Equine Veterinary Services – 24/7

Bracken Ridge Animal Hospital – Bedford, PA

At Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Bedford, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of quality equine ambulatory mobile and hospital-based veterinary medicine. We strive to deliver competent and compassionate service with a commitment to open communication. It is our goal to provide exemplary client service and exceptional veterinary care based on the latest advancements in equine medicine to assist our patients with living long, healthy lives. We are currently welcoming new clients and look forward to partnering with you to help your horse achieve maximum wellness. Thank you for choosing our practice!

Our equine veterinary team proudly offers a full range of state-of-the-art internal medicine, diagnostics, and dental services, as well as routine and emergency treatment on-farm or at our new hospital facility. We are available to serve you and your horse 24-hours a day, every day of the year.

  • Preventive Care, Yearly Checkups and Immunization
  • Parasite Management
  • Equine Veterinary Dentist
  • Emergency Services
  • Internal Medicine

Preventive Care, Yearly Checkups and Immunization

Annual examinations are essential to establishing a relationship with each patient, as well as collecting baseline health data. We can use this information to help detect any abnormalities early. From listening to heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract to recording weight, temperature, and body condition score and examining the skin, teeth, and eyes, palpating flexion joints and limbs, checking lymph nodes and digital pulses, examining the hooves, and more, a comprehensive physical exam is invaluable – even if your horse seems completely healthy. We also like to get to know our patients’ normal habits and personalities to assist with providing exceptional personalized preventive veterinary medical care. Whether your horse is a family pet or a competitive champion, each patient is evaluated and treated on an individual basis. A customized wellness plan and immunization schedule is prepared based on risk.

  • Heart, Lung, & GI Auscultation
  • Temperature
  • Oral Exam
  • Eye Exam
  • Weight Taping & Body Condition Scoring
  • Palpations
  • Immunization
  • Pre-purchase Examinations
  • Podiatry/Farrier Service Referrals
  • Therapeutic Shoeing Referrals

Equine Ophthalmology
We can treat many common eye problems right on your farm. Prompt treatment is available for a wide range of ocular issues including eyelid lacerations, corneal ulcers, recurrent uveitis, and ocular cancer. Advanced treatments including infusion pumps and sub-palpebral lavage systems provide efficient, effective treatment of the patient.

Parasite Management and Dewormer for Horses

Strategic parasite management is critical to your horse’s health. Unfortunately, resistance to medications is becoming more prevalent as a result of inappropriate anti-parasite medication usage. We advise you to avoid wasting time and money on unproven products and instead consult with your veterinarian to access proven, cost-effective medications. We can identify your horse’s natural immunity status and assess his risks to develop a simple and effective custom deworming plan.

Fecal Sample Preparation for Parasite Identification
Accurate identification of parasites is essential to selecting appropriate deworming treatment for your horse. Collect a fresh fecal sample and place in a plastic container, then seal in an airtight bag and refrigerate immediately. Submit the sample to our office for evaluation. The parasite species will be identified and a fecal egg count conducted in our laboratory so that an appropriate dewormer can be recommended. In some cases, a fecal egg reduction count may be necessary to help determine if drug-resistant parasites are an issue that must be addressed for proper parasite control.

Equine Veterinary Dentist Services

Due to the nature of your horse’s teeth, regular dental care services are suggested every 6-12 months to help maintain a healthy, pain-free bite and effective chewing capability, as well as to assess any developing issues in a timely manner. We offer a complete range of routine and advanced dental care with advanced equipment for prompt correction of oral health issues so your horse can resume eating without pain and enjoy optimal wellness. All dental examinations are performed under sedation with a full mouth speculum and include a comprehensive oral exam. Pain management is provided as appropriate. Available dental services include:

  • Basic and Advanced Floats
  • Waves and Alignments
  • Sharp Points and Hooks
  • Corrective Dentistry
  • Alignments
  • Wolf Tooth and Molar Extractions
  • Periodontal Treatment
  • Oral Surgery

Emergency Equine Medical Services

Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital offers comprehensive on-site and ambulatory diagnostic, surgical, and emergency medical care for both established and non-established equine patients throughout our service area. You can rely on our skilled team of veterinary medical professionals to provide the highest quality medical care for your horse 24/7/365. From routine preventive services to urgent critical care and emergency intervention, accessible care is just a phone call away. Our new facility in Bedford, PA features convenient access for your large trailer or call in for service on your farm.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Internal Medicine

Colic, Lameness, and Disease

Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital is committed to providing comprehensive gold standard medical care for all horses and foals. From colic and lameness evaluation to diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of infectious diseases, neurological, dermatological, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues, as well as many other conditions in neonates to geriatric horses, our veterinarians offer a wide range of services to help your horse achieve maximum wellness.

