SRH Veterinary Services

06/25/2024

Independence Day and thunderstorm season are upon us. Does your dog show signs of fear during loud noises? Are they trying to dig into the basement? Do they pace frantically around the house looking for somewhere to hide? Do they react strangely? The time to act is now, before the "big scary booms" start. Please call the office to discuss some treatment options to help make the holidays more relaxing for all.

06/20/2024

The bugs are starting to bug, which is a good time to talk about protecting our equines from mosquito born disease. This article from TheHorse.com gives a great overview of EEE, WEE, and West Nile virus, how they spread, the dangers they can pose, and what to do about it! Regular vaccination is the best protection for your horse, so please talk to your vet if your horse is not already vaccinated or scheduled to be, to discuss what makes the most sense to keep them safe!

Learn about Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), and West Nile virus (WNV) and how you can best protect your horse.

06/18/2024

Congratulations, Dr. Ellis
It seems like just yesterday you were riding on the road with me on large animal calls as a technician. Since leaving New England, you have worked very hard to finish your undergraduate degree and now become a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.
Well done ! The whole SRH team is proud of you!

06/17/2024

A cautionary tale:

Dr. Nicole's cat gave us all a scare after accidentally being soaked in liquid plant fertilizer! (She snuck into the closet at night and chewed through the bag in an act of kitty mischief!) After a bath and a call to poison control, she was deemed healthy, with a non toxic exposure.

Do you have the poison control number saved in you phone if something like this happens to your own?
ASPCA: 888-426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
Have your packaging available and a credit or debit card ready when you call.

06/14/2024

The Equine GI system can be a bit of a minefield, and there is so much information about there about what to do, how to feed, supplements, etc. This article from TheHorse.com gives a great overview on common GI pitfalls such as colic, diarrhea, and ulcers. As always if your horse is experiencing symptoms of any of this or other GI issues, please consult with your veterinarian for the best course of action!

Learn how colic, diarrhea, ulcers, and other ailments can affect your horse's GI tract and what steps to take to optimize digestive health.

06/10/2024

The final day of the farrier workshop ended with Dr. Betsy Lordan giving a demonstration. Life is always interesting in Cuba and requires one to make adjustments especially when the forge needs electricity and there is a blackout. Betsy was amazing adapting to unpredictable situations.

06/06/2024

Did you know that there is a blood test available now to detect some types of cancers in dogs? NuQ testing can find about 50% of systemic cancers in dogs, including lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. This test is recommended as a part of your pet's senior screening starting between the ages of 7 and 9. Please ask the veterinary team at your pets next wellness examination if you would like more information on this testing!

06/04/2024

To our amazing clients- Dr. Lordan will be away this week helping teach a clinic in Havanna, Cuba with an organization called “Cuba’s Horses.” She will be teaching a clinic on farriery to local horseshoers who provide care for the working carriage horses. She will be back to work June 11- please contact the office with any urgent concerns as her access to internet will be very limited. Pictures to follow!’

Meet Simba. He is 17 years old and has been a carriage horse for 10 years. He is well loved and taken care of. There would be no need for any horse welfare group if all the horses in the world had owners like Eziquiel.

06/04/2024

What's the deal with hives?! Many horses experience hives during the warmer months for a variety of reasons. This article from TheHorse.com unpacks a few potential triggers and therapies. Please work with your veterinarian to find a solution that works best for you and your horse to resolve hives!

Learn how to determine what triggers your horse’s hives and how to manage them.

05/30/2024

Is your vet asking if your horse is shedding out normally this spring? Or noticing their cresty neck? These are a few signs your vet may look at to indicate if metabolic testing is indicated for your horse. Cushings and Insulin resistance are two common metabolic conditions in horses that can lead to the dread "L" word: Laminitis. BUT, they can both be easily screened for with blood tests and treated with medication! This article from TheHorse.com delves into some of these diseases, their signs, diagnosis, and treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your horse please don't hesitate to discuss it with your vet!

If you suspect your horse has a metabolic disease, timely and accurate diagnostic testing is essential to developing a management plan.

05/27/2024

SRH wishes everyone a very happy and safe Memorial day! Our office is closed today in observance of the holiday but our large animal team can be reached in case of emergency as always.

05/26/2024

SRH is very pleased to announce that Dr. Betsy Lordan has recently passed a rigorous examination in equine ultrasound to become a certified member of the International Society for Equine Locomotor Pathology.

This is a highly respected certification that requires intensive study in anatomy, biomechanics and advanced ultrasound imaging of the equine musculoskeletal system. The certification takes most members years to complete and Dr. Lordan has traveled all over the US and even to Europe a few times in her pursuit of this achievement. At SRH, we are pleased to continue to offer a constantly evolving standard of care as our veterinarians continue to achieve new goals through education. Way to go Dr. Lordan!

05/23/2024

A reminder to our clients that our office will be closed Monday May 27 in observance of the Memorial day holiday, so please plan ahead if you need to pick up any prescriptions or pet food! Also, as you prepare to celebrate this weekend, here are a few reminders of things to keep in mind to make sure that your pets celebrate safely too!

