Keswick Equine Clinic

11/25/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to our amazing clients! Our office will be closed for Thanksgiving. During this time, emergency care services will be available 24/7 as usual. We highly encourage you to plan ahead for your equine care needs over the upcoming holidays by making sure medications are ordered and on hand. If you are travelling, make sure holiday caregivers have important contact information, instructions, and are able to reach you if needed. As always Keswick Equine Clinic is committed to providing seamless care and support throughout the holidays and all year long.
~May your Thanksgiving be full of happiness and may your blessings be multiplied throughout the year.

11/20/2025

We've had several folks call in with questions regarding EHM & EHV-1 outbreak. Here is a great resource for accurate & reliable information please visit the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) for regular updates regarding the current outbreak.

Important takeaways:
1) The EHM case reported in MD on 11/18/25 was not associated with the Waco, TX outbreak.

2) Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is the virus causing this outbreak. While EHV-1 most commonly causes respiratory disease, some strains cause outbreaks of neurologic disease.

3) While EHM is a serious disease, the majority of cases are not fatal. In most outbreaks of EHM, 60-70% of horses recover. Veterinary evaluation and isolation of exposed or affected horses is crucial.

For accurate and reliable information regarding the clinical signs and transmission of EHV-1, visit the EDCC. https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Equine-Herpesvirus-Myeloencephalopathy-(EHM)-Outbreak?fbclid=IwY2xjawOMUCVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeGJMHv_-AakyxekTHSV6AVscnnGjvVVbh95r8jbe0Gc5Kc2bcpLzyRu7BNHI_aem_ugrslC_ZVwMFjeJGJhVDXA

The Equine Disease Communication Center is monitoring an outbreak of EHM that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event Nov 5-9. To date, officially confirmed cases have been reported in the following states-

11/18/2025

Are you a passionate and driven equine veterinarian looking to grow your career in a dynamic, supportive environment? Email your resume or any questions to [email protected] today!

11/13/2025

Another great day ! Enjoy this quick clip of our spectacular day at the 90th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races.

11/12/2025

Navicular Syndrome: What Horse Owners Should Know

What is it?
Navicular syndrome is a common cause of long-term (usually front) foot pain in horses. It affects the structures in the back half of the hoof, including the navicular bone, deep digital flexor tendon, navicular bursa, collateral sesamoidean ligament, and collateral sesamoidean impar ligament).

Who gets it?
It's most often seen in adult horses, especially those used for heavy work or certain breeds like Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Warmbloods. Horses with very steep or very low hoof angles are also more at risk.

What are the signs?
• Lameness, usually in the front feet
• Horse may land toe-first instead of heel-first
• Lameness often gets worse when turning in circles
• Both front feet may be affected

What causes it?
• Repeated stress and strain on the navicular area
• Wear and tear on the bone and soft tissues
• Sometimes, poor hoof shape or conformation

How is it diagnosed?
Veterinarians use nerve blocks, radiographs, ultrasounds, and MRIs to pinpoint the source of pain.

How can it be managed?
Management options include special shoeing, rest, and medications. The right approach depends on the individual horse and the specific problem. Remember, what might help one horse might not help another. Overall, early diagnosis and tailored care can help many horses stay comfortable and active.

If you have questions or concerns about navicular syndrome in regard to your own equine, contact your veterinarian.

📸 Photo credit: Dr. Lori Madsen & University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

11/11/2025

🐴 Exciting news for Virginia's equine enthusiasts! The Virginia Horse Industry Board (VHIB) is thrilled to announce that they’ve lifted the cap on funding and expanded the scope for equine project grants! 🌟 Whether you're looking to promote, develop, or enhance your equine initiatives, now is the perfect time to apply!

📅 Submit your application by December 10!
Don’t miss out on this chance to make a difference in the Virginia equine community!

👉 Apply here: https://forms.gle/e2JwYe85PSMYKVnT8

11/11/2025

With respect, honor, and gratitude, THANK YOU veterans and active-duty military members for your service and sacrifice!

11/06/2025

Did you know your equine can catch the flu, too?

While there isn’t a specific time of the year for “flu season” in the equine world, any time is good to learn more about this highly contagious respiratory condition—particularly because it’s one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract of horses, and recent years have been unusually active for Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) on a global scale.

EIV spreads rapidly through groups of horses in aerosolized droplets dispersed by coughing, and the severity of clinical signs depends on the degree of existing immunity within the affected individual, among other factors (i.e., correctly vaccinated horses are less affected than unvaccinated horses).

Any horse showing signs of respiratory disease (cough, nasal discharge, persistent fever) should be isolated immediately until your veterinarian can determine the exact cause.

To learn more about Equine Influenza Virus (EIV), visit these resources:
https://aaep.org/resource/aaep-infectious-disease-guidelines-equine-influenza-eiv/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN1uklleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwaDY1NFRwbzVaTmdCTFE0AR6TSxMTSrZaaihGWeOQRU8FxN1nMjxT8a4pensUL-VTbU3gGDNXzK7K0GpGNg_aem_SvQrsEksul6n_6EyWcWgnA
&
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/equine-influenza?fbclid=IwY2xjawN1uk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwaDY1NFRwbzVaTmdCTFE0AR4prpxH7lNYI-Q9Y7cq5u2eG2iFlJDWbeElbxtZ0UZeZeQC6SwybCYYN-OD5g_aem_BIZyarOLwfLRAmRREAm8Xg

As always, your horse doctor remains your best source of information. Contact them to learn more about how to prevent this disease through an appropriate vaccination protocol and biosecurity practices.

11/05/2025

Montanova is pleased to offer new experiences and ways of learning to all of their students. The addition of the Montanova Vet Club and Dinner with a Doc programs have been a great way for our students and volunteers to learn about the care needed to keep our animals healthy. While the Vet Club focuses on hands on learning appropriate for the younger students, the Dinner with a Doc program goes more in depth to explore topics of interest for the adults in our program. Topics that have been covered include basic preventive medicine (vaccines and dentistry) all the way to emergencies (like colic and lameness). MSF works very closely with our local veterinarians. Our Day of Giving is a major source of funding for the care of our horses and ponies. Thank you to Keswick Equine Clinic for keeping all our horses feeling their best!

https://www.montanovastables.org/annual-day-of-giving

Montanova Stables Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to make a donation.
Email: [email protected]

10/31/2025

Halloween shenanigans to get us "in the spirit" before everyone heads out to their appointments for the day! Enjoy 😂

🎃👻Happy Halloween everyone! Be safe Trick or Treating!🍬🍭

10/30/2025

It's time for our annual calendar! Each year we fill them with photos of our client & staff fur families. Send pics of your favorite 4 legged friend to be included in this year's edition at [email protected].

10/29/2025

Look for our new eco-friendly bags when you stop by the clinic to pick up meds from the pharmacy or when you get meds from our vet trucks on the farm! Be sure to reuse them and bring them with you on your next pick up. Let’s make an impact together!