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Below is a list of services provided by Hilltop Equine and related information courtesy of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Preventive Medicine
The cornerstone of general equine practice, preventive medicine is comprised of procedures such as vaccination, de-worming, and nutritional consultation. These important topics are often taken for granted until a serious problem such as infectious illness or colic arises.
Vaccination
De-worming
Parasite Control Tips
Parasite Control: Waging War on Equine Parasites
Tapeworms
Importance of Tapeworms in Colic
Nutrition
Nutritional Considerations for Athletic Horses
Nutrition As It Relates To The Hoof
10 Tips For Choosing The Best Hay For Your Horse
How Horses Digest Feed
Nutritional Management of Pregnant and Lactating Mares
Feeding the Performance Horse
Ten Tips for Weight Reduction in the Obese Horse
Overweight Horse: Special Care and Nutrition
Dentistry
This area of veterinary medicine has emerged as a major factor in a horse's performance, nutrition, and overall attitude. Hilltop Equine provides complete dental care using a combination of the modern
Powerfloat
, hand tools, tranquilization/sedation, and a full-mouth speculum. Under the training of a world-renown equine dentist, Dr. Shelton developed a special interest in equine dentistry. As a result, she has invested considerable time and equipment in the field - and created a practice dedicated to excellent dental care. Below are some links about the
importance of equine dentistry and illustrated examples of common dental problems. More information can be gathered in the Dentistry FAQ section of this website.
Learn to Recognize Your Horses Dental Problems
Bits, Bitting and Dentistry
The Importance of Maintaining the Health of Your Horse's Mouth
Understanding Your Horse's Teeth
Equine Dental Care Is More Than Just Floating
Dental Examination
Common Molar Problems
Common Incisor Problems
Lameness
A problem that can afflict both performance horses and pasture pets alike, lameness problems can range from the minor to the catastrophic. Using diagnostic techniques such as flexion exams, nerve and joint blocks, and radiography and ultrasound, Hilltop Equine is equipped to explore a variety of lameness issues.
Pre-purchase Exams
Radiography
A portable X-Ray machine can be used for the diagnosis of a variety of problems:
-joint conditions (infection, arthritis)
-sinus infections
-lung diseases (pneumonia, heaves)
-tooth abnormalities (broken teeth, infected roots)
-bone conditions (fractures, proliferation)
Ultrasonography
A portable ultrasound machine is designed to detect various soft tissue problems:
-tendon/ligament injuries
-mass identification (abscess, tumor)
-reproductive structures (fetus, staging mares cycle)
-gastrointestinal (gi tumors, reasons for colic)
 
Endoscopy
A flexible fiber optic tube with a tiny camera on the end, an endoscope can be used to evaluate structures that could otherwise only be seen with  surgery.
-airway problems (laryngeal hemiplegia/roarers, trachea abnormalities)
-guttural pouch conditions (infection/empyema)
-nasal abnormalities (tumors, infections)
-esophagus problems (choke complications, ulcers)
Other Equipment
As a mobile practice, every service is provided onsite, including procedures once found only in a laboratory
-hematocrit centrifuge
Used in conjunction with a protein refractometer, this piece of equipment can asses a horse's hydration status. Especially useful in the ill or colicky horse, knowing a horse's level of hydration can dictate whether IV fluids or immediate hospitalization is necessary.
-microscopy
Often used to detect the presence of parasites (worms) in a horse's stool, a portable microscope can also be used to look at skin scrapings, joint fluid, and even for complete blood cell counts.
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