Lexington Large Animal Medicine and Surgery

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄

Heartwarming video from our friends at Purina Mills - makers of Equine Senior.

11/22/2024

Happy Friday!! Dr. Fulton and our tech Sydney had all smiles from their patient at their routine visit this morning 🤠

Pic credit Peggy Coe

10/27/2024

Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored, as many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic, so management practices can play a key role in prevention. And although not every case is avoidable, the guidelines listed in the graphic can help you maximize your horse’s health and reduce the risk of colic.

As always, remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed and other health conditions, so be sure to work with your veterinarian to address any concerns specific to your situation!

10/27/2024

Fall laminitis refers to cases of laminitis or founder that occur in the autumnal months. Although laminitis can happen in any season, anecdotally there seems to be an uptick in the number of cases in the fall.

Why could this be?

• As the days get shorter and colder, grasses have been shown to respond to this stress with higher sugar concentrations. Diets with higher simple sugar concentrations may increase the risk of laminitis.

• Decreases in exercise may cause increases in body condition. Fat or obese horses are at risk of developing laminitis.

• Horses naturally have increased levels of certain hormones in the fall. If you have a horse with PPID (previously referred to as equine Cushing’s), the increase in their cortisol levels could put them at risk for laminitis.

If you have questions concerning fall laminitis or are concerned that your horse may be at an increased risk, contact your equine veterinarian so that they can properly evaluate your horse's unique situation.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

10/08/2024

It's almost here! And we're very excited to see everyone the Saturday. We're putting some last minute touches on things now. Setting out hay bales, shining up the tractor, lecturing the cows on how to act around guests! lol

We feel so blessed to be able to share our farm with you. As you know, there's no charge for entrance into the event. The only things to purchase would be lunch and pumpkins. However. in light of the devastation to our beloved Western North Carolina, we felt we needed to do something to help. So, if you were interested in purchasing lunch (our fabulous American Wagyu hamburgers or Brats), we've decided to change things up a bit. If you bring a donation of 6 cans of food, 1-2 cases of water (I know those are hard to find right now) or other needs, lunch will be on us! We are coordinating with Baptists on Mission to send food, water and supplies where it's needed the most. If you want to bring more per person, we certainly won't turn anything away. But we are asking for only 6 cans, 1-2 cases of water per hamburger or brat ordered. This will include a drink and chips also.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]

10/08/2024

WHAT CAUSES HOOF ABSCESSES?

Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great. (The diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help visualize the structures involved in this process.)

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

09/28/2024

The power at the clinic has been out since Friday morning. We were able to use the landline phones while the generator was running until Friday afternoon when the phone service went out. It is estimated that power will be restored by Sunday. We'll return non-emergency calls and messages Monday.

The number for emergencies is 336-787-4934. Please hold non emergency calls til Monday.

07/26/2024

Our patients Maggie and Herschel enjoying a good snooze on this cloudy day ❤️ we hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

07/01/2024

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03/11/2024

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Check out this opportunity presented, in part, by one of our Allied Industry Partners ABS Global.