A television commercial ended with this rather succinct comment by a smiling service station owner, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.” The thrust of the message was that if automobile owners didn’t spend the money up front on maintenance and servicing, it would cost them a good deal later in the form of major repair work. It is a lot like that in the equine world.

Often, holding off on treatment to save money in the form of vet bills results in longer, more expensive treatment, with the horse’s performance or reproductive career being placed in jeopardy. When dealing with an automobile, one can replace tires or even an entire engine. It isn’t that easy with horses. When the “tires” or “engine” suffer damage, it can be permanent, with no replacement parts available.

The problems that can cause permanent damage if not dealt with properly and in the early stages are many and varied. They include such things as colic, wire cuts, puncture wounds, ulcers, dystocia, dentistry, and laminitis.

The last item listed — laminitis — is one where early diagnosis and treatment is critical. For a look at laminitis and the other afflictions listed, we turn to five individuals who deal with these problems on a daily basis. Included are Nathanial A. White II, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, and four Riverton, Wy., practitioners — the veterinary team of Glen Gamble, DVM, and Gunda Gamble, DVM, Amy Stockton, DVM, and Jim Briddle, DVM. All have seen their share of equine medical problems where early treatment would have staved off expensive treatment and serious consequences