Dr. Abagail Mickelson, DVM, and Dr. Ed Metcalf, DVM, rely on a Rice Lake equine scale and digital weight indicator to weigh equine patients.
Medically evaluating and caring for horses is a challenging profession. Veterinarians must rely on training, intuition and experience to correctly monitor, diagnose and treat horses of all breeds and ages. Although a variety of physical equipment is also utilized, one device is of the utmost importance: an accurate weighing system. However, it is often overlooked in the industry. At Leading Edge Veterinary Services in Springbrook, Wisconsin, large animal veterinarians Dr. Abagail Mickelson, DVM, and Dr. Ed Metcalf, DVM, rely on a Rice Lake equine scale and digital weight indicator to weigh equine patients.
Dr. Mickelson explains the importance of weight as it relates to animal wellness. “There are a number of health issues associated with obesity in horses, aside from the typical orthopedic problems. One of the major diseases that has a direct correlation to obesity is equine metabolic syndrome [EMS]. When EMS is present, horses will have excessive fat deposits which are not stagnant. Rather, these deposits are metabolically active and eventually lead to laminitis. The worst part is the pain factor for these horses. Unlike humans, we cannot put them in a wheelchair. Laminitis is typically and unfortunately the end of the line.”
Weight gain is typically gradual and can go unnoticed by horse owners. Therefore, it is important to maintain regular veterinary checkups because a doctor who is familiar with an animal will recognize changes in weight. “I notice it,” says Dr. Mickelson. “The owner might think their horse looks great or sometimes they use other horses on the farm, who are also overweight, as a comparison. In these scenarios, they are often shocked when I show them the scale readout and it is 20-30% higher than their estimation. This is why an accurate equine scale, because it is objective and scientific, is essential to confirm weight gain and convince owners to take action.”