  • Abnormal Chewing/Swallowing
  • Appetite Loss
  • Choking
  • Colic – Chronic and Recurrent
  • Diarrhea
  • Edema
  • Exercise Intolerance
  • Fever
  • Gastric Ulcers
  • Head Shaking
  • Heart Murmurs/Arrhythmias
  • Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Laminitis
  • Metabolic Diseases/Cushing’s Disease
  • Muscle Disease
  • Neurological Problems (abnormal behavior, gait change, or paralysis)
  • Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (form of “tying up”)
  • Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (a form of “tying up”)
  • Respiratory Issues (coughing, nasal discharge, respiratory difficulty)
  • Skin Conditions
  • Urinary Tract Problems (infection, urination frequency, abnormal urine appearance)
  • Weight loss

On-Farm Lameness Diagnosis, Imaging, and Treatment

Advanced diagnostic examination for lameness is available by house call on your farm. We collect a thorough history and use careful observation and examination techniques such as flexion testing, palpation, and peri-neural/intra-articular nerve blocks. Digital x-ray and ultrasound imaging is available on-farm, as well. We examine patients in a straight line and/or lunged on both hard and soft footing. Based on diagnosis, a treatment plan is tailored to the specific needs of the individual and may include: joint injections, a therapeutic shoeing recommendation, a physical therapy plans, and oral medications.

  • Digital Radiography
  • Digital Ultrasound
  • Platelet Rich Plasma
  • Stem Cell Therapy
  • Therapeutic Farriery
  • Therapeutic Joint Injections

Field services include IV fluid therapy, blood transfusions, and foal plasma transfusions. Me maintain excellent relationships with numerous specialists who are available for case consultation and referral, as necessary.

Laboratory and Pharmacy Services –Bedford, PA

Blood Analysis, Fecal Exams, and Urinalysis

Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Bedford features a state-of-the-art laboratory and full pharmacy for immediate diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment. Our in-house lab is well-equipped to process comprehensive blood and serum analysis, as well as urinalysis and fecal examinations.

  • Blood Analysis
  • CBC
  • Chem 10
  • Chem 17
  • Complete Urinalysis with Sediment Exam
  • Cytology
  • Equine Fibrinogen Analysis
  • Fecal Analysis
  • Fecal Egg Reduction Counts
  • Infectious Disease Testing
  • Lyme Testing
  • Microbiology Cultures
  • Quantitative & Qualitative Fecal Exam
  • Stall-side Neonatal Foal IgG Testing
  • Thyroid
  • Urinalysis
  • Uterine Culture
  • and More

USDA-Accredited Laboratory

Digital Coggins Testing and Culture/Biopsy

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a devastating viral disease for which there is no vaccination or cure. EIA is a blood-borne pathogen that can be transmitted by mosquitoes, horse flies, deer flies, and unclean needles. The disease negatively impacts the immune system. As a reportable disease, all positive cases must be filed with the United States Animal and Plant Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) office.

Symptoms include:

  • Abortion
  • Colic
  • Decreased Appetite
  • Depression
  • Edema (legs and ventral abdomen)
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Rapid Weight Loss
  • Sweating
  • Weakness

Health Certificates
A negative Coggins test is required for admission to reputable boarding, racing, and show facilities and the test is completed on an annual basis. Travel across state borders with your horse requires a negative Coggins test, along with a recent health certificate. Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital is USDA-accredited to provide Coggins testing and health certificates, as well as Canadian export documentation for our patients.

Digital Coggins Testing and Expedited Service
We offer official printed and digital Coggins certifications. The test results are presented on a professionally typed certificate with a clear digital image of your horse for the owner, barn manager, and trainers unless otherwise indicated. Results and certificates are typically available within 72-hours. Expedited service with results within 24-hours may be requested for an additional fee.

Humane Euthanasia for Horses

End-of-life decisions are often difficult for everyone involved. As a horse owner, it is essential to be able to make rational and compassionate decisions based on objective information. At Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital, we can assist you by providing the information you need to help make the best decisions for your beloved horse from birth through end-of-life. If you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s quality of life or it is clear that humane euthanasia is the compassionate choice, we are here to help. We offer comprehensive pain management service, as well as humane euthanasia and burial planning assistance, for responsible horse owners. All services are provided with the utmost dignity in a compassionate, professional manner.

We Are as Committed to Your Horse’s Health as You!

Total healthcare for your horse begins with a skilled, dedicated equine veterinary health team that is as committed to your horse or foal’s well-being as you are. We are compassionate veterinary medical professionals who pride ourselves in always being here to assist our patients. Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have so that we can provide the insight you need. What can we do for you and your horse? Call Bracken Ridge Veterinary Hospital directly to learn more about our complete range of equine health services: 814-623-1888.