Client Education Series 2009

Click Here for information and dates on our 2009 client education series

DENTAL CARE & POWERFLOATING

Proper dental care is a vital part of preventative healthcare of horses.  Oral and dental exams should be done at least annually.  Filing of sharp edges, removing hooks, and aligning proper grinding of the teeth can then be performed as necessary.  As a horse ages, changes within the mouth occur.  Fractures of molars, missing teeth, diseased tooth roots, and “wavemouths” become commonplace. 

The importance of equine dental care is becoming more and more apparent to horse owners.  In order to stay competitive, equestrians need to have their horse’s teeth in perfect order so their horses respond appropriately to the bit and subtle hand signals.

POWERFLOATING

What was once a physically demanding and difficult task is now an accurate, easy and somewhat gentle procedure on horses.  The doctors at South Shore Equine Clinic & Diagnostic Center use a rotary mechanized float (POWERFLOAT) for most of the dental needs encountered with horses.  After a thorough oral exam complete with speculum, mirror, and necessary tools, dental floating can begin.  By using light sedation, floating procedures including reduction of enamel points, hooks, ramps, wave mouth, bit seats, and incisor teeth are accomplished with minimal discomfort to the patient.  The small size of the abrasive surface and stationary guard permit easy access to all areas of the mouth on all breeds of horses.  The instrumentation allows us to complete tasks quickly and with minimal contact to the soft tissues of the mouth.  Trauma to the oral mucosa is virtually eliminated.   Many older horses often get nasal discharge within a day or two after having been hand floated.  Studies have shown this is due to excessive vibration on older teeth from the repetitive back and forth motion of hand floats.

Digital radiographs of teeth, skull bones, and sinuses may also help to determine if more invasive or alternate treatments are necessary for your horse.  Consultations with dental specialists are available on an as needed basis.

If you have any questions or are interested in our dental services, please contact South Shore Equine Clinic at (781) 585-2611 or email southshoreeqineclinic@yahoo.com

Great advances in equine reproduction have allowed breeding success rates to improve tremendously.  Horses can be bred by live cover (natural mating), artificial insemination, or embryo transfer.  Although live cover is still required to produce registered thoroughbred racehorse foals, it is less commonly used by other breeders.  Many people do not want to keep a stallion on their property for safety and management reasons. 

Artificial Insemination (AI)
AI is a popular method of breeding horses because a mare can be bred to the stallion of your choice despite where the stallion is located.  AI offers numerous advantages over live cover.  Artificial insemination can be performed with fresh cooled semen or frozen semen.  Frozen semen can be stored in liquid nitrogen indefinitely to preserve important bloodlines of donor stallions. 

Embryo Transfer (ET)
For mares that are showing and competing, those that have a poor uterine environment or those mares with non-reproductive health problems, ET is a good alternative.  After breeding a donor mare to a fertile stallion either with live cover or artificial insemination, the embryo is flushed and recovered from the donor mare.  It is then transferred into a synchronized recipient mare (surrogate).  ET allows an individual mare to produce multiple foals in one year.  Embryos from aged, sub-fertile mares are often defective and have low survival rates; therefore, these mares are not ideal candidates for embryo transfer. 

Regardless of breeding technique, the mare should have a breeding soundness exam and ultrasound to determine where she is in her reproductive cycle.  This will ensure that the mare is bred at the optimal time in her cycle which will improve the chance of her becoming pregnant.  If you have any questions or are interested in these breeding services, please contact South Shore Equine Clinic at (781) 585-2611 or email southshoreeqineclinic@yahoo.com

Superior Preventative Wellness Plan

South Shore Equine Clinic & Diagnostic Center is pleased to announce the Superior Preventative  Wellness Plan.  Similar to human pediatric care and in small animal veterinary practices, this plan will enable us to screen for early signs of problems and ensure that each individual horse receives care tailored specifically to his or her needs. (Click here for more information)

CLICK HERE for a copy of the Wellness Plan brochure and ENROLLMENT FORM

What's Happening at SSEC

We have a new Eklin Digital Radiograph Machine.  What does this mean for your horse?  We are now able to take radiographs and view them at the farm instantly, whether it is a pre-purchase exam, lameness exam or to meet with you and your farrier to help assess your horse’s current shoeing, trimming and hoof balance.

Construction is nearing completion for a new five stall barn and a new building addition .  As our practice continues to grow, so does our need for space.  Plans are currently underway for the new addition to include a room for nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan), a larger pharmacy, employee break room, farrier workroom, and additional offices. 

NASHVILLE, TN – Mark T. Reilly, DVM, of Plympton, MA has been certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) specializing in Equine Practice.

Dr. Reilly mastered a rigorous and demanding application process and certification examination in order to obtain Diplomate status.  To qualify to sit for the extensive, two-day examination, a veterinarian must complete either a residency program or six years of clinical veterinary practice.  In addition, two case reports, references, descriptions of practice procedures, and professional education records must be submitted and pass review.  This year's examination was given on Nov. 2-4, 2007 in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Reilly is a graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, and has a special interest in performance horses and imaging diagnostics.  Dr. Reilly practices at South Shore Equine Clinic & Diagnostic Center located at 151 Palmer Road (Route 58) in Plympton.  He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners was established in 1978 and is accredited by a special committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association to recognize excellence in clinical practice through the certification of species-oriented specialists.  Over 800 veterinarians worldwide are certified in one of ABVP’s eight practice categories: Canine and Feline, Food Animal, Equine, Dairy, Swine Health Management, Feline, Avian, and Beef Cattle.  For more information on ABVP visit www.abvp.com

This web site was updated on 03/12/2009

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