From her early days showing horses on California’s Central Coast to running a thriving equine reproduction practice, Dr. Melissa Patten has dedicated her career to helping horses live healthier, more successful lives. As owner of River Grove Veterinary Services in Paso Robles, CA, Dr. Patten’s practice focuses almost entirely on reproduction, breeding hundreds of mares each year. Known for her compassionate care and calm expertise, she’s built a reputation as both a trusted veterinarian and an advocate for advancing equine wellness, including the use of Equiplas® plasma products from Plasvacc. We sat down with Dr. Patten to discuss her insights on plasma use in equine medicine and how it has become an essential part of her practice.
What is your veterinary practice like? How many patients do you treat in a given year?
My practice is 90% reproduction, and we breed 200–300 mares per year.
How have you incorporated plasma into your practice? Is it part of a standard of care, or is it used only on a case-by-case basis?
We use plasma as a preventative in foals for farms with endemic disease, as well as high-value foals that owners want to have the best start possible. We also use plasma in horses with systemic diseases that are affecting clotting.
Why should plasma be an item in every vet’s toolkit?
Plasma saves lives and protects against disease. We have consistently seen foals thrive that receive plasma.
What Equiplas® products do you use personally in your practice?
Equiplas R, Equiplas, Equiplas REA, and custom plasma.
In what particular conditions or cases have you consistently seen strong outcomes from plasma products?
Rhodococcus equi, Rotavirus, Clostridium, and clotting disorders.
What would you say, in your opinion, the value proposition is for using the Equiplas® line of products?
Using Equiplas helps protect against disease and gives foals the chance to grow without fighting disease.
Do you have any anecdotes or specific cases where Equiplas® has played a unique or important role?
I had a client whose horse got into squirrel bait (poison), ingested a large quantity of it and was not doing well at all. I administered plasma, which helped save his life.
How would you describe the importance of having a registered, commercially available source of plasma in your practice?
I love having a product that I am confident in that won’t give my patients reactions and that I know has what they say is in the bag.
Do you see equine plasma treatments as one of the more impactful treatments in your field?
Yes, it is very impactful in my practice, as its administration directly saves lives.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Melissa Patten’s dedication to equine reproduction and health reflects the same values that guide Plasvacc USA: precision, compassion, and trust in proven science. Her success using Equiplas® demonstrates how plasma therapy can support healthier foals and stronger outcomes across a range of conditions, from failure of passive transfer to systemic illness and poisoning emergencies.
To learn more about how Equiplas® can support your patients, visit our Equine Plasma Products page, explore our Plasma Transfusion Guide, or read about Failure of Passive Transfer in Foals. Have questions about product availability or protocols? Contact our team to speak with a plasma specialist today.
