record-breaking disaster season...s we’ve seen the last couple of years, we want to make sure horse owners are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep animals and properties as safe as possible in a crisis situation. The printable checklist below will help you determine what plans you can make now to keep your animals and your family safe in the event of emergency. Additional helpful links and resources are available on our website at https://aaep.org//owner-emergency-disaster-and-preparedness Be safe, everyone!

SDEG is looking to expand our team! We have two openings available, the first is for an ambulatory assistant or technician(RVT), working in the field alongside one of our seven veterinarians. The second is an administrative assistant based in our San Marcos office, assisting with administrative duties and reception! If you or someone you know would make a great fit please apply via Indeed or email Stephanie at [email protected]... Indeed links: Assistant/Tech: https://www.indeed.com//equine-veterinary-assistant-or-tec Admin: https://www.indeed.com//equine-veterinary-receptionistcust

Happy #EarthDay! Our planet is blessed with the millions of species that we know and love, but let’s not forget that some do not mix successfully. While a 1,000...-pound horse has to consume significantly higher quantities of a toxic plant than a smaller animal to be affected clinically, some plants are cause for concern and all poisonous plants are worth recognizing so they can be removed from your horse-keeping areas. If you suspect your horse has ingested a poisonous plant: Remove the horse from the source. Contact your veterinarian immediately. Attempt to determine how much of the toxic plant was eaten and when it was eaten (small amounts of some toxins can be fatal in a short period of time while other require large amounts to be eaten over several weeks or months). Please note that another commonly overlooked reason a horse may become poisoned is allowing horses to graze a pasture after it has been sprayed with herbicide, but before the weeds have died and disappeared. As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and guidance!

There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the... stomach or intestines. Therefore, it stands to good reason that understanding the anatomy of your horse’s digestive system can help you become a better steward for your equine friend. Fun fact: many people associate digestive health with stomach health. But did you know that the horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals? The stomach of the horse is also the smallest unit of the digestive tract, comprising less than 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. By contrast, the hindgut is huge and plays a significant role in the horse’s digestive process by serving as the home of friendly bacteria that ferment fiber and turn it into energy. Hindgut problems can produce obvious physical signs like loss of weight, poor condition, poor performance, diarrhea and colic. Some symptoms however can be less obvious, like poor temperament and training issues. The key to ensuring good digestive health is good management practices that include (but are not limited to) establishing a set daily routine; feeding a high-quality diet comprised primarily of high-quality roughage; avoid overloading the digestive tract with concentrate rations; providing clean, fresh water at all times; establishing a regular turnout and exercise routine; setting up a regular deworming and dental care program with your veterinarian; reducing stress and making any changes (to diet, housing and exercise) gradually. Consult your veterinarian about how to maximize your horse’s digestive health. A healthy horse is a happy horse!

You may have read that Europe is currently dealing with the most serious Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreak in decades. Effective March 1, the Fédération Equest...re Internationale has cancelled international events in 10 countries on the European mainland until March 28 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of EHV-1, which originated in Spain and has already resulted in related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe. These measures will limit the number of horses traveling internationally and therefore reduce the likelihood of an increasingly wider outbreak. With this being said, this episode serves as a reminder of the importance of practicing proper biosecurity; working with your veterinarian to establish the right vaccination protocol for your horse; and paying closer attention to the needs of susceptible individuals like weaned foals, yearlings, performance and show horses who commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition. WHAT IS EHV? You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a contagious respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses." However, EHV is more than that: depending on the strain, this virus can cause abortion, respiratory disease and a neurologic disease that can be deadly (Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy [EHM]). Additional resources and information on EHV can be found on our website at: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/faq-equine-herpesvirus-ehv Read the FEI's announcement here: https://inside.fei.org//fei-cancels-european-mainland-even

Please join us in wishing Dr. McClellan a very Happy Birthday!

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

San Dieguito Equine Group, Inc. is hiring! Are you or do you know a highly skilled equine veterinary technician? Please visit our posting on Indeed for more information. (link below)... AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

Please join us in wishing our AMAZING technical staff a very happy Veterinary Technician Week! Each morning this week we are giving a token of appreciation to our RVT's and assistants. (As well as their favorite... lots of food and candy :) ) Each day has a theme and a corresponding gift. ... We truly could not do what we do without them! Jen, Andrea, Sadie, Sue, Jenna, Emily, Zoe, and Sarah - thank you, thank you, thank you! AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

Did you know that our magnet was the FIRST Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging standing MRI in North America?

