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| Bits & Pieces |
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October 2009
Project Samana, named for the town in which it is based, is an outreach program of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) begun as a way to help the animals and people of the Dominican republic, the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere. In Samana medical resources are scarce. Numerous stray and unwanted pets and genetically deficient work animals are both a burden and a source of disease. By neutering the animals and training local practitioners in basic care and first aid, we have begun to help those who are unable to help themselves. Our mission is simple:
To date, more than 4000 dogs and cats have been spayed and neutered; and more than 700 stallions have been castrated. We educate the people on animal care, nutrition, basic first aid, parasite control, tick infestation and any other afflictions that we treat. Team Samana also works with an Eco-tourism group who documents the health of individual horses. This allows monitoring of the animals who are too sick or thin to work and enables us to follow up on cases from prior trips. We have encouraged a mule breeding program as mules are hardy animals that adapt well to the local climate and conditions thus are more resistant to disease and more productive for the farmers. Team Samana has strengthened the human animal bond and given the animals a chance for a better, healthier life. The influence that this experience has had on the over 100 veterinarians, technicians, and students who have made the journey, gotten back to the basics, and brought altruism back into their daily lives is the everlasting legacy of Project Samana. Game Ready ® - A Sound Investment
HOW IT WORKS... Game Ready was engineered using NASA spacesuit technology and combines dry cold and active compression therapy that follows the physical therapy practice of Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation used for human athletes. Form fitted wraps target specific areas of need; the Game Ready system continuously cycles cold water around the entire targeted area, removing maximum heat and promoting fresh blood flow. The Unwanted Horse Council was created by members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2005 as a way to educate current and future equine owners on how to “own responsibly”. The number of neglected and abandoned horses has been steadily increasing for the past few years due to changes in financial circumstance, loss of interest or simply because of increasing age and loss of competitive suitability. As any horse owner knows, it is a tremendous responsibility to be part of a horses life and it is just as important to be aware of what options are available should your horse become unwanted, no matter what the reason. Some factors to consider before purchasing a horse are:
Should the situation arise that you can no longer provide adequate care for your horse, it is important to be aware of any available options including but not limited to:
For more information, visit: www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org We were off to the races at the annual company outing! SSEC had a wonderful opportunity to sponsor a race at Suffolk Downs and was in the winners circle to present the trophy to Kentucky Magic with a wining time of 1:46! Suffolk Downs was a gracious host of over 30 family and friends of SSEC! We would also like to congratulate Dr. Shaw on her recent Fall nuptials to Chris Jaynes! Dr. Shaw and Chris were married early October in beautiful Saratoga, New York. We wish them the best of luck and happiness as they celebrate their new life together! An Introduction to Lyme Disease The signs of Lyme disease are often vague and vary quite a bit. Fever, muscle aches, and fatigue can also be typical of many viral infections. Joint pain and stiffness may be due to injury or arthritis. Many horses also may appear to be neurologic, which can be confused with protozoal myelopathy (EPM), encephalitis, motor neuron disease (EMND), degenerative myelopathy, spinal cord disease or pelvic pain. Horses are often hyper aesthetic – they have increased or altered sensitivity to sensory stimuli and/or resent touch or pressure. We often hear the horse is grumpy, acting very mare-ish, or seems unwilling to work and just doesn’t seem like his/her normal self. Fever and limb edema are more likely a result of Anaplasma phagocytophila infection, also a tick borne disease. Thankfully, the diagnosis and treatment are very similar. Diagnosing Lyme disease is difficult due to the fact the most common presenting complaint is lameness. It often takes a few days to weeks to develop clinical signs after the tick bite. The disease can also be episodic or chronic in nature. There also is no common location of lameness – it may be forelimb, pelvis, spine, or a hind limb problem. Eye problems have also been reported, appearing similar to moon blindness (recurrent uveitis). On the bright side, some of the more serious signs seen in people and dogs such as liver, heart, and kidney problems have not been reported in horses. Lyme disease is rarely fatal in any species! Lyme disease has been on the rise for the past decade. The weather patterns here allow the tick to survive and reproduce very efficiently. Please give us a call if you would like to discuss any part of this article, or if you would like to get your horse tested. Look for the next Bits and Pieces for Lyme Disease Diagnosing and Treatment! Be sure to catch Dr. Reilly’s “Update of Lyme Disease” at the Equine Affarire Don’t miss out on these great opportunities from SSEC! New clients receive 50% off their first farm call when given a referral card from a current client. When the card is redeemed by the new client, you will then receive a free farm call or office visit! Don’t be left out in the cold! Join or renew the Superior Preventative Wellness Plan now to receive discounted services for 2010! CLICK HERE for more information about the Superior Preventative Wellness Plan or call our office 781-585-2611. |