Fall 2019

It has now been over two decades since Bend Equine Medical Center’s inception.

From the first, our goal has been to provide exceptional equine health care with

unparalleled compassion and superior service.

As Central Oregon and its horse population has grown both in size and in so-

phistication, so have we, from the two founding veterinarians (Dr. Schmotzer

and Dr. Harrison) and two staff members, to our current nine veterinarians,

and an incredibly talented and dedicated staff of thirteen. Along with those

fabulous human resources, we’ve also continued to invest in cutting edge tech-

nology and treatments so that we can offer the very best. And we’re proud to

have added exceptional small animal care, holding true to our tenets of patient-

and client-focused care for dogs and cats.

We are glad that we can be a resource for not only Central Oregon’s horse and

small animal owners, but also for its veterinarians, by providing referral ser-

vices and advanced diagnostics, surgery, and therapeutics to complement their

own practices. We also now provide emergency service coverage for their clients

when they cannot be available, giving all involved peace of mind that someone

will always be able to help in a time of crisis.

Thanks to the endless enthusiasm and dedication of Dottie Ashley, we have cre-

ated the Hope Foundation at Bend Equine Medical Center, helping to provide

care for those that may otherwise not be able to receive it. While the Founda-

tions is still in its early stages, we hope to continue to grow that resource and do

more good with it!

When you next see Dr. Schmotzer, please thank him for having the vision to

plant and nourish the seed that has grown and flourished into its current man-

ifestation. You may be seeing him less in days to come as he is redirecting

some of his energy into passions outside of work—if he’s not here, try looking

for him on a mountain-side trudging after chukars or on the banks of a trout

stream.

Most of all, we give enormous thanks to our clients, for entrusting us with the

care of your wonderful animals. You are truly who have allowed us to do what

we do. We couldn’t ask for a better community of people to work with—what an

absolute privilege it is for us to call this our job!

Wendy Krebs, DVM

Be

nd

Eq

uin

e M

ed

ica

l C

en

ter

20

19

N

EW

SL

ET

TE

R

Contact us at:

(541) 388 - 4006

bendequine@gmail.com

www.bendequine.com

Page 2 B E ND E QUI NE ME DI CAL CE NTE R

New Faces at Bend Equine

Dr. Tyler Newton is our newest associate. He attended the University of Cali-

fornia, Santa Barbara where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural

Anthropology. Before Dr. Newton went to veterinary school he attended Cow-

town Horseshoeing School in Miles City, Montana. He completed an appren-

ticeship and worked as a farrier for five years. Dr. Newton has trained and

shown in the jumper circuit and has also started several young horses. He

earned his veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis.

Shortly after earning his doctorate, Tyler completed a yearlong internship at

the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center. After the internship, Dr. Newton

was invited to continue at Alamo Pintado as an associate veterinarian where he

honed his skills in many aspects of equine veterinary care before joining Bend

Equine.

In his spare time, Dr. Newton enjoys photography, hiking, riding and many

outdoor activities. He especially cherishes the time with his wife and three

daughters. On their farm in Tumalo, the family enjoys a menagerie of animals

including six horses. They also have cats, dogs and 4-H rabbits and chickens.

Each year, BEMC welcomes veterinary students to visit our clinic to receive further education and practical experi-ence at a private practice, and also to become candidates for our year-long post-doctorate internship program of-fered to new graduates from veterinary school. Our veterinary interns are chosen from a large pool of candidates nationwide and spend the year learning advanced skills, gaining valuable experience, and building the confidence

they need to practice on their own. We have a strong interest in teaching our new and future veterinarians and ap-preciate our clients’ willingness to have our eager students and young doctors listen in on appointments.

Dr. Cassidy Briggs

completed her intern-

ship at BEMC in 2019

and is currently com-

pleting a year-long fel-

lowship at our clinic.

She earned her Doctor-

ate of Veterinary Medi-

cine and Certificate in

Global Animal Health

from Washington State

University. She is a

Montana native and

holds a BA in Biology from Johns Hopkins University.

After working for several years in Broadway theatrical

management, she returned home to pursue her dream of

becoming an equine veterinarian. She has a special in-

terest in theriogenology and would happily perform sur-

gery every day! She loves the Bend area, and enjoys

hiking, skiing, yoga, and knitting. Her constant compan-

ion is her Australian Shepherd, Jackson. If you have yet

to meet her, say hi the next time you are in...she is a

very talented doctor!

Dr. Kim Dailey is our

2019/2020 veterinary intern.

She earned her Doctorate of

Veterinary Medicine from

WSU. Although she grew

up showing Arabian horses

in Wenatchee, WA, Dr.

