Equine
Equine Hospital
Quakertown Veterinary Clinic is a fully equipped equine hospital designed to provide the highest quality care for horses.
Our doctors are available for routine on-site calls Monday through Friday and are always available 24 hours for emergency critical care.
In addition to our in-house surgery facility we offer an extensive laboratory that provides the immediate support often needed in emergency cases.
Outside veterinary practitioners are welcome to make use of our laboratory and surgical facilities.
Equine Staff
Brad Scheuch, D.A.C.V.S., D.A.B.V.P.
In addition to our doctors, our clerical and technical staff is dedicated to providing the best support care possible!
For more information about our Equine services, please call the Quakertown Veterinary Clinic.
Equine Services
- Annual Exams
- Artificial Insemination
- Coggins
- Colic Workups
- Dentals
- Field Castrations
- Foaling Assistance
- Joint Injections
- Laceration Repair
- Lameness Exams
- Neurologic Evaluations
- Nutrition Consults
- Ophthalmic Exams
- Post-foaling Mare and foal exams
- Radiology
- Reproductive Evaluations
- Ultrasonography
- Vaccinations
We are available Mon thru Fri for routine farm calls and in hospital appointments and 24/7/365 for Emergencies.
- Hematology
- Serum Chemistry
- Cytology
- Bacteriology
- Mycology
- Parasitology
- Coggins Testing (Same day results are available)
- Routine AGID – 3 day turn around
- Rush ELISA – 2.5 hour turn around
Coggins Testings
The Coggins test detects equine infectious anemia (EIA) — a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease of horses.
In the acute form of EIA, horses experience fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite and may die within weeks even if they receive aggressive treatment. The Coggins test detects antibodies to the EIA virus. The only way to help prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease is to identify infected horses and then separate or isolate them.
If your horse attends equine events or is transported across state lines, you will probably be required to show a current, negative Coggins test result.
The Coggins test is performed to identify infected horses and help prevent the disease from spreading to healthy horses. Horse owners should have Coggins tests performed annually and test all new horses arriving on their farm. Horse owners are usually required to submit a current, negative Coggins test result when they attend equine events. A current, negative Coggins test result is required to transport horses across state lines. Most stables require new boarders to provide a negative test result.
Source: VetStreet. Courtesy of Zoetis, Inc.
Outside veterinary practitioners are welcome to make use of our laboratory and surgical facilities.
Contact Quakertown Veterinary Clinic today to find out more and to schedule Coggins testing for your horse.
- Arthroscopy
- Colic Surgery
- Hernia Repair
- Ligament and Tendon Surgery
- Respiratory/Sinus
- Splint Bone Removal
- Urogenital
- Castrations (and Cryptorchid)
- Dental
- Wound Care/lacerations
- Bone sequestrum
- Enucleation
- Neurectomy
Our ambulatory veterinarians are equipped with a portable x-ray machine for convenience at your farm/barn, as well as an ultrasound machine which allows us to look at soft tissues and bony surfaces. It is utilized to diagnose suspensory injuries, inject joints, perform abdominal exams, and much more.
Endoscopy and Rhinoscopy is also available at our clinic. This diagnostic tool uses a small camera connected to a monitor so we can instantly visualize some of the inner aspects of your horse and help reach a speedy diagnosis.
EPM : Understanding this Debilitating Equine Disease
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This serious disease can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to severe.
More than 50 percent of all horses in the United States may have been exposed to the organism that causes EPM. The causative organism is a protozoal parasite called Sarcocystis neurona. The disease is not transmitted from horse to horse. Rather, the protozoa are spread by the definitive host, the opossum, which acquires the organism from cats, raccoons, skunks etc.
The infective stage of the organism is passed in the opossum’s feces. The horse comes into contact with the infective sporocysts while grazing or eating contaminated feed or drinking water.
Once ingested, the sporocysts migrate from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream and cross the blood/brain barrier. There they begin to attack the horse’s central nervous system. The onset of the disease may be slow or sudden. If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological damage.
Symptoms
- Ataxia (in-coordination), spasticity (stiff, stilted movements), abnormal gait or lameness;
- In-coordination and weakness, which worsens when going up or down slopes or when head is elevated;
- Muscle atrophy, most noticeable along the topline or in the large muscles of the hindquarters, but can sometimes involve the muscles of the face or front limbs;
- Paralysis of muscles of the eyes, face or mouth, evident by drooping eyes, ears or lips;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Seizures or collapse;
- Abnormal sweating;
- Loss of sensation along the face, neck or body;
- Head tilt with poor balance; horse may assume a splay-footed stance or lean against stall walls for support.