05/20/2024

A reminder that while cannabis products may now be legal for us to enjoy responsibly, they can present a major health risk to your pets should they get into them. This infographic from ASPCA poison control outlines some of the signs of ma*****na ingestion in pets. If you know or suspect your pet has consumed ma*****na, please contact your vet right away.

05/17/2024

It's mayfly season! These delightful little insects will bite and cause red round rings or small welts, which are often on the belly or inner thighs. Thankfully, they are not itchy despite how red they get! If they aren't improving on their own over the course of 5 days, please reach out to the office to discuss your concerns. Special thanks to our mayfly model, Marty for providing us with these picts!

05/14/2024

Getting excited for warmer weather? Guess who else is: BUGS! Help protect your equines from malicious insects with these tips from AAEP. Remember that insects can carry disease as well as just being pesky. Please call your vet if you suspect your horse is unwell from an insect related illness or is just having trouble coping!

05/09/2024

Tick prevention is not just for Horses! Remember to be in top of flea and tick prevention to keep your canine and feline friends safe and healthy too! Here is a great infographic from our friends at the ASPCA for some tips on preparing for the season! As always give us a call to make sure you have your prevention on hand or if you do find a tick on your pet!

05/06/2024

Everyone hopes they NEVER have to deal with Strangles. Good biosecurity practices can go a long way to preventing the disease from coming to your barn, but if it ever does, this article from TheHorse.com provides some critical DO's and DON'Ts on handling the situation. As always, call your veterinarian RIGHT AWAY if your horse displays signs of strangles: fever, nasal discharge, and swollen submandibular lymph nodes (under the jaw).

Here’s how to handle a strangles outbreak in your barn and prevent the disease in the future.

05/03/2024

With spring and warmer weather also come itchy horses! There are multiple potential causes of sweet itch or other dermatological issues in the horse. This article from TheHorse.com explains a few of the causes and signs, and potential management techniques. As always, if your horse is experiencing a skin condition please contact your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment options!

There’s nothing appealing about this seasonal skin condition. Here’s what experts know about managing, treating, and preventing sweet itch in horses.

04/30/2024

Want to plant a pet friendly flower garden this spring? Here is a list of pet safe spring and summer flowers from our friends at ASPCA poison control!

04/26/2024

Thank you to all who visited SRH at the ECTA tack sale this past weekend!

04/23/2024

We would like to wish the wonderful reception staff at SRH a very happy Veterinary Receptionist week! Our reception team are the front line and first point of contact for meeting the needs of our patients and clients and do an outstanding job of keeping the practice running through excellent communication and organization! So please, take a moment this week to thank our receptionists for all they do this week if you call or come to the office, we couldn't do it without them!

04/22/2024

If you own a horse, you probably know the dreaded "C" word: Colic. Here are 10 tips from our friends at AAEP to build a routine for your horse that will help set them up for digestive success!

04/20/2024

Dr. Noble, Dr. Lordan and technician, Meaghan, had a fun day catching up with our clients at the ECTA Tack Sale today!

04/19/2024

Learn some of the what/where/why/ and how of Lepto from this article from ASPCA Poison Control! Leptospirosis is one of the vaccinations we offer for our canine patients. Give us a call to learn more about whether or not this vaccine may be right for your pet and as always be on the look out for signs of illness if your furry friend likes to play in puddles and ponds as the weather gets warmer!

What is leptospirosis? How do you know if your pet has it? How can you prevent your pet from getting it? Read on to find out!

04/16/2024

Food for thought as its time to start scheduling those spring vaccines for your equines! Thanks to our friends at AAEP for helping bust this myth!

04/11/2024

With Spring come all sorts of colors! Congratulations to Eileen Cashman for this beautiful splashy foal!

04/08/2024

Time to start planning your equine Lyme disease prevention strategies! There are serval options to help limit the number of ticks that may find their way onto and bit your horse: sprays containing permethrins, show sheen on the lower limbs and under the chin to make it harder for the ticks to climb, and Vectra 3D, a topcial treatment for dogs also approved for use in horses. Here is a wonderful video created by one of our clients demonstrating how to apply Vectra to a horse!

Vaccination is also a useful tool. An unvaccinated horse will need 2 initial vaccines one month apart, and a booster every 6 months after that in areas where lyme disease is endemic (read: our area!)

If you have any questions or concerns about protecting your horse from Lyme disases please call our office for more inforamtion and to come up with a plan that works best for you and your horse!

04/05/2024

Everything you ever wanted to know about pet hair! As spring starts springing, so may the hair begin to from your furry friends body! Learn more about why and when this happens, the differences in breeds and their coats, and what you can do to make it a less hairy situation for both you and your pet! Thanks to our friends at ASPCA pet insurance!

From short-haired cats to dogs with double-coats, the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance program breaks down why some breeds shed more and how to manage it.