Brock Veterinary Clinic

01/11/2026

Welcome back to “Well I don’t know what I don’t know!” Today’s topic: mare breeding

🐴 What to Expect When You Want Your Mare to Be Expecting 🐴

Breeding season is right around the corner! If you’re thinking about breeding your mare this year, here’s a helpful overview of what to expect and how to prepare.

✨ Plan Ahead
Many breeding farms book stallions well in advance—sometimes even the year before. Choosing your stallion early helps ensure availability. This usually involves a breeding contract outlining responsibilities for you, the stallion owner, and the collection facility, so be sure to read these carefully.
~Bring this with you to your appointment!~ We will want to go look over it prior to starting the process.

🌸 Understanding the Mare’s Cycle
Mares typically begin cycling naturally in March as daylight increases. With artificial lighting, cycling can be encouraged earlier (as early as February), but this needs to be started around mid-December. Most stallion collection facilities begin shipping semen around February 15.

A mare’s cycle averages about 21 days:
• ~7 days in estrus (heat) when she is receptive to breeding
• ~14 days out of heat

Signs of heat may include:
• Winking of the v***a
• Frequent or exaggerated urination
• Tail flagging
• Increased vocalization
• Fence rubbing or mild nipping

Some mares show obvious signs, while others show very little. Ultrasound exams help us determine exactly where your mare is in her cycle and time breeding appropriately.

🩺 Pre-Breeding Exams
• Maiden mares should have a speculum exam to ensure normal reproductive anatomy.
• Older mares, maiden mares, or those with previous breeding difficulties may need additional testing (uterine culture, cytology, or biopsy).
• In some cases, advanced options like embryo transfer or ICSI may be recommended, and we can refer you to specialized facilities if needed.

📍 Breeding Management
Once your mare is ready, she’ll typically stay at the clinic so we can monitor her closely while she’s in heat. We’ll use ultrasound and behavioral signs to determine the optimal time to order semen.
• We prefer cooled shipped semen, which allows effective timing with fewer ultrasounds.
• Frozen semen requires more frequent monitoring and can increase costs.

🐣 Pregnancy Checks
After ovulation, your mare can return home and come back for a pregnancy ultrasound about 14 days later. Follow-up ultrasounds are commonly recommended at:
• 14 days
• 25 days
• 45–60 days

Hormone testing and supplementation may be recommended in some cases to help maintain pregnancy.

💉 Care During Pregnancy
• Rhinopneumonitis (EHV) vaccines at 5, 7, and 9 months
• Core vaccines (EEE/WEE, West Nile, tetanus, rabies) about 1 month before foaling
• Deworming with Panacur pre-foaling to help protect the newborn foal

📞 Ready to Get Started?
Give us a call to schedule a reproductive exam and get your mare ready for breeding season. We’re happy to help guide you every step of the way!

Now you know what you may not have known!
Next topic: neutering and spaying cats and dogs. Stay tuned!

PS please enjoy this photo of Dr. Dustin checking a mare 😄

01/07/2026

Welcome back to “I don’t know what I don’t know!” Today’s topic: bull health

“Hey doc, my bull seems a little off and this last year we didn’t get a good crop of calves. What’s going on?”

Good bulls aren’t just big and tough — they’ve got a job to do! 🐂 If your bull seems “a little off” or you’ve noticed fewer calves hitting the ground, it may be time for a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE).

A yearly BSE helps ensure:
• Subfertile or infertile bulls are identified early
• Higher pregnancy rates and a more profitable breeding season
• More calves born earlier = heavier calves at weaning 💪
• Structural, health, and reproductive problems are caught before they cost you money
• Screening for reproductive diseases like Trichomoniasis, which can devastate herd profitability

🔎 What’s included in a Breeding Soundness Exam?
• Full physical exam including vision and lameness exam & reproductive health evaluation
• Scrotal circumference measurement
• Semen collection and evaluation (motility & morphology)
• Classification as satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or deferred
• Trichomoniasis testing

⚠️ One subfertile bull can cost you thousands. Trich alone costs the U.S. cattle industry over $100 million each year—and infected bulls must be culled, as there is no cure. Yearly testing ensures that these issues are not missed.

📆 Yearly BSEs help protect your herd, improve efficiency, and keep your operation profitable.

👉 Ready to schedule your breeding soundness exams? We’re here to help — send us a message or give us a call!

Now you know what you may not have known! Next topic: mare reproduction and breeding! Stay tuned!

01/02/2026

🌟 Good morning and Happy 2026! 🌟
This year we’re starting a new series called “I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know!” We’ll be covering common veterinary topics to help you in your day-to-day pet, food animal, and horse ownership. There are many things that are routine knowledge for veterinary professionals that aren’t always common knowledge for owners—so our goal is to educate, prepare, and support you, both for everyday life and emergencies.

⸻

🐴 First Topic: FOALING

Tis the season for new foals—so let’s cover the basics!

My mare is bred… now what?

