Keswick Equine Clinic

02/14/2025

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.

01/23/2025

It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s, thanks to continuous advances in nutrition and health care.

Horse owners have a big impact as well and can help their horses thrive in their golden years through proper management practices like those illustrated in the graphic. But remember, although there is much you can do on your own to keep your older horse happy and spry, some conditions associated with aging require medical intervention.

Scheduling regular visits and keeping a good line of communication with your veterinarian will allow you to respond quickly to any ailments or injuries that could cause your horse a serious or prolonged set back. That means less worry for you, and a better quality of life for your old friend!

01/17/2025

If you have questions or concerns about FWS or diarrhea in regard to your horse, reach out to us at (540) 832-3030 and we will get your questions to your horse’s doctor.

01/13/2025

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING (A FOAL) 🐴

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated — however, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of the foal:

• Consult with your veterinarian well in advance of the birth. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours and ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available.

• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.

• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

• Time each stage of labor, to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines, and you should contact your veterinarian for more information specific to your situation. Good luck!

01/07/2025

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months? AAEP has put together some fun facts! Check them out below…

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/03/2025

Due to the anticipated inclement weather coming in on Monday, January 6th we will only be open for emergency calls on Monday. We plan to resume our normal business schedule on Tuesday and will keep you posted as we recieve updates. Stay safe and stay warm friends!

01/01/2025

12/27/2024

Get your equine friend's medications & supplements delivered directly to your door! When you order through our online pharmacy, your KEC vets can review and approve your requests quickly and efficiently. Check it out by visiting our website or clicking the link below! https://keswickequineclinic.ourvet.com/pet/

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas form all of us here at KEC, we hope you have a blessed holiday! Our office will be closing at 1pm today and will reopen on Dec. 27th. As always our emergency services will still be up and running 24/7 throughout the holiday season. Hope you and your equine friends all made it onto the nice list this year!

12/19/2024

We saw this and couldn't help but share for our K-9 friends. A holiday barkuterie board, what an adorable idea from ASPCA Pet Health Insurance!

12/18/2024

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency—even during the holidays. Are you prepared to act?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse if necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.