Keswick Equine Clinic

10/17/2025

The week is almost over but we didn't want to let it pass without one last shout out to our AMAZING Vet Tech and Assistants! You ladies truly are wonderful and we would be lost without you. We hope you enjoyed your goodie bags and pizza party, they are but a small token of our appreciation for all that you do for us, for our clients and for our patients. We are so grateful for your patience, knowledge, and gentle touch, especially during the most difficult moments. Thank you for all the work behind the scenes and handling every task with grace: We see your dedication and we appreciate you more than words can say. The work you do truly does make a difference!

10/15/2025

Veterinary technicians, assistants and support staff are critical to the day-to-day function of veterinary practices, and they play vital roles in ensuring compassionate, high-quality care for all animals. As we celebrate National Veterinary Technician and Assistant Appreciation Week, please join us and our friends at AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants in showing appreciation for our veterinarians’ right-hand men and women!

📸Photos courtesy of:
Rhinebeck Equine
Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Scone Equine Hospital
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine & Penn Vet New Bolton Center
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Littleton Equine Medical Center
The Equine Medical Center of Ocala

10/13/2025

We want to wish a VERY HAPPY Vet Tech & Assistants Week to our amazing team of dedicated and passionate ladies who work to ensure that all of the patients, clients and even the staff here at KEC get the best possible care. Thanks for all you do, you're all AMAZING and we love you!!!

10/10/2025

Being a veterinarian is incredibly rewarding, but horse doctors also face significant challenges in the workplace that are unique to practice life as an equine veterinarian. Work-life balance, injury risks, compassion fatigue, and financial stress from educational debt are all factors that horse doctors may find weighing heavily on their mental health.

This , let us remember to prioritize mental health in the workplace so that we can be the best practitioners possible for ourselves, colleagues, clients, and beloved patients. If you or someone you know is struggling, please remember that HELP IS AVAILABLE.

If you are an AAEP member in the U.S. and Canada, the AAEP encourages you to take advantage of the free counseling and support services offered through the Healthy Practice Member Assistance Program. This exclusive AAEP-member benefit provides short-term, solution-focused therapy to you and your household family members — and it can even extend to all your practice employees at the greatly reduced AAEP program rate!

Visit our website at https://aaep.org/membership/my-membership/healthy-practice-member-assistance-program/ to learn more about this great benefit and how to access its services.

10/07/2025

Great info on equine skin alIergies from the AAEP! If your horse is uncomfortable, losing hair, or has sores that don’t heal, call us to schedule an appointment for diagnosis and treatment options.

Equine Skin Allergies: What Horse Owners Should Know ✍️

What are they?
Skin allergies in horses can cause itching, hives, hair loss, and skin sores. The most common types are reactions to insect bites, environmental allergens (like pollen or dust), and, rarely, certain foods or contact with chemicals.

Common Signs:
• Excessive scratching, rubbing, or biting at the skin
• Hives (raised, bumpy areas on the skin)
• Hair loss or bald patches
• Scabs or crusty skin

What causes them?
• Insect bites: Especially from midges (“no-see-ums”), flies, or lice
• Environmental allergens: Pollens, molds, barn dust, etc.
• Contact allergies: Shampoos, sprays, bedding
• Food allergies: Rare in horses

When do they happen?
Seasonal allergies often flare up in warmer months (due to insects or pollen). Year-round itching may be due to dust, molds, or other ongoing exposures

What can you do as an owner?
• Reduce exposure to known triggers (like insects or dusty bedding)
• Work with your veterinarian to identify the cause and create a treatment plan
• Treatments may include special shampoos, medications, or allergy shots

When to call your equine veterinarian:
If your horse is uncomfortable, losing hair, or has sores that don’t heal, consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options.