Dailey initially pursued a

career in museum studies

and completed her Bache-

lor’s Degree in History at

the College of William and

Mary in 2010. She later reaffirmed her love of animals

while working at George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Estate and decided to pursue a career in veterinary med-

icine. Dr. Dailey hopes to play an active role in the

community through local organizations such as 4-H and

Pony Club. She is especially interested in equine meta-

bolic disease, sports medicine, and geriatric care. She is

currently finishing her acupuncture certification. In her

free time, she enjoys watching sci-fi and historical dra-

mas, running and hiking with her husband and adven-

ture buddy Jeff, and cuddling her cats, Monty and Citra.

Page 3

BEMC Small Animal Division (Paws and Claws Corner)

Liz Pollak, DVM

The Use of CBD and Hemp in Veterinary Medicine

CBD is an exciting new option as a possible treatment option for pain, seizures, anxiety, etc, but we do not have many safe and effective options yet.

At best, according to independent studies, many of the internet products (which can be very expensive!!) are a waste of money as they either do not contain nearly enough of the product to be effective or are not offered in a way that is bioavailable to your pet. At worst, some of these products are tainted with THC or other components that can have ill effects.

Unfortunately, the products that are currently available are considered supplements by the FDA. Supplements are not monitored or protected under the FDA. Secondly, many products out there are not appropriate in that they are nearly all severely underdosing (according to research just coming out of a few studies in Colorado and New York specifically relating to arthritis discomfort). Thirdly, many are marketing CBD as being completely safe, which is not entirely true, as we are determining that CBD is processed by the liver and definitely effects liver me-tabolism. One study showed an increase in liver enzymes after consistent use. Additionally, some products available on the market that are tested independently are found to not actually have the CBD content that they claim. For example, there are currently trials going on looking at single vs full spectrum CBD oils and many products do not even specify which CBD com-ponents their products contain.

I am truly hopeful that over the next 2-5 years, we will have the information and products available that will make CBD and their derivatives another arrow in our quiver in our battle for pet comfort, but right now, I can't honestly recommend them due to lack of regulation and the risk of potential problems.

B E ND E QUI NE ME DI CAL CE NTE R

Schedule a dental within 2 weeks of the

veterinarian’s recommendation and receive

$40 off Dental Cleaning & Treatment

Give your dog and cat a clean and healthy mouth!

Digital dental x-rays included with every dental.

Bend Equine Medical Center

Small Animal Division

Page 4

New Modalities at Bend Equine

ARTEMIS LASER

Bend Equine Medical Center is excited to announce our newest piece of technology - a high intensity Artemis Non-Invasive Regenerative Therapy (NRT) laser! Because we are dedicated to providing our patients with only the most effective therapies and avoiding the hype, we have been slow to add a laser to our offerings. The Artemis technology makes it different from most other laser technology, in that its high intensity power truly penetrates deeply enough to be effective for use in horses, and yet still safe for small animal uses. It is also different and superior in its ability to create true regenerative tissue healing. The Artemis is one of the most powerful therapy devices available for veterinary use, and is the only device that is able to treat with both NRT and RIM therapy. This distinguishes the Artemis from the many other cold laser therapies on the market, which while they work well for wound healing and mild anti-inflammatory therapy, cannot initiate the regenerative healing process that the Artemis can.

What is NRT? When cells are affected by significant inflammation, the cell cycle stops, meaning healing either does not occur at all or occurs only with scar tissue. Scar tissue has previously been a limiting factor in healing ten-don and ligament injuries. NRT is a way to regenerate and even remodel already scarred tissue back to a normal healthy state completely non-invasively, without pain or side effects but with tremendous efficacy. NRT has twen-ty years of research and clinical studies behind it and has proven to be the first and safest, consistently effective regenerative therapy. NRT turns on a healing cascade that allows regeneration of tissue in a way that was previ-ously thought to be impossible. Artemis is the only device in the world capable of performing NRT.

What is RIM? RIM is Rapid Inflammatory Mitigation which is basically the way a laser can stimulate wound heal-ing and decrease inflammation. All laser protocols work best if we start with a series of 3 RIM treatments to de-crease inflammation and reduce pain prior to starting the NRT sessions.

What is the recommended treatment protocol? Protocols range in time and length, with treatments averaging about 12-15 treatments per 30 days. There is no pain or discomfort experienced by the animal during or after treat-ment. Each treatment costs $60, not including farm call fees. We do offer reduced boarding rates if you would like your animal to stay at BEMC during the treatment course.

