Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9412270025
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN DAVIS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Up to now, veterinarians Randy Darnton and Kathryn Trimpi have operated the valley's only exclusively equine practice from mobile units.
``We will keep the ambulatory service, because we feel this area really needs it,'' said Darnton. The new facility is intended to supplement the mobile operation, providing a site for additional services such as routine surgery, ultrasound exams, lab work, on-site X-ray development and sick foal monitoring.
While Darnton and Trimpi will not do major abdominal surgeries, Darnton said, ``We will do many routine surgeries that would have been sent to [the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech] before.''
In addition, the Roanoke Valley Equine Clinic is equipped to offer artificial-insemination services, including pasture and board for daily treatment of mares that are difficult to breed.
``We believe we can have better success with problem mares if we can treat them daily,'' Darnton said. But because the cost of daily farm visits adds up quickly, Darnton said temporarily housing horses on the premises until treatment is complete offers a more economical solution for some clients.
Darnton also keeps a stallion on the premises for the purpose of ``teasing'' the mare. It is common practice to expose a mare to a teaser to help determine by her behavior whether she is in heat and ready to be bred.
``We also can bring in mares that have trouble foaling and check them several times during the day and night,'' Darnton said.
Roomy box stalls allow mares and foals to be stabled together comfortably. To monitor orphaned or sick foals, Darnton said he plans to get ``foal-sitters,'' although, ``we may not be able to offer 24-hour sitting with a critical foal.'' Critical cases may continue being referred to the regional college in Blacksburg, where around-the-clock monitoring is available, he said.
The boarding facilities also give clients the option of daily care for a sick or injured horse that may need treatment or wounds tended several times a day.
``Most people work and can't do this easily for the horse at home,'' Darnton said.
In addition, certain stalls are equipped to sling and hoist a horse, if for example, it cannot stand on its own.
Although the clinic moved its office to the new location in June, the facility at 1501 Greenfield Street was completed only recently. An open house took place during the week of Nov. 14-20.
Because clients need to trailer their horses in, the facility is easily accessible from Interstate 81. Take exit 150B, go three miles north on U.S. 220 and turn right onto Virginia 673 (Greenfield Street). The clinic sign is visible on the right at about 100 yards. Turn right into the driveway.
Karen L. Davis is a Roanoke free-lance writer and pet owner. Her column runs twice a month. Send general-interest questions to The Pet Podium, in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB