We provide both haul-in and ambulatory services for horses, camelids (alpacas and llamas), small ruminants and other livestock and ambulatory only services for cattle. Because our large animal hospital is much better equipped than our trucks, we recommend bringing your animals to us if possible. We have a well-equipped treatment area with stocks, an alpaca chute, and a covered breezeway for conducting lameness exams. We also have a round pen for our lameness exams and a walk-on scale for easier weight measurements of our patients.
Lameness: We provide comprehensive lameness evaluations for our equine patients as well as other large animal species. Evaluations can include a thorough history, physical exam, flexion tests and observation of locomotion in a straight line or in a circle. Additional diagnostics may include nerve and/or joint blocks, radiographs, ultrasonography, neurological exam, or observation under saddle. We encourage you to be prepared to tack up if needed.
Endoscopy: We have a 1.5 meter (4.5 foot) endoscope that we use to visualize the mouth, nasal passages, throat, trachea, esophagus, reproductive and urinary tracts of our large animal patients. Conditions, where we might use endoscopy, include upper respiratory disease, nasal hemorrhage, pneumonia, choke, guttural pouch problems, bladder or uterine problems, and more.
Dentistry: Dental care is of prime importance for our horses. Tooth problems can be an underlying cause for weight loss, poor performance, head tossing, abscesses, colic and other health problems. At Crater Animal Clinic we use power dental tools and floats in order to achieve the best results and can perform basic, restorative and performance dental care. We have special tools for ponies and miniature horses as well. We also perform dental care on llamas and alpacas.
Surgery: Crater Animal Clinic has a surgery and recovery room, with modern anesthesia and monitoring equipment. We perform surgeries on our large animal species including castrations, umbilical hernias, rectal prolapses, check ligaments, bladder stone removal, joint lavage and limb perfusion, and cesarian sections in our small ruminants. Colic surgeries and other major abdominal surgeries are referred to Oregon State University as well as cryptorchid (retained testicle) surgeries.
Ultrasonography: An ultrasound is a versatile machine that emits sound waves that bounce off tissues depending on their density. The reflected waves are detected by the ultrasound probe and thus register an image. For our large animal patients, ultrasonography can be used to evaluate estrus and pregnancy, superficial abdominal organs (liver, spleen, kidneys, small intestine), the surface of the lungs and other soft tissues such as muscle, tendons, joints, abscesses, tumors, etc.
Reproduction: Reproduction is an important part of veterinary medicine for our large animal clientele. We perform breeding soundness exams (BSE) for horses, camelids and cattle, ultrasound guided pregnancy detection for horses and camelids (llamas and alpacas), and artificial insemination (AI) using fresh, cooled or frozen semen. We also work up the problem breeder with uterine cultures, ultrasonography, endoscopy, biopsies and more. Contact our large animal department to find out ways to make your breeding program more efficient and successful.
Intensive Care: For our large animal patients that require hospitalization we have large, well-equipped indoor or covered outdoor stalls with heavy rubber matting and setups for both IV fluids and oxygen. The indoor stalls are facing the treatment area and thus our critical care patients are under observation at all times during the day.
Preventative Medicine: Crater Animal Clinic strives to help our clients have happy, healthy animals. We believe that annual wellness exams, a well organized deworming program and core vaccine programs are essential for health maintenance. Wellness exams are extensive, thorough evaluations that help us detect early signs of illness or disease while it is still manageable and/or treatable. For our recommendations on preventative care for our large animal patients, click here. We also do Coggins tests and Health Certificates (Certificates of Veterinary Inspection) for our patients who will be traveling to shows, sales or across state lines.
Radiology: Radiographs are an essential diagnostic tool for work up of our patients with lameness. Our mobile X-ray machine can be used in hospital or in the field to take radiographs of hooves, legs, head, parts of the neck and the top of the spine. We can also take radiographs of the abdomen of our small ruminant or neonatal patients. Radiology is used to diagnose such conditions as laminitis (Founder), head trauma, fractures, ring bone, arthritis, osteochondritis dessicans (OCD), guttural pouch problems, tooth root abscesses and more.
VOM: Veterinary orthopedic manipulation is a chiropractic technique that utilizes a graduated, spinal accelerometer called an activator. The activator is a stainless steel, spring loaded device that generates a very rapid, mechanical energy wave into the tissues and bones of the spine. The mechanical energy wave generated is a potent stimulator of a certain type of sensory nerve ending, called mechanoreceptors. The mechanoreceptors send a very large nerve impulse directly to the spinal cord to reset the nervous system. There is no torqing or tearing of the tissues because the actual amount of movement is very small. VOM is used to treat neurological and spinal diseases in both small and large animal patients.
Pre-purchase Exams: A veterinary exam prior to buying a new horse or camelid is a critical tool in helping our clients make better decisions when making an investment, whether financial or emotional, on a new animal. Pre-purchase exams are thorough evaluations of health and lameness and may require bloodwork or radiographs as part of the overall picture. We recommend bringing tack for the possibility of watching movement under saddle.
What To Bring/Pack In Your Trailer
Aside from bits, bridles and boots, you’ll need to pack items in your truck and trailer that will help you be properly prepared for anything. Creating an item list for either a long or short trip keeps avoidable mishaps and forgotten goods to a minimum. Click the links befow for mor information.