Today was our autumn 'herd health and dental day," where all the horses and one mule get their fall vaccinations and a dental exam. Our equine vet, Dr. Erin Taylor of Blue Mountain Veterinary Hospital in Missoula, brought the clinic's new equine vet, Dr. Angela Langer, out to the ranch to help. Angela just graduated from vet school this year; she did her first three years at Ross University and her fourth year at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine. This is her first week at Blue Mountain, so we were delighted to welcome her to the ranch.
Angela had the hard work today -- all the dentals! In fact, she floated teeth on twelve of our equines, including Roy the old mule (speaking of mules), who you see in the photo above. "Floating" means filing down jagged edges and sharp points, to make sure the teeth align properly and comfortably. Even though vets these days use power tools -- notice the DeWalt in Angela's hand -- it's very physically demanding. So twelve equines in one day is a lot of work!
While Angela was doing the dentals in our medical room in Beauty's Barn, Erin and I walked through the pastures to vaccinate all the horses who weren't already waiting at the barn to get their teeth done. In this photo Erin is with blind Bridger, who she calls 'Mr. Handsome Bridger.' Erin had removed Bridger's right eye several weeks ago because it had become chronically painful and inflamed, and this was the first time she'd seen him since then.
It was a beautiful fall day, blue sky and sunshine, and Erin and I had a wonderful time walking from pasture to pasture, visiting with the horses. Meanwhile, back in the medical room ... Angela was still grinding away!
wow interesting job! Lucky horses
Posted by: dentist knoxville | September 22, 2010 at 12:47 AM
GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THAT MAKE WHAT YOU DO POSSIBLE. Every time I get your newsletter, I am moved to tears. In fact, I write to you now through a veil of tears. I am so touched by what you do. I cannot find the words to tell you how grateful I am that you rescue these beautiful creatures. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Desiree
Posted by: Desiree | October 11, 2007 at 03:57 PM
How do you get them to hold still for the dental work?
Thank you for taking such good care of the creatures.
Posted by: Bruce Small | October 11, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Roy seems to be very calm while having his teeth worked on, what a good guy! Looks like Dr. Angela Langer would get a backache doing 12 of those! Glad you had a gorgous fall day for the "herd health & dental day"!
Big hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | October 11, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Dr. Langer certainly wouldn't need any gym time after her day at RDR was done!
I hope it was a wonderful week for her and that visiting the ranch was an inspiring highlight.
It does look like a beautiful day in Ovando; doesn't get much better than walking sunny pastures, checking on your horses with dogs trailing behind and cats peering from their perches. Good stuff!
Posted by: Boundforglory | October 11, 2007 at 09:45 AM
The horse tools are so big! Another productive day at RDR! Yes, it looks like a beautfiul fall day!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | October 10, 2007 at 11:52 PM