10/02/2025

IT'S MYTHBUSTERS TIME! 🔎

As we know, our equine companions can be quite accident-prone. Injuries can vary in severity from small surface cuts that can be managed at home to deep wounds that require sutures that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

As a horse owner, it's inevitable that your equine will sustain several less severe wounds throughout the course of its life, and you may be tempted to clean these wounds with products such as hydrogen peroxide in an effort to prevent infection. However, hydrogen peroxide may cause more harm than good to the healing process.

The truth is that hydrogen peroxide is much too aggressive and toxic to the fibroblasts and other healthy cells that aid in wound healing. Therefore, the use of hydrogen peroxide can actually delay wound healing. In addition, its use can be quite painful when being applied to the wound site.

Instead, it's important to use an isotonic solution (similar in pH to the fluids of the body). Ideally this solution will be warmed to limit the amount of constriction of the blood vessels. If you're in a bind and the wound is grossly contaminated, clean tap water is acceptable to clean the injury site but be sure to use gentle water pressure.

Overall, be sure to approach wound care and cleaning with caution so that you do not unintentionally worsen the injury or slow the healing process. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, concentrated antiseptics like Betadine or chlorhexidine that have not yet been diluted, or high pressure when applying water or cleansing agents.

If you have questions or concerns about wound care or are unsure if a wound needs veterinary intervention, contact your veterinarian.

09/30/2025

If your horse has a cough that persists into exercise or is heard while your equine friend is at rest in the barn, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about evaluating your horse for respiratory disease. It could be a problem with the upper airway (the nasal passages and throat) or the lower airway (the lungs).

While waiting for your appointment, try decreasing your horse’s exposure to dust, as that is a primary trigger for lower respiratory disease such as asthma or heaves.

Some simple things you can do include avoiding straw bedding, not using a leaf blower on barn aisles, and not storing hay or bedding above your horse’s stall. Last but not least, while us humans may be more comfortable with all the barn doors closed on colder days, your horses’ lungs will appreciate open doors/windows and good ventilation!

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about preserving your horse’s respiratory health, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

09/24/2025

This is an IMPORTANT reminder as to why we always recommend vaccinating your equine friends. Horses and donkeys, even if they never leave your property can still be susceptible to diseases that threaten their health and ultimately their lives. West Nile Virus, Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, Rabies, Potomac Horse Fever, Equine Influenza & Equine Herpesvirus are all prevalent in this area as well as surrounding states in this region, particularly in climates where mosquitoes thrive. PLEASE vaccinate your animals for their safety and the safety of others. If you have questions regarding vaccine protocols please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. WNV primarily causes disease in birds, humans, and horses and is transmitted by many different species of mosquitoes. Since 1999, more than 27,600 U.S. horses have been confirmed with WNV neuro-invasive disease with an estimated average case fata...

09/15/2025

09/11/2025

Thank you to all of our clients, sponsors, vendors and staff for making this year's Client Education Seminar a huge success! It's always such a treat to be able to visit, eat and learn together each year. A special thank you to Brittany Humphrey & Dr. Amy Peoples with Dechra US, you ladies were fantastic! The food from Catering was absolutely amazing, as always! We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event. 🐴💗🫶

09/10/2025

Today is the day!!! We look forward to seeing you at the Client Education Seminar this evening. Just as a reminder the event will be from 6-8pm tonight at Spoon and Spindle's Madison at the Mill. In case you're not quite sure about how to find us... Look for the Spoon & Spindle sign and park in that parking lot, (Iron Pipe also shares the same parking lot). Go up the ramp to Spoon & Spindle and when you get in the door you'll immediately turn to the right and follow that hallway back to where we are. Look for Pamela at the sign-in table to get a name tag and goodies. You will have time to mingle and get food prior to our presentation. See you tonight!

09/08/2025

Fall is just around the corner, which means it's time for a FALL-CHECKLIST! 🍂🍁

As the cooler weather moves in, now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

Check out this list of essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do list, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse's blankets repaired and waterproofed, securing and storing hay properly, assessing your shelters for safety and soundness, etc.

Note that your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season, so be sure to consult them and discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation. This is also a great opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise programs as well!