Spring Vet Visit in Winter

If you show at all, you're familiar with US Equestrian's rule requiring Flu and Rhino vaccinations at all US Equestrian licensed events. The way I understand the rule, it is only at US Equestrian-rated shows that the vaccinations are required. I normally do our spring vet visit in March, but since my first show of the season is in March, I decided to get everything done a bit early. The first show of the year is only CDS-rated, but I like to be covered. 

I love how bored Speedy looks.

For the first time in forever, I didn't have three million extra things for the vet to treat. Nobody is lame or has a sliced up leg or has any weird bumps. Although, Izzy tried to get extra time with the vet with his shenanigans from the week before. Dr. Tolley gave Izzy's dried up cuts and scrapes a glance, but it was obvious that they were nearly healed. Try again, dude!

Speedy in the "chair."

While Izzy had to wait out in a stall, the gray pony got a once over by Dr. Tolley. Speedy has a "thing" in one eye that Dr. Tolley likes to check, and I wanted him to see where Speedy's hoof was in terms of growth. Everything checked out normal. 

Even though Speedy gets his teeth done annually, Dr. Tolley had to do quite a bit of work on his mouth. Speedy had developed some sharper edges that needed to be smoothed out, and his canine teeth had some plaque. That was a new one for me; I didn't know horses got plaque. Dr. Tolley explained that it is probably because a lot of saliva gathers around those canine teeth. After giving Speedy his spring vaccinations, he was done.

Big brown horse's turn.

Izzy got the same once over, but I had Dr. Tolley look more closely at the two sarcoids that he has on his sheath. I explained how the upper sarcoid has been disappearing over the past few months. Dr. Tolley explained that sarcoids don't go away by themselves. He agreed with my hypothesis that an immune response had probably been triggered by twice treating the first sarcoid.

​He likened it to immunization - by using the Xterra paste the first year and following it up with cryotherapy the second year, Izzy built up enough antibodies to the virus that causes sarcoids that he was able to fight off the second one on his own.

Izzy's teeth had fewer sharp points than did Speedy, so his dental work was very minor. And with that, he was done.

Two drunk dudes headed home.

With both boys still feeling a bit drugged, it was a super quiet trip home. Normally, there's a lot of screaming and hollering when the first one gets on or off the trailer, but not on Monday. I think both boys could use a cocktail now and then. They're pretty friendly drunks!