True North Veterinary Services

True North Veterinary Services We provide mobile veterinary services for cattle, horses, goats, sheep, and other farm animals – delivered right to your location with flexible scheduling.

Serving the Peace Country and surrounding areas.

📢 Medication Order Reminder 📢True North Veterinary Services will be placing a medication order this week.👉 Please have y...
03/30/2026

📢 Medication Order Reminder 📢

True North Veterinary Services will be placing a medication order this week.
👉 Please have your requests in to be included.

⚠️ Reminder: Medications can only be dispensed with a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) in place. If you’re unsure whether you have an active VCPR, please reach out to confirm.

🚚 Delivery options: Arrangements can be made for drug deliveries to help ensure you get what you need in a timely manner.

To place your order or discuss delivery, call/text Dr. Josee Marcoux, DVM at 1-780-837-0083.

🐎🌙 FOALING SEASON IS HERE — ARE YOU READY? 🌙🐎Foaling time can be exciting… and a little nerve-wracking. Most mares handl...
03/29/2026

🐎🌙 FOALING SEASON IS HERE — ARE YOU READY? 🌙🐎

Foaling time can be exciting… and a little nerve-wracking. Most mares handle things beautifully on their own, but knowing what’s normal (and what’s not) can make all the difference when it matters most.

Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind during foaling:

🫧 Let the foal do the work first
Unless there’s an emergency, allow the foal time to break through the fetal membranes. Once it does, make sure the foal is breathing normally.

✂️ Umbilical cord — hands off (usually!)
It’s generally best not to cut or break the cord. It will typically break naturally when the mare or foal stands.

💞 Bonding time matters
Give the mare and foal time to rest and bond undisturbed as much as possible.

👀 Monitor both closely
After birth, both mare and foal should be:
• Breathing normally
• Bright and alert
• The mare should be calm, curious, and accepting of her foal

⏱ The “2-3 hour rule”
• Foal should stand and nurse within 2 hours
• If no nursing by 3 hours → Intervene or call your vet

🌾 Check the placenta
Once passed, examine it carefully. It should be intact and Y-shaped, with no missing tips — this is very important for the mare’s health.

🥛 Colostrum is critical
Foals must receive colostrum within the first 6–10 hours to absorb essential antibodies. If the foal is weak or unable to nurse, intervention may be needed.

Foaling is usually quick and smooth — but when it’s not, timing is everything. Don’t hesitate to reach out if something doesn’t seem right.

As always, if you have questions or want to be extra prepared this season, reach out ahead of time.

Dr. Josee Marcoux
True North Veterinary Services
📞1-780-837-0083

Photo Source: AAEP

🌟🐎 Saturday Service Spotlight 🐎🌟This week I’m excited to spotlight Dreamers Lane Stables, owned and operated by someone ...
03/28/2026

🌟🐎 Saturday Service Spotlight 🐎🌟

This week I’m excited to spotlight Dreamers Lane Stables, owned and operated by someone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few years back. Some of you may remember the business previously operating as Besuijen Performance Horses.

I first met Margaret a few years ago when she was actually my riding coach at PARDS, and we’ve also crossed paths a few occasions during my time at ETVS. It’s always great to see passionate horse people continue to grow and expand what they offer to the equine community.

While many know her as a coach across multiple equine disciplines, about two years ago she expanded her business into equine nutrition — something that has always been a passion within her own program.

When the previous distributor for Buckeye Nutrition stepped away, she took over with the goal of bringing high-quality, science-backed feed and nutrition products to the northern region and creating a one-stop shop for horse owners. She also offers delivery directly to farms and surrounding barns, making it much easier for local owners to access quality feed and supplements.

Brands she currently stocks include:

🌾 Buckeye Nutrition
🌾 Kentucky Equine Research
🌾 Kentucky Performance Products
🌾 Equine Choice
🌾 MadBarn
🌾 Omega Alpha

(Tribute is also available to order if requested.)

In addition to supplying products, she also offers:

✨ Customized feed plans
✨ In-person body condition evaluations
✨ Nutritional guidance to help owners understand what their horses may be lacking

She also works directly with a nutritionist to help ensure horses are receiving balanced, appropriate nutrition.

