Comprehensive rotations combining equine and food animal medicine, surgery, and production systems for mixed large animal practice.
Equine disease diagnosis and management with ambulatory clinic exposure.
Cattle herd health management and individual medical treatment.
Operative techniques in equine surgical procedures and perioperative care.
Large animal surgical procedures including cesarean sections and abdominal surgery.
Diagnosis and management of lameness in large animals.
Herd health management and performance optimization in food animal operations.
Acute emergency management in horses with 24-hour rotation availability.
Reproductive health management across equine and food animal species.
Performance evaluation and athletic conditioning in horses.
Sheep and goat medicine and production systems.
Ultrasound, radiography, and other imaging in large animals.
Dental care and procedures in equine and large animal species.
Triage both emergencies: Acute equine colic may represent strangulation (surgical emergency). Dystocia in cow requires rapid intervention. Assess which is more time-sensitive. Call additional support if available; consider transfer to another facility if necessary.
Species-specific protocols: Horses use IV induction (propofol, guaifenesin + ketamine). Cattle may use IV or IM approaches. Monitors and recovery management differ. Know species-specific recovery complications (horses post-anesthetic thrombophlebitis, recumbency issues; cattle bloat risk).
Species-specific approaches: Equine: gait evaluation at walk/trot, lameness severity grading, flexion tests, intra-articular anesthesia. Cattle: often less obvious gait changes, more weight-shifting; use posturing, foot handling, ultrasound. Both require systematic localization.
Practice economics: Price services appropriately for each sector (equine often commands higher fees). Allocate staff efficiently between office and field visits. Invest in equipment useful for both species. Market both services effectively. Monitor profitability by sector.
Species-specific reproduction: Stallion: semen collection by phantom, analysis (volume, concentration, motility, morphology). Bull: similar parameters. Both require physical exam, testicular palpation. Breeding soundness protocols differ slightly by species; management recommendations differ significantly.
Contact your academic advisor to begin your comprehensive large animal clinical training.
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