Ascent Veterinary Health

11/22/2025

A lot of information is circulating on the state of the outbreak. A lot of the information on the internet currently being shared has a lot of misinformation in it. This webinar should help clear up the spread, concerns and how best to protect your horses.

In light of the current EHV-1 outbreak, the AAEP and the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) have organized a horse owner education webinar to bring you the most up to date information on this issue.

Next Tuesday, join specialists Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges (Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director and Texas State Veterinarian), Dr. Krista Estell (AAEP/EDCC) and Dr. Katie Flynn (USEF) for an informative discussion about what EHV-1 is, how to recognize it, and most importantly, how to prevent its spread.

This webinar is FREE, but registration is required. Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AnIoJrASj0vuX7Q_K87mKEjg5bxeMAkqp7fpSoOgVtVm_Zgo1g5m~AiiV7ZQ3bbmlEW2iSkeRTSAfMCYf2QhFMoprr7WRbM_MsiJRcBGT1oLj0Q

*PLEASE NOTE: the attendee limit for this session is capped at 1,000. However, all who register will be emailed a link to an on-demand recording that will become available 24 hours after the live session ends.

11/06/2025

11/01/2025

We require that cattle producers have some way to safely restrain their animals. It can be simple and not require a huge investment. This is a great example!

10/27/2025

It's a wet week out there! Do you know the true story of Rain Rot?

IS RAIN ROT A FUNGAL OR A BACTERIAL DISEASE?

Rain rot (or rain scald) is the common name for a contagious BACTERIAL skin disease called dermatophilosis. It's caused by the bacterium "Dermatophilus congolensis," which thrives during wet seasons and in geographical locations with high precipitation and humidity. It can also develop after horses have sweat under blankets or tack, and equines with compromised immune systems are more susceptible.

Why should you not mistake rain rot for a fungal disease?
Antifungal medications and topicals have no effect on the bacteria responsible for rain rot, therefore diagnosing the condition correctly is very important!

How does rain rot happen?
The bacteria infects the hair follicles and damages the hair follicle and shaft; the hair will then pull out in small clumps leaving pink skin or purulent scabs behind (pro tip: your horse will NOT thank you for picking at them!) If you do not address the factors that promote the right bacterial environment (for example, you always leave your horse to stand outside in the rain without shelter or the protection of a waterproof rug), rain rot can keep recurring. If left untreated, the condition can even progress to a point where it opens the door for more serious, secondary skin infections.

If you suspect your horse has rain rot, be sure to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment plan based on the severity of your horse's case. While there are a million products that can be found in your local tack store, your horse doctor may have cause to prescribe a specific course of action.

10/07/2025

Ouch! This poor boy was kicked in the teeth! Unfortunately, it knocked one of his incisors loose. While it was wiggly the first time we saw it, it was best to leave it alone to see if it would tighten up over a few weeks without intervention. His follow up revealed that it was still loose and so it was removed by Dr. Brett.

He will be fine! We'll monitor to make sure that the teeth on either side close up the gap a bit appropriately.

10/01/2025

Fall exam for our shortest equine patient! is always a good girl for us.

09/16/2025

Is your cow or bull limping? We can take a look at that! As long as you have a chute or a way to pen them in, we can go ahead and figure out if its foot rot, an abcess, or something else bothering them that needs some work.

Give us a text or call us and leave a voicemail at 828 222 6900

08/26/2025

Fall is almost here! 🍂
That means it’s time to start prepping for winter—stocking up on hay, checking blankets, and making sure everything is ready for our animals during the colder months.

One thing that often gets overlooked? Dental care.

Horses’ teeth are continuously erupting throughout their lives. In the wild, chewing sticks, bark, and tougher forage helps keep teeth worn down naturally. But since our domesticated horses don’t have that same diet, they often need a little help.

Most horses benefit from a dental exam every 1–2 years (sometimes more often if there are irregularities). Floating helps reduce sharp points and correct any bigger issues so your horse can chew comfortably and get the most nutrition out of their hay and/or grain. Routine dentals can start as early as 3 years old but its never too late to help them out. Our older horses can get a lot of out of a dental to help their overall health and weight.

A quick check-up now can make a big difference! 🐴✨

Reach out to schedule a fall appointment and dental at 828 222 6900

08/26/2025

Need medications shipped directly to you for your Food Animals or for your Companion Animals?

My Vet Store Online has got you covered!

Check out our partnered online pharmacy and get them shipped to your home or barn! As long as we have an exam on file so we are familiar with your animals and your needs, we can get prescription medications shipped to you to save you some time. You can call the pharmacy to speak directly to them to help you place an order that we can then approve or you can visit the website below to get started.

Visit Ascent.MyVetStoreOnline.Pharmacy or go to our website- AscentVeterinaryHealth.com and look for the link under online pharmacy.

08/22/2025

Health certificates!

Once the certificate is written, it is good for 30 days. The 30 day health certificate can list more than one horse. It is good for one state/destination listed.

If you travel a lot:
Some states accept the 6 month health certificate, those certificates have to be completed by the owner(s) each time they travel. They will need the name, address, and phone number of each location for when they travel and they will have to file specific information on the horse listed each time they travel. The horse will have to be inspected by a vet to create the health certificate originally and then the owner will fill out information for each state they travel to.

The 6 month certificates are good for one horse each. These are not our rules but the guidelines given to us to follow.

Please give us a call if you're traveling, moving, showing, selling, or going camping with your equine! If you have specific questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out.

08/11/2025

Rainy day eye lacerations. Try to keep dry out there, y'all!

08/08/2025

Our favorite kind of pasta - Rigatoni aka Tony 🙌🏻