Midwest Equine at Illinois

06/27/2024

Thank you to all the interns that have rotated through Midwest Equine throughout the last year!

Dr. Ana Nobrega will be staying for her residency in equine internal medicine at U of I Vetmed.

Dr. Matt Soyland will be moving to Ohio and opening his own mixed large animal ambulatory practice.

Dr. Kianna Taylor will be staying with Midwest Equine as a faculty member starting July 16th.

Just missing Dr. Aya Kanzawa! She will be staying for a mixed animal internship at U of I Vetmed, consisting of EQMS, shelter medicine, and small animal primary care.

06/19/2024

Our office is closed today, June 19th, for Juneteenth. We will reopen tomorrow morning at 9am as usual.

If you have an emergency with your horse, we do still have emergency services available. Call our office line at (309) 928-2127 for the on-call number.

06/14/2024

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sarah Foreman to Midwest Equine! Dr. Foreman will be joining our practice as a full time veterinarian this coming Monday, June 17th. She will be available for appointments beginning July 1st!

Dr. Sarah Foreman grew up in East Central Illinois, and is returning to the area after working for equine only practices on the east coast. Dr. Foreman has a special interest in sports medicine, and is member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology.

As a reminder, our service area remains unchanged at this time. We are happy to see you and your horses at our Farmer City clinic, where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care.

05/24/2024

We will be closed this coming Monday for Memorial Day. Emergency services will still be available. Our office will re-open on Tuesday 5/28 at 9am.

05/20/2024

WE ARE HIRING!

Midwest Equine is looking for a Veterinary Assistant with horse experience. Veterinary medicine experience is preferred, but not required.

Want to know more? Follow the link below for more information and to apply!

Duties & ResponsibilitiesAssists with skilled paramedical support, such as: a. Serving as first point of contact for clients requesting healthcare...

05/17/2024

Today is our lovely technician Betsy’s last day with Midwest Equine. We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work she has put in over the last 2.5 years she has spent with us. She will be moving on to a position where she can work with all species of large animals on the University of Illinois’s main campus.

Thank you Betsy!

05/01/2024

Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim, you can save on your Legend!

04/26/2024

With the fresh spring grass, you may notice your horses gain some weight! When should you get concerned? Read about Equine Metabolic Syndrome below 🌾🐴🌾

04/25/2024

If you are trailering to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for an appointment or emergency, please keep in mind that the Illinois Marathon will impact travel from today, 4/25, through this Saturday 4/27. We recommend taking Interstate 57 and exiting on Curtis road to avoid the race route!

Good luck to those running this weekend!

04/24/2024

Have you been worried about the EHV cases that have been confirmed in Wisconsin? Below is an outline of what you can do if there is an infectious disease outbreak in your area.

To stay up to date on disease outbreaks amongst your horse community, go to equinediseasecc.org

What can I do to prevent my horse from getting infected?

-Avoid travel to infected areas until the outbreak has been contained.
-Keep your horse up to date on vaccinations.
-Monitor re**al temperature when you are traveling.
-Get a baseline temperature before travel. You can use a human thermometer from a drug store.
-If you are visiting a horse event as a spectator, change your clothes and shoes before heading out to the barn to see your horse.
-Soap and water will kill the virus.
-Sharing is NOT caring- avoid sharing buckets, tack, brushes, etc. when traveling.
-Bring your own hose when traveling. If you do have to use a shared hose, let the water run for 30 seconds before filling the bucket. Never immerse the end of the hose directly into the bucket.

04/19/2024

Sun is out and the grass is green. Spring is here! How should you introduce your horses to spring grass pasture?

Slowly! Start with 15 minutes the first 3 days, and then add 15 minutes every 2 days. Once your horse comfortably grazing for 4 hours, then it can be turned out for the full day. This process helps prevent a large change in the horse's diet and can prevent colic.

Particularly for overweight and metabolic horses, we worry about overeating and laminitis (founder). Grazing muzzles are a great option for horses that like to overindulge. Also, these horses will benefit going out in the morning, while the sugar is stored closer to the root of the plant after the cold night. Both of these options will help limit the horse's sugar intake and avoid future issues.

04/17/2024

We want to thank everyone that braved last night's weather for our Client Education Night! We are grateful to Jacob Manning and Tobias Ellis for taking the time to explain how different conditions, environments, and disciplines can affect shoeing, trimming and the overall growth of your horse's feet.

