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Erickson Miniature Horses

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Aug 18, 2013
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Location
Minnesota
I was just wondering if there was such a thing as a miniature horse veterinarian, a veterinarian who just specializes in miniature equines? Or are they just large equine vets who do miniature horses too?

Would they be called a miniature horse veterinary specialist?

I feel like this is such a simple question, but I'm puzzled because there is not much information about it online or in any books. I figured this large community of miniature horse people had to be a good resource.
 
I see you are in Minnesota. There are several horse-only veterinary clinics in Minnesota...I've used both and they are worth the haul from western Wisconsin for those special circumstances. They all do all sizes and types of horses.
 
There are quite a few veterinary hospitals in my area who specialize in one species only, several equine clinics and a cat hospital. I have been told that here in Connecticut, there are more horses per square acre than there are in Kentucky. I do not know if it is true, but there are a lot of horses, enough to warrant a "horse only" practice. The cat hospital is so busy that they had to expand and hire more doctors. If your region had lots of minis then it could be a possibility. I think than an equine vet could specialize in minis and buy all of the small equipment. I do not know much about vet school, but I would assume it would be the same for all animals. I do not know how much extra schooling is required to declare a specialty but I think now I will ask the equine vet next time she is out here.
 
I think they would be out of business if they were only breed specific. I understand the frusteration finding a good local vet that is good with equine can be hard to find. Or even a clinic that can do emergancy surgery like colic for example. Last year I had an emergancy run to a equine clinic thats 2 1/2 hrs away because my mare needed colic surgery and they were awesome. I even went back and got all of my horses coggins test done, floats, and sheath cleanings there eariler this year. Worth going back and keeping my name in their books, and I will probably do it again next year. I still go to my regular vet if I still need something looked at that I know he can do but any emergencies I'll go to the equine clinic. I just wish I was closer.
 
It would be nice to have one that specializes in miniatures. We use our large equine vet to treat and take care of our Miniatures.
 
I have a great vet - doing everything she can for my 13 yr old gelding with left front lameness, mostly going downhill to the left.

1 - block leg - no differences until just below the knee; x ray leg - no issues; ultra sound tendons and ligaments - send off to radiologist who says - Oh my, how small is he (he's 36.5) Doesn't see anything recognizable, maybe something in check - ultra sound check, send off and nothing significant

2 - xray knee - send off to 2 radiologists - one says maybe a little arthritis, other says no (He has an offset knee so wouldn't be surprising) Blocked knee, no relief of lameness

3. Can't afford an MRI but not sure it could sort it out anyway

My gut feeling is that it is the check ligament because farrier had let him get too long and outside of foot was getting long. (My fault but I was worrying about tender feet) Now have that corrected (new farrier) Feet look great and trimming 4-5 weeks.

Our problem is that vets aren't used to looking at these small structures and Miniatures have a pretty good track record of staying sound.
 
Thanks to my vet, who is attending a Vet Conference and took my mini's ultrasounds with her, she found a colleague who was familiar with driving injuries and now we will explore carpal canal sheath tear. I don't think it's too severe because he's only marginally off walking around and no pain on palpation or extreme flexion of the knee. Fingers crossed we are on a track now!
 

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