News
7/30/10 Worried about Eastern Equine Encephalitis? Click first on the 'More' below and then CLICK HERE for more information
5/27/10 Find us on Facebook!!!
3/15/10 RABID HORSE IN LAPEER COUNTY
State Veterinarian Urges Pet and Livestock Owners to Vaccinate Against Rabies Rabid horse identified in Lapeer County is state’s third rabies case this year.
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) State Veterinarian Dr. Steven Halstead today urged Michigan citizens to be pro-active and have their pets and livestock vaccinated against rabies and other diseases after confirmation that a horse in Lapeer County tested positive for rabies. "It is essential pet and livestock owners take steps to vaccinate against rabies and other diseases because of the possibility human exposure to the disease from interaction with infected horses, cattle, dogs, and cats," Dr. Halstead said. “By working with their veterinarian, owners can take significant steps toward providing a safe and healthy environment for their families and animals."
A quarantine was issued on the Lapeer County horse farm and will be monitored by county animal control officers. Feral cats and any pet cat on the premises showing clinical signs consistent with rabies or with a history of biting someone within the previous 10 days will be tested. Six people, including the owner, trainer, and veterinarian, that may have been exposed to the rabid horse are receiving a series of preventative rabies shots. No other humans or animals are known to have been exposed at this time.
This is the third case of rabies in Michigan thus far in 2010 - a skunk was found to be rabid in St. Clair County and a bat was found to be rabid in Kent County.
A standard vaccination program for pets and livestock includes vaccinations required by law, along with vaccinations for diseases commonly found throughout the state. Licensed vaccines are also available for horses, cows, sheep and goats. "It is important to make sure animals attending fairs or exhibitions, field trials or shows receive additional vaccinations to protect against diseases they may be exposed to in group housing or stressful situations. Owners should consult their private veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination program specific for their animals,” Halstead said.
State law requires ferrets and dogs be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. It is also important to make sure that cats kept indoors also be vaccinated as bats frequently get into homes exposing the cats.
Dr. Halstead also recommends the following vaccinations:
All horses against rabies, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis, Tetanus, and West Nile Virus. Having dogs checked for heartworm and intestinal parasites, along with vaccinations against canine distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Having cats checked for heartworm and internal parasites and vaccinations for cats include rabies, herpes virus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
3/5/10 Dr. Catie Case has left the practice! :( Sadly for us, Dr Case was offered a full time position, which she took. She will be greatly missed!!! We wish her good luck and happiness.
2/12/10 VACCINE AND COGGINS DISCOUNTS for barns of 10 or more horses. 10% off your vaccines and coggins, when 10 or more horses are each receiving Spring vaccines. (Spring vaccines include EWT/WN, Potomac and Flu/Rhino)
1/1/10 Happy New Year!!
12/1/09 WINTER HOURS - We are now open Monday- Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
11/4/09 DOG AND CAT OWNERS!!!! - Did you know that we offer products for your other pets, as well as your horses, on our online store? Check it out by clicking on the 'Online Store' button on our homepage. November's special is FREE SHIPPING on all Flea and Tick products. So, order all your horse products and a flea product for your other pets and the whole order is SHIPPED FREE!!
10/28/09 PREVENTICARE CLIENTS!!!! - You should have received a letter in the mail from Pfizer regarding how you should re-enroll your horse(s). You are now able to go online and submit all information yourself, rather than having to have us fill out and mail in forms for you. This reduces a great deal of time and paperwork for us both :) Please visit www.equinepreventicare.com if you have additional questions.
9/21/09 Ever think you may need Radiographs of your horse's feet? Ask about our upcoming Hoof Balance Clinics!
8/1/09 Check out our on-line store! Call us at 682-0669 and give us your email address, if we don't already have it on file, to get updates and specials from the on-line store
7/01/09 SATURDAY HOURS!!! You've asked for them, here they are! Dr. Case will be taking appointments every other Saturday, beginning July 11th. Call today to make your appointment.
6/24/09 It is Potomac Horse Fever season once again. We have treated several suspect cases already this summer, and MSU College of Veterinary Medicine has been treating many hospitalized cases as well. The fact that your horse has been immunized for the disease does not mean that it is protected completely. The vaccine may lessen the severity with some strains of the organism, and in other cases the symptoms may be severe and life-threatening even in a well-immunized horse. If your horse shows lethargy, poor appetite, fever, or has loose stool between June and October, please contact us immediately to consult about the liklihood of Potomac.
6/23/09 Consider having hoof balance radiographs of your horse's front hooves taken periodically to provide the farrier with a blueprint of your horse's hooves. This will help him or her to see the exact relationship of the bony column to the hoof capsule, and know what adjustments need made to arrive at a perfectly balanced hoof. Many times, abnormalities in balance are detected using radiographs when outward examination, or “reading” the hoof, fails to identify any problems. Out-of-balance hooves can lead to chronic degenerative problems of the hoof including navicular disease, ringbone, sidebones, and hoof cracks, just to name a few.
6/20/09 We are excited to announce the addition of Dr. Catie Case to our team at Thornwood Equine! After completing a one year internship at Wisconsin Equine, she arrives back in her home state of Michigan to continue her career. A Native of Hastings, Catie is bound to bring a new dimension to our practice with her evolving interests in equine medicine.Click here for more information Check back soon for our online store which should be in full operation by the end of the month. We hope this will be your new source for equine supplies and pharmaceuticals such as dewormers, bandage supplies, joint supplements, etc. We will make efforts to compete with prices found in the catalogs in hopes you will bring your business to us.
5/01/09 If Dr. Fitzgerald seems to have trouble communicating lately keep in mind he has a eighteen month old baby girl. Much of his free time is spent making silly faces, highly unusual sounds, and trying to teach English vocabulary 101 to Shea Gabriel.
4/25/09 The first annual spring vaccine clinics provided local horse people with an economical alternative for getting spring immunizations and coggins testing performed. Four clinics were held, each on Saturdays in different locations around west Michigan. We felt turnout was fair to good and definitely felt feedback from the attendees was excellent. So in 2010, we will plan further ahead and possibly expand to other locations making it more convenient and economical for you next year. Please check our website in the early Spring, 2010, for details.