Keswick Equine Clinic

03/25/2025

Equine Metabolic Syndrome Explained
Four things every horse owner should know about this common health issue in horses.

Four things every horse owner should know about this common health issue in horses.

03/21/2025

Shedding season is right around the corner!

If, however, you notice that your equine friend is clinging to their winter coat longer than they should, it might be time to give your veterinarian a call — especially if your animal is 15+.

A long haircoat that fails to shed according to normal seasonal patterns is the most classic sign of Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), also known as Cushing’s disease. This disorder of the pituitary gland results in hormonal imbalances and is one of the most common diseases of middle-aged and geriatric equines.

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to helping animals with PPID live long, happy lives. Without treatment, symptoms tend to worsen over time and many equines are euthanized as a consequence of laminitis, recurrent foot abscesses or complications related to bacterial infections.

It is also important to note that donkeys and mules tend to shed later than horses, so keep this in mind before getting too worried about other underlying causes. As always, if you have concerns about if your equine companion is shedding appropriately, contact your veterinarian.

03/19/2025

03/17/2025

We’re so fortunate to have referral hospitals so close by! Our mutual patient Cappy celebrated his 30th birthday recently at Woodside while recovering from emergency medical treatment. A big shoutout to all involved and to Cappy for pulling through so well. He’s now happily recovering at home. Isn’t he just the cutest?! 🥳🐴❤️

03/13/2025

Winter was rough and here comes “mud season”! Unfortunately hoof abscesses abound during winter and spring. Here’s some informative info from the AAEP on the subject.

As spring approaches, and unfortunately so does "mud season", sooner or later nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean? This diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

03/07/2025

Thrush Prevention & Treatment Tips from Soft-Rides

Equine Comfort Boots, gel orthotics and ice spa boots are designed for unparalled comfort and protection for your horse.

03/04/2025

Have you scheduled your Spring Wellness visit yet!

Spring is almost here! Which means…it's time to schedule your equine companion to receive their spring vaccinations!

If you are wondering what vaccinations your equine friend should receive, the answer is — There are no “one size fits all” vaccine recommendations. A veterinarian who knows your animal and your management system is your best resource to recommend what vaccines your equine should receive and with what frequency!

While vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances, a good immunization protocol minimizes the risk of infection and remains an essential component of responsible ownership. A vaccination appointment is also the perfect opportunity for a yearly check-up of your equine friend and a great way to catch any health concerns early.

If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling vaccinations, we encourage you to do it soon!

02/20/2025

As most of you know, equine refers to horses and donkeys of all sizes, as well as mules… but did you know it also includes zebras and hinnies? Never heard of a hinny? Fun fact: It’s a domestic equine hybrid, the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey. It is the reciprocal cross to the mule, which is the product of a male donkey and a female horse. Anyway… here are a few important distinctions that set donkeys and mules apart from horses courtesy of the AAEP.

02/19/2025

INCLEMENT WEATHER ALERT! The office will be closing at 12:30pm today. As always our doctors will remain on call for emergencies. Be safe and stay warm friends! 💗🐴

02/13/2025

We are back in the office and back to our normal operating schedule! As a reminder, our office hours are 7:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Emergency coverage is available 24/7 including weekends. We are so fortunate to have the best doctors on staff here at KEC! When you see them next, be sure to show some them some love for all of their hard work and dedication to our equine friends. 🥰🐴💗

02/12/2025

UPDATE: We are seeing patients on an emergency basis only today. Our office staff are still available by phone to help you and doctors will still be on call for emergencies. We plan to resume our normal business schedule on Thursday, February 13th. Stay safe and stay warm friends!

02/10/2025

Due to the anticipated snow coming on Tuesday, February 11th we will only be open for emergency calls on Tuesday. We plan to resume our normal business schedule as soon as possible after the snow event and will keep you posted as we recieve updates. There's a link from Horse & Rider below with some tips on caring for your horses in winter weather conditions in case you want to make sure you've covered all your bases. Stay safe and stay warm friends!

https://horseandrider.com/horse-health-care/emergency-winter-weather-prep/

02/04/2025

February is National Dental Health Month! Don't forget to schedule your equine friends' floats. Depending on your schedule, some may get them done with their fall wellness visits and some prefer spring but they are absolutely nescessary for the health of your horse. If you would like to lean more about dental floats visit our website at https://www.keswickequineclinic.com/services/dental-care/teeth-floating-in-gordonsville

02/03/2025

Though we wish our horse doctors could be there for our equine friends in any emergency, the reality is that our horses' primary veterinarian cannot be available 24/7 and still juggle the needs of their own personal lives, health and happiness.

The most significant pain point for many veterinarians is caring for their clients during regular business hours and then also being on call for emergencies after hours. For single-doctor or small practices, this traditionally has been the case most nights of the week.

However, private veterinary practices and veterinary schools have more recently focused on developing new models for emergency care which ease the strain on individual practitioners. This includes the growth of emergency cooperatives where two or more practices in a geographic area work together to share after-hours care, as well as more emergency-only practices and the use of tele-triage services to address client concerns after normal business hours.

As equine veterinarians reevaluate what after-hours care looks like for their practices, the support of their clients is critical to creating a balance that works for both parties. If your horse doctor talks with you about changes in how after-hours care is delivered, we hope you’ll welcome the adjustments. This evolution of emergency care must take place in order for equine veterinarians to avoid burnout and continue to be at their best to treat all of your equine friends.

01/31/2025

What is Winter Laminitis? How is Winter Laminitis Different Than Regular Laminitis? Find out more in the article below from Soft Ride Equine Comfort.

https://www.softrideboots.com/newsletters.php?id=44 #

01/27/2025

An equine nutritionist explains why beet pulp might be a useful addition to your senior horse’s diet, especially during colder months.

**Please be sure to soak it in water before feeding to improve palatability and more importantly prevent potential choking hazards!

An equine nutritionist explains why beet pulp might be a useful addition to your senior horse’s diet, especially during colder months.