Canon Hill Veterinary Clinic

09/04/2026

🐴 Hock Anatomy 101

Ever wondered what your horse’s hock actually is?
The hock is the horse’s tarsus, and anatomically, it is most comparable to the human ankle. It plays an important role in movement, balance, and propulsion.

The equine hock is made up of four main joints:
🔹 Tarsocrural joint – the largest and highest-motion joint of the hock. It allows the majority of the flexion and extension of the hock.
🔹 Proximal intertarsal joint – located between the talus/calcaneus and proximal row of tarsal bones. It has relatively little movement.
🔹 Distal intertarsal joint – between the two lower rows of tarsal bones. This is a low-motion joint.
🔹 Tarsometatarsal joint – between the distal tarsal bones and the cannon bone. This is also a low-motion joint.

Although these joints are separate, they work together as a complex to help your horse push off, turn, stop, jump, and engage the hind end.

The hocks play a key role in performance and movement, and with their high load of repetitive stress, are one of the most commonly injected joints in equine practice.

If you’ve noticed stiffness, changes in performance, difficulty with transitions or leads, or other changes in your horse’s movement, a lameness exam can help determine where the discomfort is coming from and what treatment may be appropriate.

09/01/2026

Things responsible dog owners do… even when their dog strongly disagrees. 😂🐶

🦷 Schedule their dental cleanings even though they’re convinced their breath is perfectly fine.

💊 Give medications even when they suddenly develop Olympic-level skills at spitting them out.

🩺 Schedule veterinary visits even though they have personally decided the vet is a place of betrayal.

✂️ Keep nails trimmed even when they insist those nails are an essential part of their personality.

🪱 Keep up with parasite prevention even though they have no idea what those tiny chewables are protecting them from.

🥕 Keep treats in moderation even when those eyes are telling you they have never been fed. Ever. Not once. In their entire life.

🏃 Make sure they get exercise and mental enrichment — even if their preferred activity is laying on the couch supervising.

👀 And most importantly, pay attention to changes in their health or behavior. Because sometimes the things we think are “just getting older” or “just being weird” can be signs that something needs attention.

They may not always appreciate our responsible decisions…
but they'll thank us for them in the long run. ❤️🐾

Happy Responsible Dog Ownership Month!

08/27/2026

We’re proud to support the men and women who serve and protect our community every day. Our local first responders and K9 officers train for some of the most challenging situations imaginable, and having the right preparation, teamwork, and resources can make all the difference. We’re honored to play a small part in supporting these dedicated professionals. ❤️🐾

Check out this great article from the Tribune highlighting the training taking place in our communities!

Being able to provide emergency care for a partner injured in the line of duty is something every police officer should know, according to the Washington County Animal Response Team. Especially when that partner is a K-9. “For a handler, we spend more time with these dogs than even our

08/26/2026

🐾 Happy International Dog Day! 🐾

Today we’re celebrating the goofy, loyal, muddy, cuddly, treat-obsessed, tail-wagging, couch-stealing, “I definitely didn’t eat that” dogs who make our lives better every single day. 🐶❤️
From the farm dogs to the family pets, the working dogs to the spoiled rotten ones (you know who you are 😉) — we love getting to care for them all!

Give your favorite four-legged friend an extra treat, a belly rub, and a little reminder today that they’re a VERY good dog. 🥰🐾

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Canon Hill! ❤️

08/24/2026

Canon Hill is proud to support local! 🐮💙

08/21/2026

🐱 THE CAT AUDIT: COMPLETE.

Your cat has officially inspected the house and, unfortunately, has found several areas requiring further investigation.

☑️ Food bowl — APPROVED
☑️ Water bowl — APPROVED
☑️ Litter box — ACCEPTABLE… FOR NOW
☑️ Human’s lap — APPROVED FOR SITTING
☑️ Freshly cleaned furniture — IMMEDIATELY CLAIMED
☑️ Cardboard box — 5-STAR FACILITY
☑️ Random object on the floor — 🚨 NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION
☑️ Something your human specifically told you not to touch — 🚨 CRITICAL PRIORITY

Final report:
House status: Satisfactory.
Cat status: In charge. 😂🐱

At least someone is taking their job seriously!

08/18/2026

🐴 5 Subtle Signs Your Horse May Be in Pain

Horses don't always show pain in obvious ways. Sometimes the first signs are small changes in their behavior, movement, or performance.

Keep an eye out for:
🔹 Changes in attitude — becoming unusually grumpy, withdrawn, anxious, or difficult to handle
🔹 Changes in performance — reluctance to work, difficulty with transitions, refusing jumps, or suddenly performing differently
🔹 Changes in movement — shortened stride, stiffness, uneven movement, reluctance to turn, or difficulty picking up a lead
🔹 Changes in eating — decreased appetite, dropping feed, chewing differently, or taking longer to eat
🔹 Changes in behavior — pawing, repeatedly looking at the flank, unusual sweating, lying down more than normal, or resisting being touched in certain areas

🐎 Knowing your horse's normal behavior is one of the best tools you have. Even subtle changes can be worth paying attention to.

If something doesn't seem right, don't ignore your gut feeling. Early veterinary evaluation can help identify problems before they become more serious.

08/15/2026

Barn cat said, “I’ll be monitoring this procedure.” 🧐

08/12/2026

🚨 When Is Vomiting an Emergency? 🐶🐱

An occasional episode of vomiting can happen, but repeated vomiting or vomiting accompanied by other symptoms can be a sign that your pet needs veterinary attention.

⚠️ Contact your veterinarian if your pet is:
• Vomiting repeatedly or unable to keep water down
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Extremely lethargic, weak, or acting unusually
• Showing signs of abdominal pain or bloating
• Refusing food or water
• Having diarrhea, especially if severe or bloody
• Showing signs of dehydration
• Possibly exposed to a toxin or swallowed a foreign object

🐾 Dogs and cats can become seriously ill quickly, especially with dehydration, toxin exposure, or an intestinal obstruction.

If you're concerned about your pet, don't wait for symptoms to worsen. When in doubt, give your veterinarian a call. ❤️

08/08/2026

🐴 Did You Know?

For most horses, fasting is NOT recommended before insulin and glucose testing.

Current recommendations suggest horses should have access to their normal forage before testing, as fasting can actually affect results.
The exceptions are:
✔️ Certain breeds with unique metabolic considerations (ie miniature donkeys)
✔️ Pre- and post-prandial (meal challenge) testing, where specific feeding instructions are part of the test

If your horse is scheduled for insulin/glucose testing and you're unsure how to prepare, give our clinic a call—we're happy to help ensure the most accurate results! 🩺💚