November 2007
Wow! Are we really almost to the end of 2007 already?  This has been my 15th year in practice!  Time sure flies when you’re having fun.  I know that I am very overdue with writing a Newsletter, and after the events of last month I thought this is a good time to touch bases with everyone.  This “firestorm” affected almost everyone I know and everyone who owns a horse.  I personally was involved in helping evacuate horses and helped horses at the evacuation centers who had health problems.  So far I know of two clients of mine who have lost their homes and my heart goes out to them.  Fortunately their horses and barns are safe.  So far I have not heard of any of my patients suffering major injuries from the fires or the evacuation process. Thank Goodness!  As always horse owners come together and selflessly help each other.  I felt that this year the evacuations actually went smoother and with less injuries. I think this was due to more advanced notice, people willing to evacuate sooner and perhaps a little experience from the 2003 fires.
I know we want to get on with our normal lives and not dwell too much on this stressful event, but it is always good to take a few moments after a disaster and evaluate.  How prepared were you?  What could we have done better?  Obviously I haven’t heard all the stories yet, but I would welcome all of your input.  Send me your stories, pictures, where did you evacuate to?  What do you think you could have done better?  How could someone else or an organization possibly help out?  Any tips or tidbits are welcome.  I’ll follow here with a general disaster preparedness plan and will send you other ideas as they come in.
Are you prepared?
When disasters occur and we face evacuating and caring for our horses, it takes a little more effort and planning.  Obviously the biggest concern in our area is the need to evacuate in the case of a large wild fire.  However, being prepared helps even if your horse is ill and needs to be moved to an equine hospital.
Emergency kit
Consider having an easy to access emergency kit.  Remember in an emergency everyone tends to get anxious and you want things handy. You may chose to have general first aid items here including antiseptic ointment and some bandage material, but also consider having your horse’s normal daily meds here if they are on a prescription.  Bandage scissors, a working flashlight, and emergency phone numbers are a must. This includes my number, your trainer or neighbor, a trailering service if you don’t own a trailer, fire dept, sheriff’s dept, animal control/rescue and, a list of potential evacuation sites.  Also when evacuating, have halters, ropes, and water buckets ready.  Have a way to identify your horse.  Plan ahead and have an engraved tag or plate on your halter with a current phone number.  In urgent situation numbers can be spray painted on horse’s sides or Markers used to write numbers on hooves.  How about a plan for feed/water?  These are all things to think about ahead of time.  You can’t always be prepared for every disaster, but going through the exercise will create a smoother, quicker exit.
Trailering Options              One of the biggest issues in this large equine evacuation event was the need for more horse trailers.  Some people got a few horses out but on return were not allowed back in to get the remainder of their animals.
Do you have a trailer?  How many horses do you have and will they all fit in your trailer?  If the answer is no to these you might spend some time researching alternatives in your area.  I already know that several of my clients have plans to buy a trailer now, but in some circumstances it does not make sense to have a horse trailer sitting around for each horse (i.e. large stables)  But, have a plan, even if your horse needs to go to the hospital in the middle of the night.  There are several transportation companies in the Southern California Horsemen’s Directory.  Also there are many friends and neighbors that are willing to help out in an emergency.  Have more than one option and the phone numbers handy.  I will be working with the county Disaster preparedness chief veterinarian about the possibility of collecting names and numbers of people at evacuation sites willing to help with more evacuations once their stock is safe.
And…..if you are ever in this situation again and are having a hard time getting a hold of someone, please give me a call, I will do my best to help you out.