Equine nutrition plays a huge role in performance, longevity, and overall health, so it’s always great to see knowledgeable professionals helping owners navigate the often confusing world of feed and supplements.

Always happy to highlight local professionals who are passionate about education, horse health, and supporting the equine community.

Contact:
Margaret Besuijen
📞Text: 780-832-0949
Facebook: Dreamers Lane Stables

🐎🌸 FOALING SEASON IS UPON US! 🌸🐎…or for some of you, it may already be well underway!Do you have mares due soon? If your...
03/27/2026

🐎🌸 FOALING SEASON IS UPON US! 🌸🐎

…or for some of you, it may already be well underway!

Do you have mares due soon? If your mare has made it through ~11 months of pregnancy, you’re in the home stretch. While foaling is usually straightforward and uncomplicated, being prepared and informed makes all the difference in helping both mare and foal get off to a great start.

✨ What to Expect When You’re Expecting… a Foal! ✨

Here are a few key things you can do to prepare:

📞 Talk to your veterinarian ahead of time
Know how to reach your vet after hours and have a backup plan in place just in case.

🧼 Prep your foaling area
Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible and provide good, clean bedding.

🚿 Get your mare ready
Gently wash the udder, v***a, and hind end with a mild soap and rinse well.

🪢 Tail wrap when stage one begins
Wrap the tail with a clean wrap once labor starts — just make sure it’s not too tight and not left on too long.

⏱ Time the stages of labor
Keep track of timing and write it down. When things get stressful, time can feel very different than it actually is.

Most mares will foal quickly and without assistance, but preparation helps you stay calm and recognize when something isn’t quite right.

As always, these are general guidelines — every situation is different, so don’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian for advice specific to your mare.

Wishing everyone a safe and successful foaling season! 🐴💕

Dr. Josee Marcoux
True North Veterinary Services
📞1-780-837-0083

Photo Source the AAEP, they have so many great sources and diagrams! Highly recommend my equine clients to follow there page!

🐎🧰 Foaling Season Prep: What’s in Your Foaling Kit? 🧰🐎Foaling season can be incredibly exciting… but when the time comes...
03/26/2026

🐎🧰 Foaling Season Prep: What’s in Your Foaling Kit? 🧰🐎

Foaling season can be incredibly exciting… but when the time comes, things can move very quickly. Having a well-prepared foaling kit ready to go can make the process smoother and help you respond quickly if needed.

Some useful items to have ready include:

🧤 OB sleeves & exam gloves
🧴 Lubricant
🧼 Iodine for the foal’s navel
🧻 Clean towels
🌡 Thermometer
🍼 Bottle and ni**le (just in case)
🥛 Colostrum or colostrum replacer
💡 Good lighting / headlamp for night checks
📓 Notebook or phone to track timing of stages of labor
📞 Your veterinarian’s number handy

Other helpful things to have nearby:

🐴 Foal e***a
✂️ Clean scissors or clamp (rarely needed, but good to have)
🪣 Clean bucket & warm water

Most mares foal quickly and without assistance, but being prepared helps you act confidently if something doesn’t look quite right.

And remember — if a mare has been actively pushing for more than about 20 minutes without progress, it’s time to call your vet.

Preparation goes a long way in helping ensure a healthy mare and a healthy foal.

Picture: Foaling kits vary between each breeder but here is what the AAEP recommends

Dr. Josee Marcoux
True North Veterinary Services
📞 780-837-0083

🐎📝 Pre-Foaling Checklist for Mares 📝🐎Foaling season is right around the corner (or already here for some!), and a little...
03/25/2026

🐎📝 Pre-Foaling Checklist for Mares 📝🐎

Foaling season is right around the corner (or already here for some!), and a little preparation now can go a long way in setting both mare and foal up for success.