Uses of laser in Equine Medicine:

Tendon and ligament injuries Bone bruising and cartilage injury Joint inflammation Pain relief Laminitis

Additional Small Animal uses include: Arthritis/Arthrosis, cartilage repair, degenerative joint disease Acute injuries (cruciate ligaments, etc.), swelling and edema Tendonitis/Tendonosis, tendon and ligament regeneration Post operative healing Remodeling of chronic scarring Inflammatory Bowel Disease Acute spinal injuries Nerve impingement and nerve damage Bone healing Dysplasia Stomatitis Pancreatitis Renal Insufficiency Minimally Invasive Surgical Ablation Rhinitis

Page 5

New Modalities at Bend Equine

We are also excited to introduce the latest in regenerative medicine treatment, an innovative sports medicine modality called Pro-Stride. It is an Autologous Protein Solution (APS), a concentrated solution of cells, plate-lets, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins that is isolated from your horse’s or your dog’s own blood. It is essentially a combination of IRAP and PRP in one product. This solution of healing factors is then injected into inflamed and injured joints. It is a very portable system which allows our veterinarians to provide advanced treatment for arthritis in the clinic or on your farm in one visit. The beneficial effects of just one injection of Pro-Stride can last up to one year! Because this is a natural, steroid-free treatment, you avoid the potentially deleterious effects associated with steroid injections. The results will be reduced pain associat-ed with arthritis and improved mobility, as well as the regenerative/healing effect; Pro-stride is capable of slowing cartilage degradation.

In short, here are the benefits of using Pro-Stride:

Pain relief for up to one year Concentrated solution of anti-inflammatory proteins including IRAP Less than 20 minute blood processing, one-time visit, single injection Natural, holistic, drug-free therapy Slows cartilage degradation Treats lameness, joint swelling and tendon inflammation Eliminates risks associated with steroid therapies Safe for use in young, Laminitis/Founder, Cushings, and IR horses Improves mobility No withholding times for competitions

PRO-STRIDE

Other regenerative therapies offered at BEMC include:

Acupuncture - We have three certified veterinary acupuncturists, Dr. Jessie Evans. Dr. Liz Pollak, and Dr. Mary Masterson. Each of the veterinarians became certified in equine and small animal acupuncture at the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians Certification Program in Fort Collins, CO.

Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Therapy - this treatment uses your horse’s own stem cells for treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, including tendonitis, desmitis (inflammation of a ligament), osteoarthritis, and OCD defects. Stem cells are injected directly into the site of the area that requires treatment, and develop into new cells of the desired tissue type to help in repair.

Shockwave Therapy - shockwaves are high-energy sound waves, affecting the soft tissue and bone structures in a targeted area to promote bloodflow and therefore healing. The most successful applications for shock-waves have been suspensory ligament desmitis, chronic muscle soreness (back pain) and fibrosis, and ten-donitis, although it has also been used with good results for horses with chronic heel pain (navicular syn-drome) and other tendon injuries.

Page 6 B E ND E QUI NE ME DI CAL CE NTE R

What is a pre-purchase exam and what it is not

Prepurchase exams are exceptionally thorough examinations of all of a horse’s body systems to help a buyer determine if the horse is right for them and what, if any, problems the horse may come with so the buyer can be prepared for proper man-agement. Our prepurchase exam involves looking at the horse thoroughly from nose to hoof, a full lameness evaluation, neu-rologic evaluation +/- optional services such as reproductive evaluation, blood work, radiographs, ultrasound or endoscopic upper airway exams. After a prepurchase, the veterinarian pre-pares a detailed report to give the buyer. The buyer of the horse is the party responsible for the cost of the exam and is the one who owns the exam information and all diagnostics performed during the exam. The buyer can elect to share the information with the seller if they chose to but they are not obligated.

Prepurchase exams are NOT pass/fail. No horse is perfect and a prepurchase is not intended for the veterinarian to say if the horse is right for the buyer. It is intended for the buyer to have all the pertinent medical information so they can make the decision if the horse is right for them. For example, what is an acceptable orthopedic exam for a high level performance horse may not be the same for what is acceptable for a low level trail horse. Veterinarians do not decide whether or not a buyer should purchase a horse, they give their best medical opinion about the horse’s current health and possible future health.

Prepurchase exams help mitigate the risk for a buyer so that they have all the possible information about an animal before they buy it. We hear a lot “this horse is priced really cheap so it’s not worth it to have a prepurchase.” While that might make sense for some, a horse is worth whatever amount of money a buyer would be willing to spend to

fix a problem, keep a horse that cannot be resold or cannot be used for its intended purpose. There is no such thing as a free horse and we would argue a prepurchase exam is always worth the investment. We sadly see too many people unknowingly buy a horse they end up not being able to use for a problem that would have been picked up on dur-ing a prepurchase.

Prepurchase exams are NOT a guarantee. While we often wish we could have a crystal ball in veterinary medicine, pre-purchase exams are not a guarantee of future health or soundness. Veterinarians formulate their best educated opinion on an animal’s likely future health and usa-bility based on their exam findings, experience and current literature. It is not uncommon during a prepurchase exam for a veterinarian to only be able to report a finding and not be able to predict what it will mean for the horse’s future. As an example, a veterinarian may find arthritis in a horse on x-ray but the horse may not be lame during the exam. She or he may only be able to say that the arthritis exists and that it may or may not cause a problem in the near future.

