Leatherstocking Veterinary Services

Are you going into this spring grass season confident that your horses are not passing internal parasite eggs onto your newly growing pasture? This month only (April) save $5 per sample on fecals. Either drop off a fresh sample at the clinic (approximately the size of a tennis ball), or have one of the vets bring it back from your appointment. Deworming can be so much more valuable when you know what parasites you should be targeting and the level the horse is shedding. Call the office at (607) 847-9990 for more information!

Roy is back standing at LVS this month. If you’re thinking about breeding for color give Hillary a call at the office (607) 847-9990 to find out more information on breeding your mare to this stallion. RSJ A ZIPIN LEGEND....AQHA Palomino Homozygous Gold Champagne all around type stallion. COLOR GUARANTEE - Every foal will be a Champagne. The color of your mare will be diluted by the Champagne gene. RSJ A Zipin Legend (Roy) is the total package with a great pedigree, disp...osition, conformation and athletic ability. Five panel and OWLS N/N, EVA vaccinated. ChCh, AA, no cream gene. Stud fee: $500 LFCG, unregistered mares $400. See more

Wishing our clients, friends and family the happiest Easter.

In theory spring is a time for warm sunny days. The last few have been pretty chilly. Mares have been enjoying the large warm foaling stalls at Leatherstocking while welcoming their foals on these snowy windy nights.

Spring is in full swing at LVS, so I’ve gotten a touch behind welcoming the new arrivals. A huge congratulations to Dave and Deb Hanson of Lakeview Equine on this pair of fillies born the same night! Makes Me Crazy x Six Pack Perfect Mass x Crazy Wow At a quick glance it’s not easy to tell them apart!

QUIZ TIME! If you're looking for a fun challenge, take Equus Magazine's quiz to see how well you know the technologies most often used to detect and evaluate health problems in horses.

Yesterday Dr. Judy and Dr. Linda delivered this spunky heifer calf after correcting a uterine torsion. It’s a bit of a design flaw that the entire uterus, with the calf inside, can flip completely over! This calf (and the cow’s uterus) were twisted completely 360 degrees!! Obviously this can be life threatening for both the cow and calf as the blood supply to the uterus is compromised. Cow and calf are both doing well today!

Deworming horses may be something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember. However, you should know that this old-school approach is quickly becoming outdated. Commonly used strategies for parasite control in adult horses are based largely on knowledge and concepts that are more than 50 years old; they are not only a waste of time and money, they especially build drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines. Working with your horse doctor to create... a targeted deworming plan for each horse/farm is actually less work, less expensive and more effective than the rotational deworming program of the old days. It’s very important to have your veterinarian perform fecal egg counts to determine the amount of eggs your horse is shedding and check the efficacy of the dewormer used last. Finally, don't rely on dewormers alone when it comes to parasite control. As parasites are primarily transferred via manure, good pasture maintenance. For more information, the AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines can be found on our website at https://aaep.org//InternalParasiteGuidelinesFinal5.23.19.p As always, consult your equine veterinarian for questions specific to your horse and to set up an effective deworming program.

No matter what the weatherman says... Charlie knows that spring is just around the corner! Just look at all that hair shedding out!

How does your horse score on the Henneke scale? Most horse owners understand the dangers of a horse dropping weight and becoming too thin; however, many of those same horse owners underestimate the fact that an overweight horse is just as unhealthy, and can be much more difficult to manage and rehabilitate than a thin animal. An overweight horse will not only have a compromised quality of life; it will also be at higher risk of a number of health problems like laminitis, me...tabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, the formation of colic-causing lipomas (fat tumors in the abdomen), joint and bone problems, reduced reproduction efficiency and increased stress on their heart and lungs. Being able to assess your equine friend's weight and body condition is a valuable skill. Because "fitness" is subjective, the Henneke Body Condition Scoring Chart provides a standard scoring system for you, the veterinarian, the nutritionist and other health care professionals involved in the care of your animal. The horse's physical condition is rated on visual appraisal and palpation (feel) of six key conformation points: the amount of flesh or fat covering along the neck; the withers; down the crease of the back; at the tailhead; ribs: and behind the shoulder at the girth. A body condition score of somewhere between 4 and 6 is ideal for most horses. However, keep in mind that in some disciplines (like racing, polo and eventing) and some life stages (like pregnancy) a higher or lower body score might be more appropriate. If you think your horse is too fat or too thin (or even if you are unsure), have a chat with your veterinarian to discuss the appropriate condition and a feeding and exercise program for your animal!

It’s lambing season in central NY!! We hope everyone has successful deliveries and not too many little ones need rescue therapy in the house. These twins were completely neglected at birth and got very cold in Monday’s winter weather (despite being born in a nice barn). It’s important to remember with lambs/ kids and calves that their immunity for the first several months of life is passed in the colostrum over the first day of life. Everyone should have either some frozen colostrum of good quality, or a reputable commercial source available in case it is needed. It takes more than the love of a Labrador to give a lamb a good start!

Dori Koop (the smiling voice on our phone Saturday mornings) has a hidden talent with her husband Charlie. They are wildlife rehabilitators and have been working with this red tailed hawk who was found injured on I-88 on February 16. He was recently deemed recovered enough to return home. Thanks for helping those who can’t help themselves!

Standardbreds aren’t the only stallions in the breeding shed. Bonfire was in recently for training and semen evaluation. He is a registered Fresian sport horse, Chestnut with lots of float in his gait. His foals will be able to be registered Friesian sport horses. Bonfire is available fresh, shipped cooled, frozen, and live cover. Stay tuned for other stallions who will be available over the next few months. Call Hillary at (607) 847-9990 for pricing and availability.

Do you know what to do if your horse is choking? Espophageal obstruction, or choke, can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which res...ults in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Anatomical problems, such as poor dentition and abnormal esophagus anatomy, can also predispose a horse to choking. Chokes are common equine emergencies but can have serious consequences; be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

Congratulations to Wanda Polisseni of Purple Haze Stables on this big strong Crazy Wow x Chapress colt!

Are your meds on a shelf in the barn??

Congratulations Mark Wamp from Houston TX on this smart and correct second filly out of Super Soph! Super Soph made $372,895 racing before becoming a brood mare. She and this So Surreal foal are both doing well.