Cherry Creek Equine

08/17/2025

Truth

Funny horse quote 😍😂

08/10/2025

As mentioned in our post earlier this week about EEE, summer and fall are the peak time for arbovirus infection as these diseases (which include Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE], West Nile Virus [WNV], Western Equine Encephalitis [WEE] and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis [VEE]) are transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes and biting insects.

Let this graphic serve as a source of more information about West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as a reminder to keep your equines up to date on vaccinations with the guidance of your veterinarian to best protect your animals from infection.

Learn more about West Nile Virus and find downloadable resources on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/west-nile-virus

08/10/2025

08/06/2025

Oklahoma is not that far away…

Here in Oklahoma, we received an email from our state veterinarian letting us know that there have been many positive rabies cases in the state, including many involving skunks. He also let us know that there have been 4 cattle, 2 dogs, 2 horses, 1 cat and 1 goat test positive, plus a litter of piglets attacked by a suspected rabid skunk.

Even if you're not in Oklahoma, it's time to remind your clients to get their animals, including livestock, vaccinated against rabies. We are starting to see West Nile cases too, so it's time to get all vaccines caught up!

Here's a link to the Oklahoma data: https://oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/acute-disease-service/rabies/rabies-surveillance-data-and-statistics.html

07/26/2025

An outbreak of equine influenza is active in SW Wyoming, not far from Salt Lake City. It’s easy to forget respiratory illness in the summer, but they do occur. Your horse’s immunity from spring vaccinations has probably waned at this point, because the protection is expected to last only 3-4 months. If going to large gatherings of horses, might be wise to get a booster! Be prepared!

07/23/2025

As many horse owners start the process of planning out their fall and winter hay supply, many may be considering purchasing round bales for their equine companions due to cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals. However, it's important to remember that there are a few things to consider when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism toxin. This toxin is produced when "Clostridium botulinum" is exposed to the right environmental conditions — such as when forage materials are baled and stored while still damp, or when they include the carcasses of dead animals, like birds and mice.

Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Do you have a feeder to place your round bales in?
Round bales not placed in a feeder can create more waste, which means your horses may not be meeting their nutritional requirements.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this fall and winter!

For more information on botulism, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/botulism/

07/20/2025

The mosquito borne diseases are definitely in play this year….and there are always rusty nails around. Vaccines save lives!

It's MYTHBUSTER time!

The core vaccinations for every horse, regardless of their travel status, include Rabies, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), West Nile Virus (WNV), and Tetanus.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes, bacteria, and rabid animals do not discriminate when it comes to infecting horses. Whether a horse is in a freshly bedded stall, wide open pasture, or on show grounds, mosquitoes can potentially infect your horse with life threatening diseases such as EEE, WEE, and/or WNV.

Tetanus is a common clostridial bacteria present in the dirt and can infect a horse who has never left its home just the same as a horse who shows every weekend if it doesn't have proper vaccine status.

Rabies is a 100% fatal disease once clinical signs are present and is easily transmissible to humans and other animals both at home and on the trails.

It's also important to note that different regions in the U.S. may have additional "core" recommendations so be sure to ask your veterinarian what is best for your horse!

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information!

07/07/2025

Just saying

Something to make y’all laugh today 🤣 Happy Sunday!

05/03/2025

This is why we recommend testing rather than random deworming with rotating deworming products. There have been no new classes of dewormers in over 40 years.

Good morning equine community🐴🐎

It is the start of a new month📅, the days are getting longer🌞, and the temperature is rising🌡

With this warmer weather returns a not so welcomed guest: parasites🪱🐛. Unfortunately, eliminating these parasites is getting more challenging due to drug resistance.

Check out the infographic below that covers the main dewormer drug classes and how resistance across the board is being developed.

With appropriate deworming practices, owners can slow the development of resistance. Consult with your veterinarian🩺 about parasite management and deworming schedule.

05/02/2025

This isn’t how it’s supposed to work…

04/05/2025

About 0.5% of births

Newborn twin horses, very rare in horses.