Florida Equine Veterinary Service

06/21/2024

Great news for all my older campaigning patients (and some younger ones too can benefit from this)

A thorough examination of supporting soundness to help sport horses excel in the years to come.

06/09/2024

ITS EXCESSIVE HEAT NOW IN FLORIDA SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR HORSE HAS SHADE, PLENTY O F FANS AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER. ☀️

03/16/2024

It is that time of year to plan for the entire year of pregnancy - a horse is pregnant 345 days.

03/16/2024

03/16/2024

Here is a great new site to look up reliable information about owning a horse!

MyNewHorse.com

Here is an accurate "weigh" to get the weight of your horse or pony! 😉
BW, lb = (Heart Girth, in2 x length, in) / 330

01/22/2024

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (A FOAL) 🐴

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated — however, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of the foal:

• Consult with your veterinarian well in advance of the birth. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours and ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available.

• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.

• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

• Time each stage of labor, to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines and you should contact your veterinarian for more information specific to your situation. Good luck!

12/26/2023

Happy Holidays from the staff at Florida Equine Veterinary Services. We will be closed in December 26.

12/05/2023

We love our Physical therapist Kim! Enjoy your birthday tomorrow and through the weekend! You are only 50 once 🎉

11/23/2023

Happy thanksgiving from your Florida Equine Family to yours

07/31/2023

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

Equestrians love some chrome on a horse but we need to remember that those beautiful white patches and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils. In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

More information about sunburn and photosensitization is available on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/sunburn-photosensitivity

07/31/2023

YES WE DO STILL HAVE POSITIVE COGGINS TESTS IN HORSES.....

A horse in Lee County, Florida, is confirmed positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA), and six horses are exposed.

01/24/2023

On average horses drink 7-10 gallons of water a day and this remains as important in cold weather as it is in the summer because reduced water intake can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as the dreaded impaction colic.

Studies demonstrate that horses will drink more if provided access to heated water and that most water consumption happens within three hours of feeding. How can you use this information to your advantage? Refill buckets at feed time with warm water to maximize your horse’s water intake—especially in the winter when water is more likely to be freezing or close to freezing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to learn more about preventing colic in your horse, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

01/24/2023

Ambulatory equine veterinarians can find value in hiring an assistant to help with a variety of duties every day.

01/24/2023

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

Colic is not a disease; it is merely a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is—the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:
• Alert your veterinarian immediately.
• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings.
• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs;
• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself—but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe.
• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start. Consult your horse doctor for more information and be sure to ask them how they can be reached if your horse colics after hours!

09/01/2022

Heads up to clients of Florida Equine Veterinary Services....our email has been hacked. We are sorry if this caused any inconvenience to anyone. It should be all settled now.

07/19/2022

I am honored to be recognized

Meet your Good Works for Horses honorees for the month of June! 🎉🎉🎉

We are honored to recognize Dr. Beau David Whitaker, a partner at Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals - Salado, for his volunteer efforts which are helping facilitate the horse-human connection to improve the health and well-being of those with physical and mental disabilities in greater Austin, TX.

Congratulations also to runners-up Dr. Eleanor Kellon Vmd, owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions, and Dr. Erin Denney-Jones, owner of Florida Equine Veterinary Service.

The Good Works for Horses campaign, graciously sponsored by AAEP Educational Partner Zoetis Equine, honors AAEP-member practitioners whose volunteer efforts are having a positive impact on the equine community. Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/news/dr-beau-whitaker-honored-aaep-good-works-recipient-june

07/06/2022

https://arenus.com/colic-assurance-program/?utm_source=TPA%20On%20Google%20Search&utm_campaign=TPA%C2%AE%20Brand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Arenus%20Animal%20Health&utm_content=Google%20Display%20Network%20Ads&creative=468978806393&keyword=arenus%20assure&matchtype=p&adposition=&device=c&loc_physical_ms=9012393&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8NmE18fk-AIVjtmzCh2v8gm3EAAYASACEgLvp_D_BwE

We have had many patients improve with these products, diarrhea, significant sand colic seen on abdominal x-rays, and the respiratory product to help those horses with airway problems. AND they offer a colic assurance program too!

Are you looking for equine digestive support? Improve digestion and get peace of mind with the Arenus Colic Assurance Program. Learn more.

06/11/2022

Doing some rescue work in St Thomas VI 🧡🐎

05/29/2022

Now that’s a buffet fit for a dog (king) 😳😂

04/23/2022

Happy Earth Day

03/14/2022

https://mailchi.mp/c42ee3b8a508/thank-you-for-your-gift-to-the-foundation-295463?e=9155f336b3

As the devastation unfolds from the war in Ukraine, many in the equine and veterinary communities have asked how they can help. Through The Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), you can make a financial gift to those providing emerge...

02/25/2022

https://thehorse.com/1109108/deadly-botulism-outbreak-confirmed-in-florida/

01/29/2022

Make sure your horses have lukewarm water today. ALSO check your water troughs to make sure there is not a thin layer of ice on them. Keep them hydrated during a cold snap!🐴❤️

12/12/2021

12/12/2021

Before and After…on a skittish donkey…

12/12/2021

A little before and after…I wasn’t sure we would get this done. This girl doesn’t like to be touched much.

12/08/2021

Florida Equine provides these products to effectively treat joints and tendons.
https://ker.com/equinews/new-hope-for-tendon-injuries-in-horses/?partner=ker&utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=81918672b7-KER_Equinews_120821&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-81918672b7-307925

Tendon injuries occur frequently in athletic horses, so researchers are looking for effective ways to promote healing while minimizing the likelihood of reinjury.