MU VHC Equine Hospital

07/02/2025

Mizzou Veterinary Insight: Antimicrobial Beads
At the University of Missouri Equine Hospital we utilize an advanced and multimodal approach to treat infection. One tool we have to use are antimicrobial beads. These beads are made at our clinic by combining a calcium sulfate base with an antibiotic. We can select the antibiotics to best meet the patient's needs. The calcium sulfate antimicrobial beads are then placed under the skin through stab incisions, in a surgery site, or in an open wound. The beads will absorb over time so there is no need to remove them. The beads release antibiotics over a two week period. They can be a useful way to fight infection at the source and can be used alone or with systemic (body wide) antibiotics. Here our Dr. Warren is placing antibiotic beads through small stab incisions. The other photos depict how the beads are made.

07/01/2025

Some Fireworks Safety Tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

With the just around the corner, now is a good time to make preparations to keep your horses, farm animals and pets safe during any fireworks that will be happening in your area. 🎆

The graphic below lists some tips to get you started. If your horses are staying out overnight, be sure to check your fencing ahead of time and neutralize any hazards like rocks, branches or holes that could lead to injury if the animals start bolting. If you are really worried about your horse's safety, consult your veterinarian about calming agents and sedatives.

No matter what your Independence Day plans are, above all please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so EVERYONE may have an enjoyable celebration. Happy 4th!

Thank you to our Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/30/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Ramsey for completing her Large Animal Rotating Internship Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine. She has done a fantastic job expending her veterinary knowledge and skills in both farm animal and equine medicine. She is moving back to her home town in Kentucky to practice mixed animal medicine. We know Dr. Ramsey will do fantastic as she faces her new and exciting challenges.

06/27/2025

It’s always hard to say goodbye to our amazing interns but it’s time to send them off into their exciting futures and welcome our new crew!

Today, we're celebrating our 2024-25 house officers, interns and residents as they complete their training at !
These licensed veterinarians chose Mizzou to advance their training — and they’re leaving as specialists, leaders and changemakers in the field. Thank you for your dedication, compassion and expertise. You’ve made a lasting impact on our patients, students and community.

06/26/2025

We are continuing to celebrate or 2024-2025 Interns!

Congratulations to Dr. Remie Lafferty (Johnson) for completing her equine internship. She has been a fantastic and skilled member of our equine team over the past year. Dr. Lafferty has always planned on a career in large animal ambulatory practice in her home state of Arizona. Dr. Lafferty is excited to start Lafferty Veterinary Services in McNeal, Arizona, providing large animal ambulatory veterinary services. We wish her all the best and know that she will do a fantastic job serving the large animals of Arizona.

06/25/2025

Mizzou Veterinary Insight: Ethmoid Hematoma

The first image is an upper airway endoscopy (evaluation of the upper respiratory tract with a small flexible camera) image of an ethmoid hematoma which is protruding into the nasal passage. The second image is a normal picture of the horse's other nasal passage. An ethmoid hematoma is a benign mass of the equine nasal passage or sinus that originates from the very vascular ethmoid turbinates. The mass is a combination of tissue and clotted blood. They do not spread to other parts of the body but can become large and affect the nasal passage and/or the sinuses if not treated. Most horses are initially evaluated by a veterinarian because they are seen to bleed from the nostril (called epistaxis). Horses are typically diagnosed when an upper airway endoscopy is performed to find the source of the bleeding. A Standing CT is also recommended to see the full extent of the ethmoid hematoma to make the best treatment recommendations. Many ethmoid hematomas can be treated with repeated injections but some require surgery.

06/24/2025

The students are always excited to get into the simulation lab and use these amazing models to develop new skills. Our big model was very cooperative! 🖤💛

06/23/2025

Huge congratulations to Dr. Joan Coates!

We’re proud to celebrate Joan R. Coates, professor, program director and board-certified specialist in neurology, on receiving the 2025 Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).

Her impact on the field and future of veterinary neurology is unmatched. Congratulations, Dr. Coates! 👏
Read more: https://www.acvim.org/grants-awards/recognition-awards/robert-w.-kirk-award
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-fTS79vHWs

06/21/2025

Dr. Hannah Leventhal one of the Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialists and the Equine Emergency clinician at the University of Missouri Equine Hospital is currently is in Louisville, KY this week to attend the 2025 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum. In addition to attending cutting edge seminars on medical and emergency treatment, abstract sessions on the latest research, and meeting other specialists from across the country and world, Dr. Leventhal also has several leadership roles with ACVIM. She is the current Chair of the Large Animal Internal Medicine Credentials Committee. This committee is tasked with overseeing the certification of new internal medicine specialists. In addition she is also a member of the Large Animal Medicine Forum Planning Committee where she works help plan the annual Forum and to bring the best information and science to her fellow specialists. The University of Missouri Equine Hospital is privileged to have a full staff of equine veterinarians who are continually seeking further education in order to provided advanced and compassionate care.

06/20/2025

It is the time of year when we must sadly say goodbye to our 2024-2025 interns. They have done a fantastic job over the past year and play a vital role in our veterinary team. They are headed on to exciting new opportunities and we will be celebrating them over the next two weeks.

First, we would like to congratulate Dr. Nicole Scarberry on completing a rotating Large Animal Internship. Dr. Scarberry is pursuing a career in zoo and wildlife medicine. During her internship she worked in both the Equine and Farm Animal hospitals expanding her veterinary knowledge and skills in the care of equids, ruminants, and swine. She is headed to Florida to develop her knowledge of veterinary care of wildlife species with an internship at the prestigious Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL and Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Juniper, FL. Best of luck to Dr. Scarberry.

06/19/2025

Our office is closed today in celebration of Juneteenth, but we are still available for ambulatory and hospital emergencies

06/18/2025

Mizzou Patient Story:
Through the work of a diligent owner and referring veterinarian and the combined effort of the internal medicine and surgery teams at the University of Missouri Equine Hospital we were able to diagnose and remove a large enterolith from Elvis and return him to a happy athletic life. Click the link to read about his story.

A show horse. A seven-pound mass. Read how 11-year-old Elvis went from chronic colic to national champion thanks to a sharp diagnosis and a skilled surgical team at Mizzou’s Veterinary Health Center.