Here’s a quick pre-foaling checklist to keep in mind:

💉 Vaccinations (4–6 weeks pre-foaling)
Core vaccines are important to help boost antibody levels in colostrum, giving your foal the best start possible. I personally use Prestige 5 + WNV in all of my mares

🪱 Deworming
Deworming is typically recommended close to foaling (often within a few weeks prior) to help reduce parasite to the foal and environment. Your deworming plan should be tailored to your farm and history. I prefer to give a single ingredient product, most commonly Ivermectin (Quest, Equimax, Zimecterin, etc..). I do my foals at a later date with a Fenbendazole product (Safeguard)

🧼 Foaling Environment Prep
• Clean and disinfect stall
• Fresh, deep bedding
• Safe, quiet area for foaling

✂️ Udder & Perineal Area Prep
Gently clean the udder, v***a, and hind end as foaling approaches.

🧰 Foaling Kit Ready (another post on this later 😁)
Have your supplies organized and easy to access — when it’s go-time, there’s no time to hunt things down.

📞 Have a Plan
Know how to reach your veterinarian (especially after hours) and have a backup plan in place.

👀 Monitor Closely
Watch for signs like udder development, waxing, relaxation around the tail head, and changes in behaviour.

A little planning now can make foaling season much less stressful and help ensure a healthy mare and a strong, thriving foal.

If you’d like to go over a vaccination or deworming protocol or make sure your mare is ready — I’m happy to help!

Dr. Josee Marcoux
True North Veterinary Services
📞1-780-837-0083

🚨💊 Hey everyone – last chance! 💊🚨Today is the final day to get your medication orders in before this week’s shipment go...
03/25/2026

🚨💊 Hey everyone – last chance! 💊🚨

Today is the final day to get your medication orders in before this week’s shipment goes out. Don’t miss the wagon! 🐴🐄🐑

✅ Remember, we can only fill orders if there’s a valid VCPR in place.
🚚 Need it dropped off? We can help arrange delivery to make things easier.

Text or call Dr. Josee Marcoux, DVM at 1-780-837-0083 to get your order in before the cut-off!

Thanks for keeping us busy and your critters healthy 💙

🌎♻️ A Little Something You Might Have Noticed… ♻️🌎You may have noticed when I drop off medications or supplies, they don...
03/24/2026

🌎♻️ A Little Something You Might Have Noticed… ♻️🌎

You may have noticed when I drop off medications or supplies, they don’t always come in your typical plastic bag…

Instead, you might get:
🛍️ A reusable grocery bag
📦 A paper bag

And no… I didn’t just run out of plastic bags 😅 — it’s intentional!

I’m trying to do my part to be a little more environmentally conscious in my day-to-day work. Single-use plastics add up quickly, especially in veterinary medicine, so this is one small way I can help reduce that footprint.

Bonus: those reusable bags tend to live a second life on the farm (feed runs, truck snacks, random ranch essentials… you know the ones 😉).

It’s a small change, but if we all make a few of them, it adds up!

Thanks for rolling with it and helping keep things just a little bit greener 🌱

Dr. Josee Marcoux
True North Veterinary Services

🐂✨ Big Shoutout to Blazin J! ✨🐂I want to give a huge thank you to Darcie Lind with Blazin J for creating some custom cat...
03/23/2026

🐂✨ Big Shoutout to Blazin J! ✨🐂

I want to give a huge thank you to Darcie Lind with Blazin J for creating some custom cattle tags for True North Veterinary merch — and they turned out absolutely awesome!

The attention to detail and craftsmanship is fantastic, and I couldn’t be happier with how they came out. And of course… he even has them in turquoise (which just happens to be my favourite colour 💙).

If you’re looking for custom western-style pieces or unique items, definitely check out what Darcie is doing — he does some really great work.

Thanks again for helping bring this fun little merch idea to life!

l

03/23/2026

🐂✨ New Merch Drop!! ✨🐂

How sharp are these turquoise tags?! 😍

Huge thank you toDarcie Lind from Blazin J Simmentals for bringing this vision to life — absolutely nailed it! 👏

Keep an eye out… you might start seeing these pop up on farm calls 👀

Address

McLennan, AB
T0H2L0

Telephone

(780)8370083

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