Four Star Equine Veterinary Services

03/15/2025

There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the stomach or intestines. Therefore, it stands to good reason that understanding the anatomy of your horse’s digestive system can help you become a better steward for your equine friend.

Fun fact: many people associate digestive health with stomach health. But did you know that the horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals? The stomach of the horse is also the smallest unit of the digestive tract, comprising less than 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. By contrast, the hindgut is huge and plays a significant role in the horse’s digestive process by serving as the home of friendly bacteria that ferment fiber and turn it into energy.

Hindgut problems can produce obvious physical signs like loss of weight, poor condition, poor performance, diarrhea and colic. Some symptoms however can be less obvious, like poor temperament and training issues. The key to ensuring good digestive health is good management practices that include (but are not limited to) establishing a set daily routine; feeding a high-quality diet comprised primarily of high-quality roughage; avoid overloading the digestive tract with concentrate rations; providing clean, fresh water at all times; establishing a regular turnout and exercise routine; setting up a regular deworming and dental care program with your veterinarian; reducing stress and making any changes (to diet, housing and exercise) gradually.

Consult your veterinarian about how to maximize your horse’s digestive health. A healthy horse is a happy horse!

03/14/2025

Quiz answer: horses typically have 24 cheek teeth. Three premolars and three molars times four.

03/10/2025

Despite this tooth being compromised, it put up quite a fight being extracted. Tough extractions we typically refer to a veterinary equine dentist or surgeon. This tooth however was already a little loose so we gave it a try. Needless to say it’s pretty rewarding to finally get it out. Surely the horse will feel better as well….in a day or so.

Feed material was packing in between this tooth and its neighbors, causing periodontitis and tooth decay. Because of this, it was also putting its neighbors at risk of eventual infection and decay. Hopefully getting this one out will allow the surrounding tissues to heal and preserve the integrity of the other teeth.

This tooth was the second premolar on the upper left side of the mouth. Without a partner to grind food against, the lower left second premolar will now have to be kept in check with regular dentals to preserve full range of motion to the jaw and TMJs.

Annual dental exams are a key to preserving your horse’s health. Early detection of dental and oral issues can maximize tooth life and jaw function which are key factors in horse comfort and health.

Quiz: how many adult cheek teeth do horses normally have?

03/08/2025

A Revolution in Joint Care

To ensure they reach their full potential, your animals deserve this innovative approach to joint care that is unlike anything else on the market.

03/06/2025

Choosing the Right Type of Oil for Your Horse

An equine nutritionist describes factors to consider before choosing an oil to feed your horse.

03/04/2025

03/04/2025

While responsible owners are correct to have their horse’s teeth checked annually, the floating is not the most important thing happening -- it is the exam: https://bit.ly/4hccz5Q

03/01/2025

Exercise Recommendations for Horses with Myofibrillar Myopathy - Kentucky Equine Research

An important aspect of managing horses with MFM is thoughtful exercise, which strengthens muscle and builds enzymes needed to burn energy as fuel.

02/27/2025

Biosecurity Planning for Equestrian Events

A USEF veterinarian shares important biosecurity information for those planning to host or attend competitions this year.

02/25/2025

Healing With Horsepower

A look at recent research on autologous blood-based products and their effects on equine joints and metabolic parameters.

02/22/2025

Understanding Equine Diagnostic Imaging

Learn what to expect when your horse undergoes advanced imaging exams using MRI, CT, and nuclear scintigraphy.

02/21/2025

Two common surgical techniques do relieve symptoms of kissing spines, but veterinarians still don't know exactly why they work

02/12/2025

Rockered rail shoes are what keeps this horse going after years of chronic laminitic damage. We’ve not found an approach that works better in our hands than this style of mechanics to compensate for the effects of the damage and facilitate comfort of the horse and relative health of the foot.

It’s an approach whose success is predicated on a healthy team approach where the Farrier, Veterinarian AND the owner are committed to the horse.

Farrier Stephen Britnell is well versed in this method, allowing us to offer it as a viable option to horses with various podiatry related problems. We are the only Veterinary service in the area to offer this approach.

02/07/2025

While the number of confirmed equine rabies cases every year is low, talking about this disease remains important because of the potential for human exposure—which does NOT have to involve a bite from an infected horse, as contact of skin or mucosa with the horse’s saliva could be enough to transmit the disease.

Rabies has many faces, but they are all deadly—once a horse shows clinical signs, the animal invariably dies within a few days as there is no treatment.

The good news is that modern vaccines are highly effective and current AAEP recommendations list rabies as one of the “core vaccines” that should be given to all horses annually to maintain immunity (read the full AAEP vaccination guidelines here: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines).

Equine rabies is a real risk for all horses, and a public health concern as well. Be sure to set up a regular vaccination schedule with your veterinarian if you haven’t already done so. Remember that strange behavior on behalf of your equine friend is always a valid reason to check in with your horse doctor!

02/04/2025

The Southern Appalachian Farriers Association put on a great educational opportunity this past weekend hosting Dr. Simon Curtis from England. He reviewed equine hoof anatomy along with pathologies and his approaches to addressing them.

01/31/2025

We feel compelled to congratulate Darrell Haynes. We get to work with Darrell regularly in helping lame horses or those with podiatry issues.

Darrell is ageing backwards! He’s committed to being more healthy, lost weight, and ran his first 5k New Year’s Day at what I’ve been told was a blistering pace. Way to go Darrell! He looks younger every time we see him.

01/30/2025

Next Tuesday!

Registration

01/28/2025

This is exciting!! So many horses suffer from IBH

Novel Immunotherapy Protocol Improves Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses - Kentucky Equine Research

A new protocol that involved administering only a few injections each year proved a promising treatment for insect bite hypersensitivity.