michiganlargeanimal

What To Expect When You’re Expecting: Farm Edition

A lot of us associate springtime with babies and if you’re expecting babies on your farm you’ll want to ensure that you’re prepared. Regardless of the species, healthy moms are key to healthy babies. This means ensuring they’ve had proper nutrition and vaccination during their pregnancies so that they can pass on proper immunity toContinue reading “What To Expect When You’re Expecting: Farm Edition”

Bovine Pinkeye

Bovine pinkeye is a common disease found typically in beef herds. It is highly contagious, causing inflammation of the cornea and the lining of the eyelids. I can also cause ulceration in the eye. Pinkeye typically starts to occur in the spring and peaks in the summer before decreasing in occurrence when temperatures cool downContinue reading “Bovine Pinkeye”

Hoof Care

The old adage “no foot, no horse” has a ring of truth to it. The hoof is the foundation of the horse and the structure is only as stable and strong as its foundation. The feet, most commonly the forefeet, are a common source of lameness which can be attributed to the fact that horsesContinue reading “Hoof Care”

Fecal Water Syndrome

Fecal Water Syndrome is a condition in which horses produce normal feces, but before, during, or after defecation, water freely runs out of the anus. This water can also be produced independently from bowel movements. Fecal Water Syndrome is not associated with weight loss, colic, or other medical issues, but it can cause management issuesContinue reading “Fecal Water Syndrome”

Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Holly: Holiday Safety Tips For Decorating Your Barns and Stalls

The holidays are in full swing now and for most people this means pulling out the decorations and stringing them through our homes and barns, but there are some precautions you should take if you plan to decorate your hooved friend’s barn, stall, or fences. Greenery can be very pretty, but you should proceed cautiously. Continue reading “Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Holly: Holiday Safety Tips For Decorating Your Barns and Stalls”

Hoary Alyssum Toxicity in Horses

Hoary alyssum is a weed species that typically grows in grazed pastures and along trails or roads. In pastures, it typically grows along the fence line as opposed to the center of the grazing space, but it’s not picky about where it plants itself. With this in mind, it is important to note that thisContinue reading “Hoary Alyssum Toxicity in Horses”

Spring Is In The Air; Are You Ready?

Vaccinations are one of the first steps to ensuring a healthy horse. Even if your horse never leaves the farm, there are still some dangerous diseases they can be susceptible to, and having a solid vaccine protocol could save you time, money, and possible heartache later on down the road. Early springtime in Michigan isContinue reading “Spring Is In The Air; Are You Ready?”

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Reported in Michigan, Summer 2020

There has been a reported case of Easter Equine Encephalitis in Claire County. The affected horse was an unvaccinated 2 year old filly. In 2019, Michigan experienced the largest EEE outbreak in state history with 50 animals and 10 humans being diagnosed. Michigan Large Animal Associates continues to advocate for proper vaccination of equine animalsContinue reading “Eastern Equine Encephalitis Reported in Michigan, Summer 2020”

Have a Healthy Calving Season!

Spring is on its way again which means it’s time to prepare for the arrival of our spring calf crop. Remember, the biggest key to having healthy calves is to start with healthy cows. This means providing optimal nutrition for the mothers-to-be, as well as an up to date vaccination and deworming program. Vaccination ofContinue reading “Have a Healthy Calving Season!”

Coggins: What is it and why do we test annually?

Coggins season is upon us! But what is Coggins and what does it entail? Coggins is an infectious disease clinically called Equine Infectious Anemia or EIA. It is often referred to as Coggins because the scientist that developed the first effective and reliable test back in the 1970’s was Dr. Leroy Coggins. To thisContinue reading “Coggins: What is it and why do we test annually?”