📅 Typical gestation in mares is about 340 days, though some may go over a year. Foaling is usually uneventful, but owners need to be prepared to make quick decisions if needed.

✅ Vaccination Timeline

• 5, 7 & 9 months: EHV-1 (Pneumabort-K or Prodigy)
• 8, 9 & 10 months: Rotavirus (if diarrhea has been an issue in your area)
• 10 months / 1 month prior to foaling: Annual vaccines — EEE, WEE, WNV, Tetanus, and Rabies
These vaccines help protect the foal through the mare’s colostrum.

⸻

🕒 Once Labor Starts

A foal should arrive within 2 hours. If not—📞 call your veterinarian.

Then remember the 1-2-3 Rule:
1️⃣ Within 1 hour → Foal should be standing
2️⃣ Within 2 hours → Foal should be nursing
3️⃣ Within 3 hours → Mare should pass the placenta

👶 Healthy Foal Signs

Frequent nursing, normal breathing, passing meconium, straight legs, no diarrhea, and no swollen joints.

⸻

👩‍⚕️ Newborn Exam

We recommend a veterinary exam at 12–24 hours old to:
• Check IgG (antibody levels)
• Screen for broken ribs or limb deformities
• Complete insurance exam if needed

⸻

✨ Now you know what you may not have known!
Next topic in the series: bull breeding soundness exams — stay tuned

12/02/2025

Our Dr. Michelle on KLBK news this evening!

A recent outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus, or EHV-1, is raising concerns among horse owners across Texas as veterinarians work to slow its spread.

11/27/2025

All of the folks at Brock Veterinary Clinic would like you to know that we are thankful that you have been a part of our lives and our practice. We are blessed because of you. Thank you.

11/26/2025

Good morning! We are closed today starting at noon, and will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday. During this time we will be available for emergencies at 806-200-0802. We will reopen for normal hours Monday, December 1. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

11/20/2025

As this outbreak progresses, we continue to encourage responsible isolation. The best way to prevent further spread of this disease and deaths associated with it is to limit movement of horses. At this time, we have not seen any cases of EHV at our hospital. Due to the extensive government regulations put in place, we are not equipped to hospitalize any of these cases. If you are concerned that your horse may be showing symptoms of EHV, please call and we will answer any questions that you may have. We are sending any cases that are showing symptoms to Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Waco.

We are continuing to see cases, but each owner will be subjected to a questionnaire prior to making an appointment, and each horse that comes to the clinic will be assessed prior to removal from the trailer. If your horse has been exposed at an event, we will ask to postpone any elective procedures.

Below are links to help keep you informed. The restrictions of travel to Nevada and Arizona are continuing to progress, and we encourage anyone who is planning on attending an event in these states to monitor the restrictions.


Texas Animal Health Commission Statement:
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2025/2025-11-19_EHM-Waco.pdf

Fact Sheet on Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy:
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCFactSheet_EHM.pdf

Horse Owner's Guide to Biosecurity:
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_BiosecurityEquine.pdf

Women’s Professional Rodeo Press Release on EHV-1/EHM:
https://wpra.com/wpra-world-finals-elite-barrel-race-ehv-1-announcement/

11/19/2025

Here are the questions discussed in the conversation on the live A and A: continue asking questions and we will answer throughout the day.

1. Should producers cancel this weekend?
- Answer: Yes, they should cancel.

2. How would you advise neighboring states to proceed with horse events?
- Answer: Less movement of horses will help resolve the outbreak faster.

3. Is BVH aware of cases outside of the Waco horses?
- Answer: Currently, only aware of cases in Waco, but expect potential spread.

4. Is this contagious to humans?
- Answer: No, it is not contagious to people.

5. Can someone who attended these races get a test at the clinic?
- Answer: Yes, they can screen horses and we will do trailer-side examinations.

6. How do you advise other disciplines to respond?
- Answer: Be discipline-specific, vaccinate, take temperatures, and practice good biosecurity.

7. Is there any risk that farriers could transmit this from barn to barn?
- Answer: Unlikely, as farriers are typically careful about infectious disease transmission.

8. How do people get vaccines without bringing their horse to the clinic?
- Answer: Vaccines require a veterinary exam, either at the clinic or on the farm, call and we can schedule this for you.

9. When do you suggest getting boosters?
- Answer: If the last vaccines were given more than 90 days ago, then as soon as possible to increase antibodies and slow virus spread.

10. What is your choice for disinfecting tech buckets, the barn, etc.?
- Answer: Avoid bleach, use accelerated hydrogen peroxide, phenols, or quaternary ammonia products. (rescue or companion)

11. How long will the virus last on surfaces if not disinfected?
- Answer: 2 days on dry surfaces, up to 2 weeks on wet surfaces.

12. Can horses have the virus without fever or nasal discharge?
- Answer: Yes, they can still be potentially contagious.

13. Can lysine or other products help prevent or build immunity?
- Answer: No, lysine and zinc have not been effective. Vaccines are the best prevention.