Office Happenings
As you know this year has brought a lot of changes in my office staffing.  I’m glad to say that we now have a great office administrator, Steve Hodson.  He is very eager to get to know all of you and help you with your questions and is rapidly learning about our equine friends.  Currently he is in the Office from 9am-2pm Monday through Friday.
I also have hired an equine dental technician, Christine Griffin.  Unfortunately some issues in my neck preclude me from performing the Dentals myself.  I work directly with Christine and examine all horses before, during and after the Dentals.  Christine has done extensive training at an Equine Dental Technician school followed by the “school of Lisa”.  I have made sure that we are on the same page in regards to my 9 years of experience with equine dentistry.  Many of you will be glad to know that I have been keeping the dental billing the same as before Christine joined the practice, however there was about a 10% increase at the beginning of the year (2 months before Christine started) to account for rising cost of drugs and instruments.
Other changes include adding a new periodontal machine that will allow for drilling and filling cavities and more thorough cleaning of periodontal disease.
If you know anyone else that would benefit from advanced equine dentistry, please refer them to my number!
New Website & Blog  Yes, I finally have taken the plunge.  I need to complete some details but please check out my website at: www.drlisagrim.com please check my Blog and post some comments while you are there, www.drlisagrim.blogspot.com
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Just a little information to let you know what else I’ve been up to this year.  As you know I have a thirst for knowledge and am always trying to stay current on new information in many areas so I may help out my patients.  I have been to several meetings and visited a few specialty practices and the theme or focus this year was on lameness issues.  Here’s the Reader’s Digest version.
Acupuncture   		        I completed my acupuncture course and passed a rigorous exam last March.  I have been using acupuncture on many different cases and find it most useful in improving lameness issues, back problems or even subtle gait abnormalities.  It is also useful for general health problems.  One horse I even reduced it’s incidence of spooking with acupuncture….go figure.  This modality really does work and there is quite a lot of scientific evidence that acupuncture does “do something”.  The classes on Neurophysiology that we had to take explained how acupuncture affects the nerve pathways.  And I thought I’d never have to learn that topic again!  Phew…..that was grueling, but it was good to see how much “Western science” there is to back up and explain acupuncture.
Lameness			   This summer I attended our organizations “Focus” meeting on Lameness.  This is an intense 3 day meeting on this one topic.  There are so many new treatments for horses these days mainly revolving around regenerative medicine including stem cells and growth factors.  You may have heard of Interleukin receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), Acell, Vetstem, or PRP… With these new procedures we can help tendon and ligament injuries heal better and faster and help joint issues stay healthier longer.  Of course foot balance and shoeing was discussed as this is the foundation for soundness.  I will discuss each of these modalities in more depth in my next Newsletter, but if you have questions about how they may benefit your horse, please feel free to call.
I also visited two specialty equine practices across the country this year.  Both of these practices get referred lameness cases and it is interesting and educational to see how these difficult cases are worked up and to get practice tips from the Olympic Teams vet.  I feel this practical experience and education is almost more valuable than sitting in lectures at a meeting.
So, I’m armed with more information, techniques and passion for helping with all your horses’ soundness issues.
 Annual Exams
Along with any preventative healthcare program should include an annual physical exam.  Somehow historically in the equine field this important exam has gone by the wayside, but I am re-implementing this during the spring shots.  It will be a time to go over your horse from top to bottom, talk about nutrition, shoeing and any other questions you may have.  We will call to remind you during the Spring to schedule a little extra time for this examination.
Products
Platinum Performance I know we are always looking for the best supplements for our horses and as a review I really like Platinum Performance.  I find this product very helpful in horses with skin conditions, allergies and older horse endocrine issues (Cushing’s disease & equine metabolic disease).  It is also a great overall supplement for horses of any age to prevent disease and booster the immune system.
It is a comprehensive nutritional formula that addresses multiple nutritional deficiencies which are common in most modern equine diets.  It provides the proper amount and ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, 20 trace minerals, water and fat soluble vitamins, 500mg Glucosamine for joints, soluble and insoluble fiber for digestive health, multiple free-radical scavenging anti-oxidants and 19 essential amino acids critical for enzyme, hormone and tissue structure.   It provides over ten supplements in one highly palatable formula.
Emergency kit meds
Some people like to have a few medications available at home in case of emergencies, some of the following can be considered.
1. Acepromazine: this is a mild sedative that can be used to quiet a horse for clipping, trailering or hand-walking.  It can be given by injection or orally
2.  Bute (phenylbutazone) this is an anti-inflammatory drug used for many issues such as Fever, Swollen limbs or sheath, mild lameness or overexertion.  This comes in three forms: pills, powder and paste, depending on how picky your horse is about eating meds in his feed.  
3.  Banamine:  This is another anti-inflammatory drug but is most effective for gastrointestinal pain 
(colic), muscular pain (tie-ups) and eye pain.  This comes in a convenient tube of paste or packets of granules.
4.  Dexamethasone   This is a corticosteroid drug that is mainly used for controlling hives or allergies.  These come in granular packets.
If you are trailering your horse far or going on a trip or to an event, you may want to speak with me about having some of these available to you.

Lisa A. Grim, DVM, Inc.                P.O. Box 8092                                         Rancho Santa Fe, CA  92067

Happy Thanksgiving!!
What better time to Thank You so much for allowing me to continuing caring for your horses and work in the field for which I have a passion.   Fifteen years have flown by and I am so grateful to work with wonderful clients I enjoy and these amazing majestic animals.  Have a joyous Holiday Season!