Hess McWilliams Veterinary Services

11/06/2024

Our office will be closed tomorrow for our bovine meeting. We’ll open back up at 6:30am Thursday morning. If you need to schedule an appointment or order medications, please call on Thursday. Please still call our office if you have an emergency. Our answering service will get you in touch with one of our veterinarians who will be able to help. We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

11/05/2024

We’re all very excited for our bovine meeting this Wednesday November 6th at the Bluebonnet Diner in Northampton! The meeting starts at 9am and should end around 2pm. We’d love to see you for the entire time but don’t worry if you can only stay for part of it. See you all there!

10/23/2024

Please join us November 6th, 8:30am at the Blue Bonnet, for an in depth informational meeting on colostral management and updating our herd vaccination programs to encompass both new vaccines and recent updates in proper timing of vaccines. Bring your questions, especially about unique herd issues you have and the possibility of vaccine use to help cope with these problems.

You must call the office to RSVP by Wednesday 10/30 so we can provide a head count for lunch.

10/19/2024

As National Vet Tech Week comes to close, we can’t help but thank our outstanding technicians, Heather, Sarah, and Amber. We truly could not provide the quality of care that we do without our technicians. We try to celebrate them everyday! Not only do they help us on the road whenever we need them and in any weather but they keep our office running smoothly! They schedule appointments, handle medication orders, triage emergencies, handle and ship lab samples, and write health certificates just to mention a few of the hundreds of things they do! Thank you so much Heather, Sarah, and Amber! Big thanks to our student techs too! We can’t do it without you!
If you see or speak to our technicians, please pass on a thank you!

10/16/2024

We at Hess McWilliams donate monthly to AAEP Foundation For The Horse, who as an organization works with Veterinarians to help horses in need.

For those that have been asking about donating to the relief of those effected by recent hurricanes, please consider using the link below to donate.

We are devastated to see the disastrous effects of Hurricane Helene that have impacted thousands of people and equines far and wide. Please join The Foundation for the Horse, the AAEP's charitable arm, in aiding the victims of the hurricane with a donation to help those affected.

The Foundation for the Horse works directly with equine veterinarians on the ground to make sure supplies, hay, feed and veterinary care are provided to animals in need.

Pictured is an example of the devasting effects the residents of Hendersonville, NC have suffered during Hurricane Helene.

If you would like to join us in aiding those affected, donate at: https://membership.aaep.org/FFTH/Shared_Content/Donation-Pages/Give-Now.aspx?ItemId=DISASTER_RELIEF&SourceCode=GiveNow&fbclid=IwY2xjawFnmcNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaHxoC1eLyh3A4yhmAjxmWHPmr_MlVVwcEAQlS7eG9dEchYSrXaPsyTwdQ_aem_XLRekJJPklcJ9rVpFvH-Tg

08/29/2024

EEE and WNV Update:

Summer months bring great things like longer days and warmer temps (sometimes too warm). But unfortunately Summer also brings mosquitoes. Massachusetts is currently seeing higher than normal numbers of mosquitoes carrying EEE and WNV in certain counties. Because of an increase in numbers in neighboring Worcester county, we are recommending a 6 month booster of our 4-way vaccine. That will booster for EEE, WEE, WNV, and Tetanus. If your horse is due for a 6 month booster of this vaccine now through October, we are recommending getting that booster. You can call our office to schedule an appointment. 413-549-6900

If you would like more information and updates about at-risk counties in the state, here is a very helpful link:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update

You can find more information about EEE and WNV here:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Vaccinations-Important-for-West-Nile-and-Eastern-Equine-Encephalitis

08/14/2024

Due to an increase in Potomac Horse Fever cases in Massachusetts and surrounding states, we are now recommending vaccinating your horse for the disease. We are recommending vaccinating this year still and then boostering in 3 weeks. Along with vaccinating, we recommend cleaning water buckets and troughs every day, trying to limit your horse's exposure to standing water, and turning lights off whenever possible. Here are some helpful links about Potomac Horse Fever. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a visit to vaccinate your horse. 413-549-6900

https://equinediseasecc.org/Content/ContentDocs/Potomac%20Horse%20Fever%20Factsheet_FINAL_2021.pdf

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/animal-health-diagnostic-center/about/news/potomac-horse-fever-phf

07/31/2024

Our office will be closing tomorrow, Thursday 8/1/24, at 12 noontime for our summer picnic. If you have an emergency, please still call the office. The answering service will get you in touch with the area veterinarians who are covering for us. We will be available for emergencies again in the evening. The office will be open as normal again on Friday. Thank you! Happy Summer!

