White Oak Veterinary Service, P.C.

10/30/2025

09/24/2025

Land lines out again! 540 222-0881 is our office cell... this is available 24/7 to call or text during office hours, you can leave a message or text 24/7. You can call or text Cindy @ (540) 522-4755 24/7. Veterinary EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 24/7 (800)388-3470. Our land lines through Brightspeed are the worst and we are looking into other options. Thanks for your patience!

09/18/2025

Our land line phones are acting up AGAIN! Voice mail isnt working either... if you have an equine emergency please call 1 (800) 388-3470. That's the direct number to the answering service. You can call our office cell number (540) 222- 0881 and leave a message there if you need us to call you back during office hours. You can also call or text Cindy on her cell phone (540)522-4755. So very sorry for any inconvenience! 🙈BRIGHTSPEED strikes again!🙉

09/02/2025

Monday am giggle... have a great week everyone!

08/07/2025

A repeat from last year BUT a reminder of our mosquito nemesis life cycle and how to help squelch thier population around your farm. Some good suggestions!! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ANtLK6Tpw/

08/07/2025

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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

07/28/2025

While it’s a common equine emergency, esophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, choke can have serious consequences. So, be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

07/22/2025

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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/

07/17/2025

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"I think it's in the shoulder doc!"

Picture this: You notice your horse has a lameness in the front end.
Two scenarios - it has come on over time or it has shown up overnight. In either case, it is often in the foot!

The most common cause of lameness in horses is in the foot, despite the way your horse may present the pain to you. For example, foot abscesses are capable of causing acute pain and three-legged lameness in a very short period of time. Other common instances of lameness in the front end that may be less acute are a result of changes to the navicular bone or surrounding soft tissue, changes to the coffin bone or joint, thin soles, etc.

As the old adage goes, "no foot, no horse!" and now you know why!

Additional resource: https://open.lib.umn.edu/largeanimalsurgery/chapter/lameness-diagnosis/

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

07/15/2025

Uh oh! Horses sure do get into trouble sometimes! A big boo boo for Dr. Amy to clean up and suture! Heal fast and well grey beauty! 💜💜💜💜

07/14/2025

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'Tis the season to be vaccinating your horses against Potomac Horse Fever!
Because this disease typically coincides with the onset of hot weather, in order to protect your horses, vaccination should be timed to precede the summer/fall months. Connect with a vet about the best vaccination plan for your horses. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines/potomac-horse-fever?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=American%20Association%20of%20Equine%20Practitioners