Equine Services

We offer high-quality, compassionate veterinary care for your equine family members throughout every life stage.

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Our Equine Services

We offer a variety of equine services at Cobb Veterinary Clinic. We do not offer house or farm calls except for Coggins and vaccination services. Please schedule an equine exam with us today!

Wellness

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, 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. If you are unable to get your horse to us for whatever reason, we can bring your horse into the clinic for you.

Pre-purchase Examinations

An extensive physical examination, lameness evaluation, neurologic examination, and drug screen are 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 its intended use. The exam can include laboratory testing, digital radiographs, endoscopy, and ultrasound exams.

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.

Diagnostics

Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography uses sound waves to evaluate soft tissues like tendons and ligaments, reproductive organs, lumps, and tumors. It is painless and non-invasive.

Digital Radiography
Radiology uses x-rays to visualize bone for abnormalities, including arthritic changes, fractures, OCD, bone cysts, and bone infection. Our unit is capable of providing digital images within 2 seconds. These images are viewed on a 3 megapixel 17″ screen and can be enlarged, and windows leveled to see subtle changes often not visible on conventional radiographs.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy utilizes a fiber optic device to evaluate the horse’s upper airway, including the larynx, sinuses, stomach, and guttural pouches. The trachea and upper esophagus can also be examined with this flexible device. Useful in prepurchase examinations, pneumonia, or reactive airway disease.
Pony Express Lab

For over 20 years, the Pony Express Lab has been serving not only clients of Cobb Veterinary Clinic but other surrounding veterinary offices. The lab offers in-house testing and often same-day results of Equine Infectious Anemia, aka “Coggins Testing.” Tests are run twice per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon. Urgently needed Coggins tests are also offered outside of the regular testing times when prior arrangements have been made by calling the clinic at 432-682-6405.

The lab has been an exceptional part of the clinic, offering the opportunity to our equine clients to test for EIA with minimal turnaround time keeping them rodeo ready. In the state of Texas, it is required that all equine (horses, ponies, asses, mules, and zebra) 6 months of age or older or when a change of ownership occurs, be tested every 12 months for EIA regardless of movement and use.

Additional Resources:
What is Equine Infectious Anemia?
Texas Administrative Code

Additional Services

Surgery

Standing or recumbent surgery of the horse is performed for castration, biopsy, and laceration repair. More complicated procedures may be referred to a specialist.

Lameness Examination
Evaluate the locomotion of your horse. 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. Digital radiography, ultrasound, and laboratory tests help us to further evaluate the source of your horse’s lameness.
Emergency Care

We 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 most laboratory results are obtained within 24 hours. Emergency care for our regular clients is provided on a 24-hour basis.

In-Home Euthanasia

Knowing when it is time to say goodbye to our beloved pets is often a difficult and highly emotional time. Humane euthanasia is a caring and gentle option and is often the kindest, most loving choice we can make to help our pets go with peace and dignity.

Being at home with your pet during this time keeps him or her in familiar and comfortable surroundings and allows you the time, space and privacy to say goodbye in your own way.

We can also arrange for cremation if you wish, and you can choose whether or not you would like to have your pet’s ashes returned to you.

If you are not sure if that time has come, please don’t hesitate to call us; we will always be sensitive and caring with any questions or concerns you may have.

Foals

Foal Services

At CVC, we have a well-equipped facility and experienced and knowledgeable staff to care for and treat sick foals properly. Our clinic is set up to run fluids, plasma and nurse the recumbent foal. We have a wide range of services that we offer to unhealthy foals and newborns. Some owners like to have their new foals looked over and checked out by a veterinarian in their first few days of life. We recommend an IgG test at 16-24 hrs to check for failure of passive transfer; this may prevent a series of health problems from occurring. We will also check for congenital and conformation defects, as some can be corrected if treated early or others that may require surgery.

Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine Services

Whether that is by diagnosing and managing lameness, helping your farrier with shoeing recommendations, treating respiratory infections, or applying alternative therapies, Cobb Veterinary Clinic believes in evaluating the whole horse. This comprehensive and integrative approach will help determine the cause of your horse’s poor performance. Our team is dedicated to seeing your horse achieve its full athletic potential.

Conditions which may limit performance
LAMENESS

  • Lameness
  • Mild neurologic disorders

AIRWAY PROBLEMS

  • Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeders)
  • Inflammatory airway disease
  • Laryngeal hemiplegia (roarers)
  • Dorsal displacement of the soft palate
  • Texas Funk

HEART PROBLEMS

  • Heart arrhythmias or murmurs

BACK PAIN

Procedures offered at CVC which may be helpful

PERFORMANCE EXAMS

  • Lameness examination
  • Prepurchase examinations
  • Arthritis Management
  • Neurologic examination
  • Dentistry

PAIN MANAGEMENT

DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

  • Digital Radiographs
  • Tendon/Ligament Ultrasound
  • Upper airway endoscopy
  • Gastric endoscopy