Midwest Equine at Illinois

02/14/2025

Dale says Happy Friday AND Happy Valentine's Day! Don't forget to share the love with your equines today 💘🐴💟🐎💟🐴💘

02/12/2025

Did you know that Midwest Equine doesn't just see horses, ponies, and miniature horses? We love to see donkeys and mules as well! Spruce up on your donkey and mule facts by clicking through the pictures below 🫏

02/11/2025

Don't forget to RSVP to our next Client Education Meeting by February 14th! We are incredibly excited to hear from Rabeka Clarke CF and Laura Russman CF. Come join us for education, with food provided and fun prizes!

02/06/2025

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, spring is right around the corner! For horses residing in central Illinois, early spring is the best time to receive annual vaccinations in order to have protective immunity against diseases spread by mosquitoes.

Work with your veterinarian to make a spring vaccination plan that works for you, and your horses. While combination (6-way) vaccines are commonly given, some horses need their vaccines broken up in order to decrease the risk of muscle soreness or other related reactions to a combination vaccines.

Spring vaccine appointments at Midwest Equine include a wellness exam, allowing for renewals of prescription medications, Coggins testing, dental floats, annual lab work, and f***l testing. We recommend for all horses to have a sedated oral exam at least once a year to evaluate the horse's dental health and float the teeth as needed.

Call for an appointment today!

02/04/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our client event with Zoetis! We had an amazing turnout.

Up next: The Univeristy of Illinois Farrier Service's very own Rabeka Clarke CF and Laura Russman CF will present on Hoof Care Basics Through Education. Join us February 18th at 6pm at our clinic in Farmer City for a fun night. As always, food will be provided, and there will even be door prizes!

01/30/2025

Your horse’s dental health should be a priority no matter their breed, age, or discipline!

Call our office today to schedule a dental exam!

01/27/2025

Join us tomorrow night, January 28 at 6pm! We are excited to have Zoetis join us for a fun and informative night.

01/23/2025

Foaling season is right around the corner. Do you know what to expect when you're expecting?

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!

01/21/2025

Reminder! Next Tuesday, 1/28/25, is our next Client Education Meeting on Equine Emergencies!

Join us for dinner at our clinic in Farmer City, starting at 6pm. Give us a call to reserve your spot!

01/21/2025

A reminder that our office is closed today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If you have an emergency, please call the University of Illinois Large Animal Clinic at (217) 333-2000 to contact our on-call veterinarian.

Please continue to reach our office by calling (217) 265-0096 while we continue to experience issues with our phones.

01/19/2025

Our office will be closed 1/20/25 for MLK Day. We will still have emergency services available. Please call the University of Illinois Large Animal Clinic for the on-call veterinarian at (217) 333-2000.

Our office will reopen Tuesday 1/21/25 at 9 am. If you would like to contact our office, please continue to call (217) 265-0096.

01/17/2025

We are experiencing continued issues with our phones. If you have regular office needs like prescription refills or need to make an appointment, please call (217) 265-0096 until we announce that our phones are in working order.

If you have an emergency, please call the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital at (217) 333-2000 and they can get ahold of the Midwest Equine on call veterinarian.

Thank you for your patience! We will make an announcement when our phones are working regularly again.

01/17/2025

Our phone line is currently down. If you have an emergency, please contact the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 217-333-2000 and they can get ahold of the Midwest Equine on call veterinarian.

01/15/2025

"The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start."

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

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.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of colic signs. Horses are individuals and may display signs of pain in a variety of ways. Always consult your horse doctor for more information.

01/01/2025

Galloping into the New Year!

We are grateful for all our wonderful clientele and we look forward to continuing to care for all our patients in 2025.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from our Midwest Equine family to yours!

12/23/2024

Just a reminder that our office will be closed December 24 through 27th. We will still have emergency services during this time. Call our office at (309) 928-2127 to reach the veterinarian on call.

Our office will reopen as usual next week on December 30.

12/20/2024

Do you know how to prepare for an equine emergency? Gallop over to our clinic in Farmer City on January 28th at 6pm to enjoy dinner and discussion with Dr. Holly Helbig from Zoetis! Learn how to Manage Equine Emergencies through preparation prior to an emergency, and what action to take based on the type of emergency.

RSVP by Monday January 20 to reserve your spot (and dinner) by calling the clinic at (309) 928-2127!