- The extent of the infection (i.e. the number of organisms ingested);
- How long the horse harbors the parasite prior to treatment;
- The point(s) in the brain or spinal cord where the organism localizes and damage occurs;
- Stressful events following infection or stressful events while infected.
Horses at Risk
EPM causes clinical disease in approximately one percent of exposed horses. Almost every part of the country has reported cases of EPM. However, the incidence of disease is much lower in the western United States, especially in regions with small opossum populations. Due to the transport of horses and feedstuffs from one part of the country to another, almost all horses are at risk.
Not all horses exposed to the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona will develop the disease and show clinical signs of EPM. Some horses seem to mount an effective immune response and are able to combat the disease before it gains a foothold. Other horses, especially those under stress, can succumb rapidly to the debilitating effects of EPM. Still others may harbor the organisms for months or years and then slowly or suddenly develop symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of EPM is difficult to make because there is no specific assay for this disease and because clinical signs of EPM mimic other neurological diseases. Your veterinarian will first conduct a thorough physical examination to assess your horse’s general health and identify any suspicious signs. One notable clue is the disease often tends to affect one side or part of the horse more than another.
If your equine practitioner suspects EPM, he or she may order blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid may be collected by way of a special needle inserted into the spinal canal either in a site on the lower back or at the poll. Potential risks are involved with the procedure that should be discussed with your veterinarian. A positive blood test only means the horse has been exposed to the parasite, not that it has or will develop clinical disease. Prompt, accurate diagnosis is essential and treatment should begin immediately.
Treatment
The sooner treatment begins, the better the horse’s chances are for recovery. Sixty to 70 percent of EPM cases aggressively treated show significant or complete reversal of symptoms. Many horses are able to return to normal activity. Here are some things you should know about treating EPM:
- Although there are drug combinations available to treat EPM, there are proprietary anti-protozoal drugs specifically labeled by the FDA to treat the disease. Consult with your veterinarian for more detailed information and treatment options.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms and prevent reactions to parasite die-off during treatment.
- Supplementation with vitamin E, an antioxidant, is often recommended to aid healing of nervous tissue.
- Average duration of treatment is one month with the proprietary products, although depending on which medication is used can sometimes be longer (up to three to six months with combinations).
- Treatments can be expensive.
- Although complications are rare, treatments may affect stallion fertility and may pose certain health risks to unborn foals.
- While success rates are high, not all horses respond positively to therapy. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of horses may experience a relapse.
- While a horse is being treated, taking intermittent blood samples may be recommended to monitor potential side effects such as anemia, low platelet count and low white blood cell count.
- Some drugs used to treat EPM are antifolate drugs. Therefore, periodic examination for anemia is indicated during treatment.
- Horses undergoing treatment should be closely observed for signs of improvement or decline, especially negative side effects to the drugs, such as acute diarrhea.
- Be sure to report any changes in the horse’s condition to your veterinarian.
Methods of Prevention
- Keep feed rooms and containers closed and sealed.
- Use feeders, which minimize spillage and are difficult for wild animals to access.
- Clean up any dropped grain immediately to discourage scavengers.
- Feed heat-treated cereal grains and extruded feeds since these processes seem to kill the infective sporocysts.
- Keep water tanks clean and filled with clean, fresh water.
- Maximize your horse’s health and fitness through proper nutrition, regular exercise and routine de-worming and vaccinations.
- Schedule regular appointments with your equine veterinarian.
Ongoing Research
EPM was initially identified in 1964. In recent years, awareness among veterinarians and horse owners has grown considerably. Research at the University of Kentucky, the University of Florida, Ohio State University, the University of California at Davis, University of Missouri, Virginia Tech and University of Maryland and Michigan State University, Dr P Ellison – Pathogenes Inc, (Fl) as well as other institutions, is leading to advancements in EPM diagnosis, treatment and the life cycle of S. neurona.
For more information regarding EPM, contact us at (215) 515-6909.
Source: A Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Brochure – Ref: AAEP
See What Makes Us Different
Open 24/7/365
We know that an emergency can happen at any time and that is why we offer 24-hour/365 day emergency care for dogs, cats, horses, farm animals & exotic pets.
Caring for All Types of Animals
Advanced Technology
Hours & Location
- Hours
- Location
- Phone