Countryside Equine Hospital

03/07/2025

🐴✨ Breeding season is here! Are you ready? From nutrition and vaccines to fescue toxicity and foaling prep, there’s a lot that goes into maintaining a healthy pregnancy for your mare.

Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caroline Brown break it all down in this must-listen episode of The Equine Vet Connect. They cover the biggest pregnancy myths, the importance of routine vet checks, and what really matters when it comes to setting your mare and foal up for success.

🐴 Did you know? A foal grows about a pound per day in the final months of pregnancy, making nutrition extra important for the mare!

Whether you’re a first-time breeder or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen in now on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube! 👇
https://www.countrysidevets.com/podcasts

03/06/2025

Answer Thursday!
💉 Dr. Brown was drawing blood for a Coggins test. Developed by virologist Dr. Leroy Coggins in 1970, the Coggins test became the standard test to diagnose and prevent the spread of EIA in 1972.

🩸 Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral, and often fatal, disease that only affects equids (horses, ponies, zebras, mules, and donkeys). It is transmitted by biting, blood-feeding insects such as horseflies and mosquitos and is extremely contagious, therefore vigilant testing is extremely important to control the risk of outbreak.

🌡 Acutely infected equines may exhibit symptoms including fever, decreased appetite, severe anemia, sudden death, jaundice (yellow discoloration of mucous membranes), increased respiration rate, increased heart rate, swollen limbs and abdomen, bleeding from the nose or red/purple spots on mucous membranes, and blood-stained f***s. Due to the range of symptoms and rarity of a positive case in the US (thanks to required annual testing), it can easily be confused with other diseases and ailments. Chronically infected equids may be asymptomatic carriers so it is crucial to perform a coggins test on all horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys annually, even if they never leave your property.

‼️ Infected animals that survive the disease become lifelong carriers of the virus. The virus will rapidly spread to healthy horses through contact with blood-feeding insects or needles contaminated with the blood of the affected horse. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or treatment. To prevent transmission, carriers must either be euthanized or permanently isolated and quarantined from other equids.

For more information on testing and reporting EIA, visit https://www.globalvetlink.com/blog/understanding-coggins-tests/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/infectious-anemia

03/05/2025

What's Up Wednesday? 🧐
Dr. Brown is drawing blood to run an annual blood test required by the USDA, called a Coggins test. What viral disease does the Coggins test detect? Why is it so important to ensure your horse's Coggins test is negative?

03/03/2025

02/28/2025

🚨 Is your horse really protected? 🚨

Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to keep our horses healthy, but do you know which ones are essential and when to give them? In this episode of The Equine Vet Connect, Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caitlyn McCaulley break down core vs. risk-based vaccines, why timing matters, and what to do if your horse reacts to a shot. Plus, they bust common vaccine myths and explain why horses need boosters more often than other animals.

Don’t leave your horse’s health to chance—get the facts, the science, and the straight talk you need. Listen now on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube! 🎧🐴

https://www.countrysidevets.com/podcasts

02/27/2025

Answer Thursday!

🦷 This pony's funky smile was caused by years of cribbing!

Cribbing is a "habit" typically induced by stress. Cribbing involves a horse grabbing onto a solid surface, like a stall door, with their incisors, contracting their neck muscles, and pulling back. While it looks like they are sucking in a bunch of air, studies show that very little air is inhaled. After years of cribbing, this pony exhibits significant deterioration of his incisors. While it is hard to control the act of cribbing itself, it is important to have regular dental care performed by a veterinarian to ensure that your horse doesn't become painful or have difficulty with prehension (the act of grasping food, i.e. grazing).

Unrelated, this little guy also sustained a kick to the mouth and fractured a lower incisor that had to be extracted. His face was too cute not to share!

For more information on cribbing, visit https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/cribbing.

02/26/2025

What's up Wednesday! 🧐

What do you think caused the wear on this pony's incisors? 🦷

Drop your guesses below and check back tomorrow for the answer!

