General Medicine

Comprehensive diagnostics and treatment is essential when dealing with acute and chronic illness. Whether your horse is suffering from an ophthalmic problem, a respiratory infection or needs adjustment to his diet, Keystone Equine is there to guide him back to better health. Our goal is to help the owner formulate the best plan of therapy for their horse.

 

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Lameness

Lameness is the leading the cause of poor performance in the equine world. The key to an accurate lameness diagnosis is a thorough examination by an experienced veterinarian.

 

First and foremost is a complete history of the problem. The horse is then observed in motion in a straight line, on a lunge line and at times under tack. Surfaces may be changed to observe differences on soft and hard footing. Flexion tests are also performed to reveal any underlying soreness.

 

Perineural (around the nerve) as well as intra-articular (in the joint) blocking is often performed to sequentially numb the limb and isolate the source of pain. Once we have our focus area, we can then utilize other tools to achieve a diagnosis. At Keystone Equine Vet, we often utilize digital radiography and ultrasound for this thorough evaluation. We then use this valuable information to formulate a treatment plan that best fits the needs of your equine athlete.

 

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Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) has been practiced in China for more than 2000 years. More than half of veterinary practices in China use TCVM and its popularity is gaining here in the U.S. The two main forms of TCVM used consist of acupuncture and herbal therapy.

Modern western medicine has its strength in diagnostic workup with technology and laboratory testing. Where it can fall short is with treatment. We have pinpoint treatments for problems but would like to focus on treating the entire animal. Additionally, we would like to avoid or lessen the side effects of some of our treatments and medications. TCVM is less detailed on the diagnostic side but has its strength in treating the overall health of the animal. Combining these two modalities can help to improve healing, performance and quality of life.

Acupuncture has multiple forms that include dry needling, aqua-puncture (injecting Vit B12 at AP points), and electro-acupuncture (electric stim). Electro-acupuncture has proven to be very useful in stimulating a stronger response. Most horses handle treatment very well, with a few personality types being a bit more challenging.

Clients ask what is TCVM useful for? Performance horses can benefit greatly for musculoskeletal pain that is affecting their ability but not causing an outright lameness. Geriatric patients can benefit greatly by supporting body functions and increasing their quality of life. Other applications it can be very effective for include arthritis, back pain, musculoskeletal/tendon problems, heel pain, anhidrosis, diarrhea and cases where everything else has been tried. Acute problems can respond quickly, while chronic issues may take a little time. Generally, I recommend trying three treatments before deciding it is not being effective.

Herbal therapy can be combined with acupuncture to improve therapeutic results. A TCVM diagnostic scan helps to identify an animal’s underlying disease pattern. This pattern diagnosis guides the veterinarian to choose proper acupuncture points and possible herbal mixes that may beneficial for that current problem.

Dr. Angstadt has studied TCVM at the internationally recognized Chi Institute of TCVM in Reddick, FL. Dr. Huisheng Xie is an incredible instructor that has developed a first class program. Please contact Dr. Angstadt if you would like to include this form of therapy into your horse's health plan.

 

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Reproduction

Equine reproductive services are a very important part of veterinary practices. Attention to detail is vital to achieving good reproductive results for your farm. At Keystone Equine Vet Services we feel the best way to start off the breeding season is with a breeding soundness exam. An ultrasonic evaluation combined with uterine culture and cytology will help us to ensure the reproductive health of your mare. Reproductive services offered by our practice include but are not limited to:

• rectal examination
• pregnancy diagnosis
• ultrasonography
• artificial insemination
• twin reduction
• post foaling exam
• uterine culture, cytology and biopsy

 

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Pre-Purchase Exams

Keystone Equine Vet takes the purchase of a horse very seriously. There is always risk associated with the purchase of any horse. In order to manage this risk, we advise all clients to have an experienced veterinarian perform a pre-purchase examination.

 

A thorough pre-purchase exam is to identify any deviations from "normal". These abnormalities are then reviewed to quantify the risks associated with the purchase of that horse. Important factors include the intended level of use, the horse’s performance history and the current conditioning/fitness level of the horse.

 

The intent of a pre-purchase exam is not to pass or fail the horse but to assist the purchaser in making the best educated decision. The exam is good for that particular horse on that day and no future guarantees can be made.

 

The exam itself is an extensive physical exam covering the whole horse from front to back. If the seller/agents facilities are limited, it is suggested the horse be transported to another location to allow for proper exam.

 

Physical
• Complete from nose to tail
• All major body systems
• Reproductive and endoscopic exam if requested

Soundness
• Trot in straight lines
• Flexion tests
• Lunging at trot & canter
• Hard & soft surfaces
• Under tack if appropriate

Bloodwork (suggested, but optional)
• EIA (coggins)
• Drug Screen (performance enhancing meds)
• Blood count and blood chemistry

 

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Equine Dentistry

Routine dental care is a very important aspect of a complete equine health care program. "Floating", as it is commonly called, is essential to a horses comfort while chewing as well as while under tack. Dental care should begin at 2-3 years of age. On average, dental maintenance should be performed on a yearly basis. Regular maintenance will help to prevent major dental problems from developing. Regular maintenance can also help to prevent other forms of oral pathology.

 

In the performance horse, specific attention is placed on the bit seat area. A rounded bit seat area gives an improved, more comfortable contact with the bit. Dr. Angstadt is skilled in both routine and performance dental care.

 

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Surgery

Keystone Equine must limit surgery to those procedures that can be performed in the field setting. A wide array of procedures can be performed such as castration, wound repair, and mass removal. A consultation with Dr. Angstadt can help to determine if your horses surgery can be performed at the stable or if best to go to a referral center. Keystone Equine hopes to have its own facility in the near future.

 

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