Blue Herron Veterinary Services

04/20/2025

04/15/2025

https://youtu.be/XHKxEA-POxc

Every senior horse deserves the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. At Purina, thousands of senior horses have made an impact on our team – both o...

04/07/2025

04/05/2025

03/29/2025

This is so easily preventable. Please have your veterinarian vaccinate your pets and livestock.

03/26/2025

03/05/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Temple Grandin on being honored as one of USA TODAY's 2025 Women of the Year! 🎉 Her groundbreaking work in animal welfare and advocacy for individuals with autism continue to inspire and make a lasting impact. We are proud to have benefited from her expertise in designing humane livestock handling facilities and training our staff. Dr. Grandin's dedication to improving the lives of both animals and people is truly extraordinary!

03/04/2025

Variety is the spice of life 🐴🐕🐄🐈‍⬛🐐🐑🐪!

03/02/2025

Spring is almost here! Which means…it's time to schedule your equine companion to receive their spring vaccinations!

If you are wondering what vaccinations your equine friend should receive, the answer is — There are no “one size fits all” vaccine recommendations. A veterinarian who knows your animal and your management system is your best resource to recommend what vaccines your equine should receive and with what frequency!

While vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances, a good immunization protocol minimizes the risk of infection and remains an essential component of responsible ownership. A vaccination appointment is also the perfect opportunity for a yearly check-up of your equine friend and a great way to catch any health concerns early.

If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling vaccinations, we encourage you to do it soon!

02/07/2025

Protecting our pets from parasites goes further than you might think!

02/01/2025

Is your horse’s nighttime vision better than your daytime vision?

When comparing equine vision to human vision, the horse has a smaller visible spectrum (see image) which means they see a smaller range of colors than we do. However, horses have a structure in the back of their eye—called the tapetum lucidum—that humans do not have. This enhances vision in low light conditions and allows a horse to see better in the dark than a human does. However, reflections from the tapetum lucidum can also blur images and lead to poor depth perception at night.

Dilation of the pupil allows all species to see better in the dark. This process takes longer in a horse (45 minutes) than it does in humans (25 minutes). So, when a horse is asked to do something in a dark environment, it’s important to allow their vision proper time to fully accommodate.

Overall, the nighttime vision of a horse is better than the nighttime vision of a human. However, the horse’s nighttime vision is NOT better than the daytime vision of a human. Anytime you are asking your horse to function in a dim light situation, give them time to adjust. And if they are fearful, be patient and try to understand how things look from their perspective!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

02/01/2025

02/01/2025

It’s that time of year again!

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!

02/01/2025

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!

02/01/2025

As the source of 50 to 90% of a healthy horse's nutritional needs, hay warrants careful consideration as a precious commodity. This becomes especially true during the winter, when roughage in the diet is the main source of heat for the horse.

Generally, horses at rest in ambient temperatures of 70°F consume 2% of their body weight in roughage (hay) per day. A 1,100-pound horse will eat approximately 22 pounds of hay per day. A horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation at approximately 50°F. Add about 2 pounds more hay for every 10-degree temperature drop. With wind and rain at near-freezing temperatures, the feed required increases by approximately 10-15 pounds to 32-47 pounds of hay per day!

If you're purchasing hay for your horse this winter, remember that there’s no such thing as “the best hay” when it comes to the nutrient value. That all depends on your horse’s protein and energy requirements, which are ultimately determined the individual's age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. If you think your horse is too fat or too thin (or even if you are unsure), discuss the appropriate feeding recommendations with your veterinarian; they can help you formulate a balanced and cost-effective diet that meets your individual horse's dietary requirements.

Finally, always keep in mind that water is critical for digestion, so be sure to monitor your horse’s water intake to minimize the chance of intestinal impactions!