To make an appointment with Jacob or Tobias through the University of Illinois Farrier Service, call (217) 300-7222. If you would like a farrier appointment at Midwest Equine in Farmer City on Tuesdays or Thursdays, call us at (309) 928-2127.

04/15/2024

Join us tomorrow night (4/16) for FREE pizza, and to hear about lots of different shoe options for your horse! We will hear from Jacob Manning, CJF, who is available for farrier appointments at our Farmer City clinic on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.

We look forward to seeing everyone at 6pm in Farmer City! Call our clinic at (309) 928-2127 or email us at [email protected] to RSVP so we know how many pizzas to order.

04/12/2024

Did you know our very own Dr. Foreman-Hesterberg is certified in animal chiropractic?? She works on all shapes and sizes of animals!

See her segment on WCIA's ciLiving below!

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Dr. Catherine Foreman-Hesterberg, DVM from the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, (along with her dog) joins ciLiving today to talk about how small ani…

04/10/2024

A reminder about our Client Education Meeting on April 16th at 6:00pm, hosted here at our Farmer City Clinic! Jacob Manning, CJF, will be teaching us about how to find your horse's "Cinderella Slipper". Jacob has recently joined the University of Illinois Farrier Service, so we are excited to hear from him!

Pizza will be provided! RSVP to save your slices by calling our clinic at (309) 928-2127, or emailing us at [email protected]

04/09/2024

Our lovely farrier Tobias Ellis will be hosting a St. Jude Benefit in honor of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital employee's son. Join us for an Open Forge night with a silent and live auction, and food provided! Admission is free, and all proceeds will be donated to St. Jude.

04/08/2024

Do you know how your horses will react to the eclipse today? Read below to learn how all animals, large and small, react to a solar eclipse.

A look at the behavior of zoo and companion species and how veterinary professionals and their clients can keep pets safe and calm during this rare meteorological event

04/05/2024

With three neurologic Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1) cases being confirmed in Wisconsin, we wanted to share information that you should know if you are traveling with your horses.

EHV-1 clinically shows through respiratory signs such as a cough, nasal discharge, and a fever. It can also cause abortions in pregnant mares. The most dangerous part of this virus is that it can mutate into a neurologic strain that attacks the central nervous system.

To protect your horses, routine biosecurity measures are important. Vaccinate your horses to best prepare their immune system. Midwest Equine offers Pneumabort as a vaccine with only EHV-1 and 4 coverage, but our 6-way Vetera Gold XP also includes EHV-1&4 coverage. Midwest Equine recommends influenza and rhinopneumonitis vaccines for traveling horses, and for horses boarded at a facility with horses that travel. EHV-1 & 4 (rhinopneumonitis) coverage are included in this vaccine as well. Further biosecurity measures include quarantining incoming horses from the rest of your herd to ensure the new horse is not bringing in outside diseases. While out and about with your horses, avoid nose to nose contact, and allowing your horse to share water with unknown horses.

Read at the link below for more information on EHV-1. If you have any questions on your horse's safety, please contact your regular veterinarian.

Learn about this highly contagious equine virus and how to curb its spread.

04/02/2024

Upload your receipt from Midwest Equine for Prascend purchased from us from April 1- November 30 2024! Get $10 off a box of 60. BoehringerIngelheimEquineRebates.com

04/01/2024

This past Saturday we hosted a castration clinic for the University of Illinois Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd year veterinary students were able to complete physical exams, aid in anesthesia induction and monitoring, observe and complete a castration and the removal of wolf teeth!

Thank you to Dechra US for the sponsorship to make this event possible!

Also big thank you to U of IL alumni Dr. Suzanne Ford and her technician at EponaVet for coming up from the St. Louis area to give an extra pair of hands to allow this to happen and run so smoothly!

03/22/2024

Why is the tetanus toxoid vaccine part of the core vaccines that horses should receive?

All horses are at risk of developing tetanus due to the bacteria causing tetanus naturally occurring in the intestinal tract of horses and the environment. Tetanus is not contagious between horses, but the bacteria causing tetanus can infect wounds. This is why tetanus toxoid is a core equine vaccine and should be included in annual vaccinations for all horses.

Read at the link below to learn about the vaccine schedule for tetanus. If you are unsure if your horse needs a tetanus vaccine, just ask your regular veterinarian.

All horses are at risk of development of tetanus, an often-fatal disease caused by a potent neurotoxin elaborated by the anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium Clostridium tetani. Tetanus toxoid is a core equine vaccine and should be included in equine immunization programs for every horse annually.

