Turtle Mountain Veterinary Service - Equine Services

Turtle Mountain Veterinary Service

1040 Highway 5 NE
Bottineau, ND 58318

(701)228-3075

www.turtlemountainvet.com

Equine Services

 

Wellness care: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" That saying holds true for horses also. As part of our routine care we provide vaccinations, deworming, Coggins testing, laboratory blood testing and dental care. At the time of service we can discuss any issues you may have with your horse including nutritional needs, training programs, geriatric care, etc..

Diagnostic & Therapeutic ServicesWe offer care for your horse in case of medical colic, sickness, lameness, injury, metabolic problems, or chronic illness. We are equipped to provide intravenous fluids and have an in-house laboratory for quick diagnosis of medical problems. Emergency care for our regular clients is provided on a 24 hour basis.

Dentistry: We offer routine oral examinations and teeth floating.  We offer radiography of the skull and teeth for diagnosis of oral problems.  We can perform minor tooth extractions, including wolf teeth.  Major extractions are referred to an equine surgeon.  We recommend yearly oral examinations and teeth floating of all horses starting at 1 year of age and continuing throughout their lifetime.  See our section on equine dentistry for more information.

Reproductive Services: We offer reproductive examinations for mares using ultrasound to evaluate the reproductive tract and stage of estrous cycle.  We can perform uterine cultures and biopsies.  We also perform artificial insemination of mares using cooled or frozen semen.  We can also diagnose pregnancy using manual methods or through the use of ultrasound.  We are not performing semen collection and evaluation of stallions at this time; however, we can perform a basic health exam and assess reproductive organs of stallions.

Laboratory:  Our in-house laboratory facilities provide for serum chemistry, hematology, urinalysis and parasite testing. We also perform routine Coggins testing at an outside laboratory.  We also utilize commercial veterinary laboratories for specialized diagnostics and consultations.

Radiology Services:  Our on-site, modern digital X-ray equipment provides high quality radiographs to aid in the diagnosis of lameness conditions as well as other problems.  Digital x-ray offers the ability to quickly confer with board-certified radiologists and other practitioners regarding x-ray findings.

Interstate & International Travel:  We provide veterinary inspections and health certificates for travel with your horse outside the borders of North Dakota.  Our veterinarians are accredited to perform the necessary testing and documentation needed for travel to other states, Canada and beyond.  It is best to prepare for travel several weeks ahead of time, so that we can prepare for the needs of your destination.  We also have one staff veterinarian who can perform brand inspections for sale or travel.

Geriatric care: Aged horses can have sub-clinical health care issues that can be identified and treated before they become a problem. If your horse is over 15 years of age we recommend a complete physical examination and blood testing to establish baseline values.

Nutrition:  We can provide counseling for maintenance of healthy horses, senior horses and for chronic conditions.  Our veterinarians can discuss any nutritional concerns you may have and custom tailor a nutritional program for your horse's needs.

Lameness examination: We use a variety of techniques to identify the source(s) of lameness including physical examination and palpation, flexion tests, and joint and nerve blocks. Radiography, ultrasound, and laboratory tests help us to further evaluate the source of your horse's lameness.

Pre-purchase examinations: An extensive physical examination, lameness evaluation, neurologic examination, and drug screen is offered by us prior to purchasing a horse. The information gathered is used by the prospective buyer and/or agent to determine whether the horse will be serviceable for it's intended use. The exam often includes laboratory testing, radiographs, and ultrasound exams.

Surgery:  Standing or recumbent surgery of the horse is performed for castration, biopsy, laceration repair and other minor soft tissue surgery. We also offer cryptorchid castration surgery. Orthopedic surgeries and more complicated procedures are referred to a specialist.

Fully Stocked Pharmacy:  We maintain a complete inventory of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and dewormers for your horse. We can also special order items for the particular needs of your horse.

 

Specialized procedures:

 

Ultrasonography: We have the ability to use ultrasound to evaluate soft tissues like tendons and ligaments, reproductive organs, lumps, and tumors. It is painless and non-invasive.

Endoscopy:  We do not currently have the ability to perform endoscopy but can refer to equine specialists if this procedure is necessary