14. What is a normal horse temperature?
- Answer: 99 to 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on environmental conditions.

15. Is it okay to ride your horse at home if they were exposed but have no symptoms?
- Answer: Yes, but be smart about separating horses and avoid sharing tack.

16. If a horse had recent exposure in the last two days and is not vaccinated, should they be vaccinated now?
- Answer: Yes, vaccination can help reduce virus shedding and spread.

11/18/2025

We are currently monitoring this outbreak. Please be patient with us if we take extra biosecurity measures for appointments going forward.

Edited to add:
BVEH NAVASOTA HAS NO CASES ONSITE IN NAVASOTA. It is safe to bring your horse for their normal appointments, we will have additional biosecurity protocols before and in between appointments. We are working to set up an offsite location to triage potential sick horses. We will have updates tomorrow for you. Dr. Buchanan will go live here on Facebook at 8:15am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

BVEH Advisory:

EHV-1 Cases in Horses Returning From a Recent Event

Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals wants to notify horse owners that we are aware of multiple confirmed cases of EHV-1 in surrounding hospitals, and several suspected cases including several horses with neurologic signs (EHM) currently being diagnosed in the barrel horse community. BVEH has not admitted and is not treating and EHV or EHM cases.

The State of Texas Animal Health Commission is aware of the outbreak.

At this time, 5–10 horses are known to us to be sick, but the true number is likely higher as many cases go unreported.

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What Horse Owners Should Do Right Now:

1. Keep all horses at home!
Please avoid hauling, clinics, lessons, shows, or mingling horses for the next several weeks until more information is available.

Movement is the #1 factor that spreads EHV-1.
________________________________________

2. Check temperatures twice daily!
Fever is usually the first sign (often before nasal discharge or neurologic symptoms).
• Temp at or above 101.5°F = call your veterinarian.
________________________________________

3. Notify your veterinarian immediately if your horse exhibits:
• Fever
• Weakness or incoordination
• Standing with hindlimbs wide
• Tail tone changes
• Difficulty urinating
• Lethargy or decreased appetite

Early intervention improves outcomes.
________________________________________

4. Discuss treatment options with your veterinarian.

For febrile or exposed horses, your vet may recommend:
• Valacyclovir
• Aspirin or other anti-thrombotics
• Anti-inflammatories
• Supportive care

(These should only be used under veterinary direction.)
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5. Biosecurity matters.
• Do not share water buckets, hoses, tack, grooming tools, or stalls.
• Disinfect trailers, thermometers, and crossties.
• Isolate any horse with fever immediately.
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About Vaccination.

Current evidence shows vaccines do not prevent EHM, but they can reduce viral shedding and shorten viremia, which lowers barn-wide spread and is important to the community.

Boosters are helpful when:
• A horse was vaccinated > 90 days ago, or
• You are preparing for high-risk environments (events, hauling, mixing populations).

What the research shows:
• Booster vaccination increases IgG1 and IgG4/7, the antibody classes linked with limiting viremia.
• Reduced viremia = reduced likelihood of severe disease and decreased transmission.
• Boosters are most effective in younger horses, previously vaccinated horses, and non-pregnant horses.

Vaccines do NOT stop a horse already incubating EHV-1 from developing signs, and they do not eliminate the risk of neurologic disease. For horses already exposed or febrile, do not vaccinate until cleared by your veterinarian.
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We Will Continue to Update You!

BVEH is actively monitoring cases and communicating with veterinarians across Texas and neighboring states. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. If your horse is showing fever or any neurologic signs, please contact your veterinarian or call BVEH immediately.

Please ask any questions in this post and we will work to answer them quickly. Stay tuned for additional updates, including a Live Q and A with Dr. Ben Buchanan tomorrow (Wednesday).

We have documents on our website www.bveh.com specific to EHV and biosecurity. Additional resources included below.

Stay safe, monitor closely, and thank you for helping limit the spread.

— Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals

Link to BVEH documents regarding EHV-1:
http://www.bveh.com

Link to ACVIM consensus statement: https://www.acvim.org/research/consensus-statements

Link to AAEP EHV documents:https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EHV1-4-guidelines-2021.pdf

Link to Equine Disease Center:https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EHV1-4-guidelines-2021.pdf

11/11/2025

Getting ready for Vegas or Arizona? We are here to help you! We have a special deal for the next month to help to get your horse ready for travel. Our travel package includes Core Eq and FluVac vaccinations, Coggins, health paper, and 2 tubes of electrolyte paste, all for $170! Give us a call to book your appointment for these essentials, as well as any other maintenance that your horse may need prior to competition.

Additionally, there has been an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis in Arizona. Attached is information from AAEP for this disease, which is good to know for your future travels.

https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Vesicular_Stomatitis_DZ_Guideline_Final.pdf

10/18/2025

Our phones are currently down. If you need to contact us please call the emergency line, 806-200-0802. Thank you!

10/02/2025

This is the best beef you will ever get.