Page 7 B E ND E QUI NE ME DI CAL CE NTE R

Common Questions About Pre-Purchase Exams

Who should perform the exam? The buyer chooses a vet they are comfortable with and ideally have a relationship with to do the pre-purchase. Oftentimes, a vet is chosen who does not regularly see the horse being purchased. If the horse is being purchased long distance, the buyer should research and choose a vet based on good recommendations and experience level, as well as the quality of their diagnostic equipment, such as radiographs.

How much does a pre-purchase cost? This is varies depending on the clinic and how many diag-nostics are performed. The range can be from in the hun-dreds to thousands of dollars. A basic pre-purchase exam is more expensive than a routine exam due to the thorough nature of the exam, the numerous body systems evaluated and the paperwork involved in completing the pre-purchase. Most practices have a base pre-purchase fee and then charge for diagnostics a la carte.

Should I get x-rays of a horse if he is sound? This is an individual decision based on the intended use of the horse, the age and history of the horse, and the amount of risk a buyer is willing to take by not taking x-rays. Your regular vet or the pre-purchase vet can help you decide whether or not x-rays are a good investment for your pre-purchase.

If I get x-rays which views should I ask for? This depends on the type of horse, the job intended and the findings on the physical exam. Some breeds/disciplines are more predisposed to certain problems or a horse may have extra fluid on a joint during the exam which may war-rant radiographic evaluation of that joint. Work with your regular veterinarian and/or the veterinarian doing the pre-purchase to determine which radiographs should be taken. It is also important to know your budget for your pre-purchase and work within it.

The horse recently had x-rays performed by another veterinarian, should I accept those x-rays instead of doing them during a pre-purchase? If you chose to use x-rays performed by another veterinari-

an other than the one performing the pre-purchase exam,

there will either be a consultation fee to evaluate them or

the veterinarian will request they be read by a 3rd party radi-

ologist. In some cases the radiographs may not be able to

be commented on by your pre-purchase veterinarian.

Bend Equine Continuing

Education Evenings

Due to popular demand, we are again holding our

continuing education programs as a series of 1 hour

lectures to be held at BEMC. We will provide

refreshments and a tour of the facility in addition to

the lecture. Please pass on the dates to any equine

group or individuals you think would be interested!

Wednesday November 6, 2019

Current Topics in Equine Nutrition

An evening with Dr. Karen Davison, PhD

nutritionist from Purina. Thank you to all who

attended!

Wednesday December 4, 2019

Emergency and First Aid for Horses

When to call the vet and what to do before the vet

arrives. Facility tour to begin at 6pm, lecture

provided by Dr. Jessie Evans at 6:30pm.

Drawing to give away an Equine First Aid Kit!

Wednesday January 8, 2020

Laminitis

Predisposing factors, diagnostics, treatment and pre-

vention of laminitis. Facility tour to begin at 6pm,

lecture provided by Dr. Tyler Newton at 6:30pm.

Wednesday February 5, 2020

Carbohydrates and Sugars in Central Oregon

Hay/Grasses and Plants Poisonous to Horses

The first half of this session will discuss what effects

carbohydrates and sugars in hay and what those lev-

els are in Central Oregon grasses. The second half

will focus on poisonous plants found in our region.

Facility tour to begin at 5:30pm, lectures provided

by Mylen Bohle and Scott Duggan from OSU

Extension Service at 6pm.

Refreshments provided! $15 to attend, free for all

youth group members such as 4-H, OHSET &

Pony Club. Please email

(bendequine@gmail.com) or call (541-388-4006) to

let us know if you plan to attend!

Bend Equine Medical Center

and Small Animal Division

19121 Couch Market Road

Bend, OR 97703

2019

NEWSLETTE R

Phone: 541-388-4006

Fax: 541-389-7508

E-mail: bendequine@gmail.com

UNPARALLELED COMMITMENT, CARE, COMPASSION & SERVICE

www.bendequine.com

www.bendequine.com/smallanimal

One of our most recent colic surgery patients was given $10,000 from Platinum Performance to

be used towards her surgery. Due to this contribution, her owner was able to provide her with

this life saving surgery at Bend Equine because she had colic protection with Platinum Perfor-

mance's Colic Coverage. This is a FREE program for horses on Platinum Performance Well-

ness vitamin and mineral supplement. PP puts no age restrictions on the benefit unlike most in-

surance policies that often age horses out of colic protection in their late teens. They require a

once yearly veterinary visit including an oral exam and fecal parasite evaluation and that vaccines

be administered by a veterinarian to receive this benefit. If you would like to know more about

Platinum Performance's Colic Coverage you can visit their website:

https://www.platinumperformance.com/horses/platinumcoliccoverage

DID YOU KNOW we are seeing small ruminants

now, too?