Vaccination Wellness Services
Wellness care is an investment in your horse's health. Ensuring that your horse receives proper wellness care can help your horse live longer and stay active. A critical part of wellness care is an annual physical examination.
Colic ICU care and Surgical Services
Most horse people have unfortunately had the experience of having one of their horses colic. Generally most resolve with minimal treatment and veterinary intervention may or may not even be necessary.
Stem Cell IRAP PRP and Orthobiologic Services
Equine tendon, ligament, and joint injuries are some of the most frequently seen problems in clinical veterinary practice leading to joint instability, degenerative joint disease, and reduced performance.
Hospitalization Critical care ICU NICU Services
Intensive care, hospitalization, neonatal ICU, medical colics- They are some of the most dreaded words among horse owners. It may start with you noticing that your horse is acting a little strangely occasionally turning his head to look at his belly, kicking his back feet, sweating and acting anxious.
Joint Therapy Services
At Alpine Equine hospital, joint injection therapies are common procedures which involve injecting medication directly into the joint to combat such problems as synovitis, osteoarthritis, and arthritis. We strive to bring the latest science based options to the horses we care for.
Ruminant Services
Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Llama Herd Health (pet pigs too)
We offer comprehensive herd health care services for Bovine, ovine, caprine and new world camelids. We also offer pet pig health care services. We serve Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties. Give us a call if you have questions
Gastroscopy Endoscopy Services
There is a lot of attention given to gastric ulceration in horses in the lay press and rightfully so. Gastric ulcers are areas of erosion of the lining of the stomach and in some cases the anterior duodenum. Gastric ulcers are the result of gastric acid (hydrochloric acid secreted by parts of the stomach lining), and, to a lesser degree, the digestive enzyme pepsin, irritating the lining of the stomach, causing ulceration.
ReadEquine Chiropractic Care Services
Veterinary Chiropractic is the science, art, and philosophy of maintaining health through the restoration of a properly function neuromuscular system. Veterinary chiropractic is an adjunct therapy to traditional veterinary medicine. The focus is on the biomechanical function of the spine and how it impacts the entire nervous system.
Veterinary chiropractic is performed either by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) that has attended postgraduate training from an accredited animal chiropractic school. Doctors can then pursue certifying exams for the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) or American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). Membership in these organizations requires annual continuing education to provide the most up to date care.
Through motion palpation, the doctor diagnoses and treats vertebral subluxation complexes (VSCs). A VSC is a functional misalignment of the vertebrate impairing proper mobility. Reduced mobility between vertebrates can affect nerves leaving the spinal cord between them. The spine is a complex framework of bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Every tiny movement that an animal makes requires coordination of many muscles through the messaging of nerve fibers. When normal range of movement is impeded (either due to injury or everyday use), it can interfere with the flow of information and nutrients to all the muscles and organs of the body through nerves, arteries, veins and lymphatics. This interference can translate to pain, nerve irritation, gait changes, conformation changes, or sensitivity to touch. Disturbances in the messaging of nerve fibers can lead to a lack of coordination of muscles which may cause further injury to other joints, tendons, or ligaments.
VSC can be caused by many things; conformation, traumatic events, transportation, saddle fit, rider’s seat, constant repetitive trauma of work, hoof care/improper shoeing, age, etc.
By correcting these VSCs, the animal chiropractor can help restore function and mobility to the compromised joints, allowing the body to perform at its optimal potential. Correction of VSCs is done by quick, short thrusts along the plane of a joint, this is known as an adjustment. Adjustments are very specific and move the joint through its normal range of movement without exceeding the boundaries of anatomical integrity. Non-specific techniques can cause damage to ligaments or joints.
All animals may benefit from chiropractic treatments as they can not only treat conditions, but it can also prevent or delay problems. Animals that may benefit from chiropractic include
- Young horses in work
- Young, growing horses
- Older horses with arthritis or back pain
- Horses with GI issues
- Horse with reproductive issues
- Horses with compensatory pain due to conformational faults or genetic issues
- Horses healing from traumatic injuries
- Adjustments prior to or after lameness work ups
- After primary treatments (such as joint injections) to potentially prolong their effectiveness.