07/17/2024

Our office will be closed from 8am-10am on Monday July 22nd for an all staff meeting. If you have a Veterinary emergency please still call 413-549-6900 and our emergency service will connect you to a veterinarian. Our office will re-open at 10am for all calls.

07/03/2024

We hope you are all preparing for a wonderful 4th of July. Reminder our office with be closed tomorrow. If you have an emergency, please still call the office. The answering service will get you in touch with the on call Veterinarian. The office will be open as normal again on Friday. Thank you!

06/26/2024

Last week our team of Veterinarians teamed up with Dr. Echeverria, Stoneleigh Burnham, and Boehringer Ingelheim for an awesome day of learning and Gastroscopy. Check out the post below for photos of this great day!

06/21/2024

Today is the last day to RSVP!

We, along with Barstow's Longview Farm LLC and Genex Cooperation, are hosting an artificial insemination class for our bovine clients on June 27th! Please join us if you'd like to learn to AI cattle or simply brush up on your skills. Please RSVP by 3PM today if you would like to attend. Call our office at 413-549-6900 to RSVP.

Hope everyone has a great (cooler) day!

06/18/2024

With summer's sunny days can come extreme heat. Here are some tips to ensure your animals stay healthy and comfortable.

Electrolyte water is a great way to keep your animals hydrated, however some animals do not find the taste appealing so it is important to also offer plenty of fresh water.

Offer mashes to keep your animals hydrated and up their water intake, and most enjoy the nice treat.

-Night turnout

-Hosing off

- Added vitamins and minerals

If your animals are showing any signs of heat distress, lethargy, or colicky symptoms please call our office and one of our Veterinarians will be in contact with you.

06/14/2024

Fun Fact Friday!

Did you know to perform f***l egg counts on your animals we only need a Jelly Bean sized amount of f***l matter? Not to be confused with the pony Jelly Bean of course. 😊

Now You Know, Happy Friday!

06/05/2024

Good afternoon to all of our valued clients and patients! We would like to remind you that lab work can take approximately 2 weeks for results. We've have had an influex of lab work getting sent back to us as non deliverable, please make sure if you have moved recently we have your updated information so we can get your labs to you. We ask that you please bear with us as we do our best to serve all of our patients, Thank you in advance!!

05/29/2024

Happy Wednesday! We are nearing one of our busiest times of the year for Animal Certificate of Veterinary Inspections, Show Season! With the warm weather many of you are gearing up by bathing and clipping.
We love seeing all of you out and about enjoying your animals. Please remember we require a 48 business hour notice for all health papers.
Information required : animal identification, destination, ship date, and trucking information. This is to ensure our staff has enough time to process each request and to ensure you're all able to go and have the fun making wonderful memories!

Happy Show Season!

10/20/2023

Finally, but certainly not least, introducing Sarah!

Sarah Vanjura-Roberts just celebrated one year with us, and we are so lucky to have her! She handles the never ending and almost impossible job of keeping our trucks and clinic stocked appropriately with medications and equipment. She also is one of our main technicians out on the road helping us take x-rays, perform endoscopy, and most importantly making sure we, the veterinarians, don't leave equipment behind. Sarah has an extensive background with horses having grown up with them and having two of her own currently. Her bovine skills aren't far behind as she joins us every other week at one of our biggest herd checks.
Thank you Sarah for all that you do for us!

National Vet Tech Week is coming to a close but our technicians at Hess McWilliams give their all to us, our clients, and our patients all year round. They deserve recognition everyday! Thank you Heather, Amber, and Sarah! Thank you to all veterinary technicians!

10/20/2023

Introducing Amber!

Amber Cushing has been with us now for two years. She stays in the the office more as our number one health certificate writer, p**p analyzer, and tech expert. Amber is always willing to try something new and if we really need help on the road, she's there! She also shares her homemade chocolate covered strawberries with us which are delicious! Amber is an intricate part to our team! When she isn't being awesome with us, she is having fun at home with her family, horse, Onyx, two dogs, and many chickens and ducks.
Thank you Amber for all that you do for us!