A common misconception is that a good veterinarian doesn’t need to use sedation and/or a good horse doesn’t need to be sedated for dental work. Before the advent of equine anesthesia and sedation decades ago, veterinary procedures were limited by unsafe conditions for both the practitioner and the owner. Pictured are three sedative medications of the Alpha-2 agonist class which has vastly improved the quality of practice. Veterinarians utilize them, along with other classes o...f sedatives and tranquilizers, for many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. On this topic, Dr. Scott Marx, who served on the AAEP Dentistry Committee and the Equine Dentistry Regulations Committee for the Colorado Board of veterinary Medicine, explained that (people) gauge the quality of the work based on whether or not they use sedation. I could work without sedation, but I would do a bad job. If we are going to do a true examination, we have to sedate the horse, we have to put on a full mouth speculum, we have to have a bright light and we have to use a mirror. If we don’t do that, it is not that we may miss things, but that we WILL miss things. Like all medications, sedation carries risk, albeit low. This risk must be balanced with the risk of performing the procedure without it. Just as Dr. Marx explained, veterinarians must use sedation to perform thorough dental examinations. And, as safety is one of our top values at San Dieguito Equine Group, we use sedation to perform this work with safety always in mind for your horse, for our team, and you. To read more about the many myths and misconceptions about comprehensive equine dentistry, visit https://www.thefencepost.com//myths-and-misconceptions-ab/ Should you have any questions or concerns about your horse's dental health please do not hesitate to contact the office or speak to one of our veterinarians at your next appointment.

Practicing social distancing in style while on appointments today!

It always makes us proud when our San Dieguito team can contribute to educating the horse community. This article featured in May’s edition of TheHorse.com by our own Dr. Brett Robinson is a great example of that! Take a read to learn about some common equine eye conditions

Happy Friday everyone! We hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend with your horses! Remember- we are available for weekend appointments, and after hours emergencies as always

San Dieguito Equine Group, Inc. is the official horse show veterinarian for the Del Mar National Horse Show. We are sad we won't get to see our clients, competitors, and spectators at this year's event. But, we are optimistic and looking forward to an even bigger and better 2021 Del Mar National Horse Show We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these difficult times.

As displayed by Dr. McClellan and his partner Bernie, we are practicing social distancing with the help of our four legged employees We are still available to see appointments in the field or at our clinic, and are always available for emergencies.

While the recommendation to "practice social distancing" during this crisis is a solid one, the term is arguably vague and a bit too conceptual. Here are some c...lear instructions that horse people will have no problem understanding! If you're looking for additional COVID-19 disease resources and updates, the Equine Disease Communication Center published a resource center featuring items to help horse owners navigate this disease pandemic. To learn more, visit http://www.equinediseasecc.org/coronavirus-resources #aaep #equinevets #horsedoctors #veterinarymedicine #equestrianlife #covid19 #thursdaytruth #stallrest

Great advice on how to maintain social distancing and proper bio-security measures while enjoying your equine friends!

Anyone tried Perfect Prep yet?

Because we could all use something cheerful and adorable - Dr. McClellan's birthday was a few weeks ago and these cuties from HS Equestrian had a special message for him!

March 16, 2020 To our valued clients, Like every business, we have been following the development of the corona virus (COVID-19) infection rate. ... We are making the necessary adjustments to our protocols but want to assure you that our service to you will remain uninterrupted. All our team is aware of their responsibilities to maintain the best medical practices regarding our interactions with you as outlined by the CDC. The majority of these actions, such as cleaning equipment and hand washing, already take place during our appointments. We are familiar with the processes of infectious disease propagation and routine measures of risk mitigation have already been factored into our daily routines. Additionally, be assured that the human corona virus will not infect your horses or pets. This virus is new to the human population which is why it’s global spread is of concern. People have not yet developed natural immunity. There is a disease caused by a corona virus in horses. This virus has been around a long time and typically causes gastrointestinal illness. The equine corona virus is not contagious to people. Our advice to you is that you continue to interact with and enjoy your horses while taking precautions as outlined by the CDC. If you fall ill, follow the treatment recommended by your human doctor and recuperate quickly. (Don’t forget to give us a call to reschedule!) We want to see you back in the saddle! Please feel free to contact the office with any questions, or should need to reschedule your appointments. To your continued good health, Dr. Paul McClellan & all of us at San Dieguito Equine Group

May your Friday be as good as this little guys!

About right for most of us... How are your horses handling all this rain and mud we've been getting?