Large Animal Services

Thank you for choosing Ellensburg Animal Hospital to partner with you in providing the best care for your horses. We offer a wide range of equine services to prevent and treat common ailments of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Routine Equine Preventive Procedures

Clients are used to vaccinations and dental work as preventive care. An annual examination is just as important to detect and manage all aspects of your horse’s health. We have a wide array of examination, laboratory and radiology services for diagnosing and treating lameness and other health conditions.

Vaccinations
Deworming
Dental Care
Physical Examinations

Other health concerns that can be evaluated

Colic
Lameness
Respiratory Disease
Wounds
Ophthalmic (eyes)
Obesity/weight management

Equine Dental

Dental Maintenance is a major factor in equine health. Historically, horses would get their teeth floated as they developed problems with age but keeping the teeth growing evenly and maintaining alignment has been shown to be very effective starting as early as two years of age when permanent teeth are coming in. Since a horse’s teeth grow throughout most of their lives, deviations when they are young perpetuate and often become worse. Problems with baby teeth affecting growth patterns can cause many problems later on such as wave mouth, misalignment of jaws and molar spikes.

Many training problems connected with bridle and bit including fighting the bit, refusing a turn and fighting back when “gathered in” can be helped or corrected with dental care. Other indications of dental problems include slow chewing, spitting out wads of hay or grass, and weight loss.

“Floating” or filing the teeth is typically performed under sedation with a dental speculum in place. Sedation is necessary to do a high quality procedure with full access to the teeth and to reduce chance of injury.

Equine Diagnostics

Digital Radiograph

Portable- It is available for emergency diagnostics in the field.
Images in seconds on computer screen
Rapid consultation

Lameness Evaluation

Hoof exam, hoof testing and consultation with farriers
Digital X-ray
Gait evaluation
Limb flexion tests
Nerve Blocks (regional anesthesia)
Joint Blocks (Intra-articular anesthesia)
Maintenance therapy (Injectables- Adequan, Legend)
Consultation/recommendations for oral supplementation or anti-inflammatory medications.

Ultrasound