Professional Equine

Kindness goes a long way my friends…

Ellensburg Animal Hospital would like to address recent online commentary regarding our clinic, much of which has been unfair to our team, misleading to the public, and dismissive of the care, professionalism, and emotional labor that veterinary staff provide every day.

Veterinary medicine is one of the most emotionally demanding professions there is, and unless you’ve lived it, it’s hard to fully understand what happens behind the exam room door.

Every day, veterinary teams carry an enormous weight. We help families through some of their worst moments. We deliver hard news. We fight for sick and injured animals. We stay late, skip lunch, make difficult calls, and do everything we can to care for the pets entrusted to us.

And sometimes, we help a beloved pet pass peacefully… then, just a few minutes later, we are expected to walk into the next appointment with a smile on our face and carry on like our hearts aren’t cracked wide open.

That is the reality of this field.

Running a veterinary hospital is also incredibly expensive. The equipment, medications, lab work, staffing, training, supplies, utilities, emergency preparedness, and day-to-day care it takes to keep a hospital functioning are substantial. Veterinary medicine is not “just a quick visit” or “just a shot.” It is skilled medical care provided by a team of people who have spent years gaining education and experience who have dedicated their lives to serving animals.

And behind that team? We are still people.

We have families. We go home carrying the cases that stayed with us. We replay the appointments that hurt. We wonder if we could have done more. And yes, we read the reviews, the comments, the angry posts, and the public attacks.

Those words do not just “stay online.”

They land on real people. People who were likely doing their best in a hard moment. People who may have just helped a family say goodbye to a pet. People who may not have had time to process their own grief before moving on to the next patient who needed them.

Every cruel comment, every accusation, every public pile-on cuts deeper than most people realize.

This profession is already struggling under the weight of compassion fatigue, burnout, staffing shortages, financial pressure, and emotional exhaustion. Many veterinary professionals are giving everything they have, and still being told it isn’t enough.

Please remember: veterinary teams are not robots. We are not uncaring. We are not untouched by loss, grief, frustration, or heartbreak.

We care deeply. Sometimes too deeply. We will continue to work hard to care for your animals, advocate for them, and do our best to accommodate the needs of every patient we can.

But kindness matters.

Patience matters.

Grace matters.

Because the people caring for your pets are human, too.

This amazing FREE course dives into the importance of equine posture and helps horse owners evaluate their horses posture to know when to call for help! Dr Dana herself has taken this course and highly recommends it to all horse owners and trainers! Go to dvmdetective.com/pr4h-eg-wrp to register for FREE

The Spring Prascend rebate is back! Use the QR code to submit Prascend receipts from March 1st - July 31st and get cash back. If you need assistance or have questions reach out to our office at 360-794-5409

I second this!

PSA for Horse Owners 🐴📞

Please always leave a voicemail or send a text when you contact your veterinarian — and follow the instructions on the voicemail if provided.

Please don’t call and hang up if we don’t answer.

Equine veterinarians are often extremely busy and may be:
• In the middle of an exam
• Speaking with another client
• Handling an emergency
• Driving between farms
• Restocking trucks and supplies
• Completing medical records or ordering medications

Many equine vets are working alone, without a technician or office staff to answer calls.

After hours, veterinarians may be with their families and trying to get a small amount of much-needed rest — while still remaining available for true emergencies.

We absolutely understand that emergencies feel urgent. However, we still have to screen calls to determine which situations are critical and which can safely wait until the next day.

And to be honest:
More than half of after-hours calls are not true emergencies.
Even as an emergency-only veterinarian, I still receive many non-emergency questions overnight.

📌 The best way to reach us is to leave a message or text with details. That helps us respond as quickly and appropriately as possible.

If you haven’t heard back within a reasonable amount of time, it is completely okay to call again.

Thank you for understanding and for helping us help your horses. 💙

Good info here!

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency (even during the holidays). Are you prepared?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse if necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.