Mobile Veterinary Services, LLC

Dr. Baird discusses Bio-security in the latest MVS blog.

Make Biosecurity with Horses a Habit – Mobile Veterinary Services Make Biosecurity with Horses a Habit The dictionary definition of BIOSECURITY is simply: “security from exposure to harmful biological agents.” With equine travel what it is today, most horse owners have probably thought at least briefly about biosecurity. It’s something that comes to mind whe...

Last week, MVS lost one of our own. Stella had been a part of the Mobile Vet team since 2016 when Dr. Hartman joined Dr. Baird in Colorado. Not a day went by that Stella didn’t accompany Dr. Hartman in the truck, greeting humans and horses alike with the same friendly demeanor. She accompanied Dr. Hartman on many grand hiking adventures and always savored the small moments in life, like sun bathing and ear scratches.

Our office won't be the same, especially our Monday morning meetings. Stella was our calm and many times the only source of sanity on a frenzied Monday morning. Calmly making her way around the room to receive scratches and pets from every hand, while also searching in earnest for any dropped crumbs.

Stella was our MVS mascot and we know our clients will miss her quiet presence as much as we will. We know she is enjoying a good sun bath just on the other side of the rainbow bridge!

Good Morning Friends:
Recently the folks over at FB have decided they will not suggest our Mobile Vet Page. Why you ask? Because we have violated community standards by discussing vaccines AND by showing graphic content. Vaccine discussions are vital to preventative care and horse health and client education. As for the graphic content, one of the number one things requested are more photos and stories of the cases we see. While we see a lot of cute stuff (see photo below) we also see a lot of "graphic" cases.

So.... if you see something you find interesting or educational on our page please share it because FB will not!

Aaaanddd, while we have your attention today, we will be sharing a series of posts from a colleague in Arizona. She is writing a series. We do not know her. We do not agree with some of the content she posts. What we do agree with about this series is there is a problem in the veterinary profession and until the powers that be make an honest attempt at truly fixing it,nothing will happen. Deb blows it all out of the water in a very frank and straight forward manner. We want it to start conversations. We want people to understand where the problem begins and learn how you can help.
FB doesn't like it when we share content from other pages and the algorithm doesn't push it out on your feed. Please consider popping in on our page and finding them each day. You may or may not agree with what she says, but let's talk about. That is how change happens.

Dr. Baird's heart belongs to the Idaho back country. Born and raised in Idaho, he earned a living guiding white water and as an outfitter in the Frank Church Wilderness Area before becoming an equine veterinarian.
Dr. Baird has been licensed in both Idaho and Colorado since 2002 and added Wyoming and Montana over the years. Back Country medicine is a passion. Each year for the last 24 years he has traveled to the Flying B Ranch, on the middle fork of the Salmon River to do preventative medicine for the back country herd. 7 years ago we added students to the mix, giving 4th year veterinary students hands on experience they won't find in school or during any externship.
During this year's trip Dr. Baird also added a stop at Mystic Saddles in Stanley,ID to teach back country equine first aid to land based guides, hosted by The Redside Foundation.
Mobile Vet is committed to Educating for better horse health at home and for the greater equine community.

We have been watching this for months. The impact on US cattle business will be significant. It is likely to impact the equine industry as well, because horses are susceptible.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has provided an important update on New World Screwworm which has been detected in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. Read the full press release here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

General information about New World Screwworm (NWS) can be found in the text below and in the attached infographic.

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back. It gets its name from the behavior of its larvae (maggots) as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go. The maggots (larvae) cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. The wound can quickly become enlarged and deeper as more maggots hatch and feed on living tissue.

Because they feed on live flesh, NWS maggots may burrow deep into wounds or openings, while other species of maggots may appear around the outer surface of the wound. In addition, even the smallest wounds have the potential to attract flies, so it is imperative that you keep a close eye on your animals for any signs of wounds.

Lastly, NWS infestations are a reportable disease! Immediately report any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations to a local accredited veterinarian, your State Animal Health Official, or a USDA veterinarian.

For more information, reference this resource from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

The freedoms we enjoy in this great country came at a cost. To the men and women that laid down their lives, we remember and to their families, we say Thank You!