03/20/2024

Do you ever wonder why your equine veterinarian wants you to get your horses vaccinated?

Read at the link attached to learn about West Nile Virus, one of the viruses your vet will want to vaccinate your horse against. 1 in 25 horses that are unvaccinated for West Nile Virus develop a clinical infection. Of that group, 30% of unvaccinated horses that show clinical signs of West Nile Virus die.

Protect your horses and make sure to set up an appointment for Spring Vaccines with your veterinarian!

West Nile virus has infected more than 29,000 horses since its 1999 entrance into the United States. Learn how to protect your horse.

03/18/2024

Going out of town? If someone else is taking care of your horse, make sure to contact our office to let us know! We will have a treatment authorization form signed so that your "horse-sitter" can make medical decisions for your horse while you are away.

03/15/2024

Thanks to AAEP, we are able to offer this webinar to our clients! Learn how to recognize and respond to equine emergencies, so you can handle unexpected situations with your horses. It can be hard to make decisions under pressure, but it is still possible to make informed decisions.

This webinar is free, however registration is required. Follow the link!

https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7L6QaXs_RI6UymQgAWBuvg #/registration

03/13/2024

With spring around the corner, you may be looking for a horse to add to your herd! Midwest Equine offers pre-purchase exams both in the clinic and on the farm. With spring appointments, our schedule is very full, but we still try to accommodate PPEs in a timely manner.

03/11/2024

Get your Boehringer Ingelheim rebates thanks to their Signature Savings Program!

03/08/2024

Dear Valued Clients,

On behalf of the entire team at Midwest Equine, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering patience and understanding during the transitions our clinic has undergone over the past year. Your support has been invaluable, and we are truly grateful for your continued trust in our services.

We have some important updates to share with you regarding our pricing and policies, and we appreciate your attention to these changes as we strive to provide the best possible care for your horses.

Firstly, we want to inform you that our partner service for Coggins and Health Certificates has recently adjusted their pricing structure. In response, starting March 15th, 2024, Midwest Equine will be updating our charges to $55 for Coggins and $35 for Health Certificates. We appreciate your understanding as we adapt to these external changes while maintaining the quality of service you expect from us.

Secondly, we hold the Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationships (VCPR) in high regard, and it's central to our approach to care. With this in mind, we are implementing a new policy regarding emergency visits. Our commitment to providing timely and effective emergency care to our established clients remains steadfast. To optimize our visits with your horse and to foster better relationships, emergency calls for patients who have not had a wellness exam with a Midwest Equine Veterinarian within the last 12 months will incur a "non-client emergency fee" of $50, in addition to the associated trip and emergency fees.

Furthermore, we want to clarify that Midwest Equine's current service area will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. We continue to welcome you and your horses to our clinic in Farmer City, where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care.

These adjustments will take effect on March 15th, 2024. Should you have any inquiries or require further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via phone or email. Your satisfaction and the well-being of your horses are our top priorities, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and understanding. We look forward to continuing our partnership in caring for your beloved equids.

Warmest regards,
Midwest Equine Veterinarians and Staff

03/06/2024

Mark you calendars! Our next Client Education Meeting is 4/16/24 with the University of Illinois Farrier Service. Join us at 6:00pm at our Farmer City clinic to learn from Jacob Manning CJF. We will talk about how to communicate trim schedules and choosing correct hoof-wear for your horse with your farrier.

Would you wear your house slippers for a sprint? Probably not! So why should your horse have to. Whether your horse is a pasture puff, or performance horse, there is the "right slipper" out there for them!

Pizza will be provided! RSVP so we have enough by calling (309) 928-2127 or emailing [email protected].

03/04/2024

Have you noticed changes to your equine veterinarian's emergency policies? With equine veterinarian shortages across the country, clinics are having to adapt their policies to be able to efficiently see emergency appointments, while still protecting their practice. Read at the link below to learn how clinics across the country are adapting to the limitations of equine veterinarian shortages.

Horse owners were surveyed about their equine veterinarian's policies for providing emergency services. Here are the responses.

03/01/2024

For World Horse Day, treat your horse to the care they deserve. Midwest Equine offers lameness exams, joint health care and chiropractic services to keep your horse performing at their best. Interested in radiographs so that your farrier can do their best job trimming your horse? We offer radiographs both at our Farmer City clinic, and on the farm! As the weather warms up give Midwest Equine a call to make sure your horse is ready for this upcoming season!