02/25/2025

Future vets in the making! 🩺 These litte horse girls got a special lesson from Dr. Caitlyn while she was performing appointments at their lesson barn—listening to Waffles' (the barn cat's) heartbeat! And of course they needed to hear their own heartbeat to compare! Teaching the next generation that every barn member, big or small, deserves the best care. ❤️
🐱 Special thanks to Waffles for being such a willing participant.

02/21/2025

The Equine Vet Connect - Episode 26: Foal Speed Ahead: The Ins and Outs of a Safe Delivery

Late nights, early mornings, and plenty of coffee—foaling season keeps everyone on their toes. In this episode of The Equine Vet Connect, Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caroline Brown break down the foaling process, from early labor signs to red bag emergencies, and share expert advice on ensuring a smooth delivery for both mare and foal.

Whether you’re on foal watch or just love learning about the magic (and chaos) of bringing new life into the world, this one’s a must-listen! 🎙️🐴

🎧 Tune in now on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!
https://www.countrysidevets.com/podcasts

02/20/2025

Answer Thursday!

Pictured here is a SNAP test for newborn foals (

02/19/2025

What’s Up Wednesday? 🧐 What are we testing here for a newborn foal? Bonus points if you can tell us the condition that occurs in these foals if this level is low!
Leave your guesses in the comments and come back tomorrow for the answer!

02/15/2025

Yesterday’s visitor was baaaah-solutely adorable! This little kid stole all our hearts! ❤️🐐😍

02/14/2025

🐴 Senior Horses Deserve Senior Care! 🎙️

Older horses may not be in the spotlight like their younger, high-performing counterparts, but they have unique needs that shouldn’t be overlooked! In this episode of The Equine Vet Connect, Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caitlyn McCaulley break down everything you need to know about keeping senior horses happy, healthy, and thriving.

From dental care and nutrition to joint health and exercise, they share expert advice on how to give your aging equine the best quality of life. Don’t wait until issues arise—proactive care makes all the difference!

Tune in now on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube! 🎧

https://www.countrysidevets.com/podcasts

02/13/2025

Answer Thursday! You guessed it! Dr. Caitlyn removed this HUGE bean from a gelding's urethral fossa! Share a picture of the crazy beans you’ve removed in the comments below!

It's not just about hygiene! If the sm**ma surrounding the urethra accumulates, hardens, and gets trapped in the fossa, it creates a "bean." If large enough, they can put pressure on the urethral process and cause pain and discomfort during urination. Since not all horses are comfortable with thorough sheath cleaning and bean removal, we recommend adding this service during your horse's annual dental float! With your horse already sedated from the dental procedure, we can thoroughly clean the sheath and inspect for any abnormalities or areas of concern.

Contact us to schedule your "Teeth and Sheath" appointment and take advantage of 15% off Dental Floats all February long!
📱 Call or text 770-787-4711
💻 Visit www.countrysidevets.com

02/12/2025

What’s Up Wednesday? 🧐
Woah, what is Dr. Caitlyn holding and what's involved with removing this hidden treasure from your horse?

Comment your guesses below and stay tuned for the answer tomorrow!

02/07/2025

🚨 Episode 24 is live! 🚨

Join Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caroline Brown as they break down the complex world of equine genetics. From understanding how genetic testing impacts breeding decisions to uncovering the science behind conditions like HYPP, PSSM, and HERDA, this episode dives deep into what genetics really mean for your horse’s health. 🧬🐎

If you’ve ever wondered how genetic testing fits into responsible horse care or breeding, this conversation is worth a listen.

🎧 Available now on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube! Link below ⬇️

https://www.countrysidevets.com/podcasts

02/06/2025

Answer Thursday! The milky white membrane is a normal placenta.

The "Red Bag" indicates premature separation of the placenta from the lining of the uterus. When this happens, the foal cannot get oxygen and is at risk of hypoxia. If you see this, call your vet ASAP and take a sharp knife to cut the placenta and release the foal.

Pregnant mares consuming fescue during their last trimester increases the risk of Red Bag. It is vital to have an established relationship with your veterinarian throughout your mare's gestation.

Expecting a foal this season? Contact us today to set up an appointment.
📱 Call or text 770-787-4711
💻 Visit www.countrysidevets.com