Virginia Equine PLLC

04/25/2025

Dr. Sparky Patteson Wornom working hard today examining his patient for lameness - clearly our VEC pups take their jobs very seriously!

04/07/2025

03/25/2025

A very happy birthday to Dr. Devaney!

03/11/2025

Evening all!
Please be advised that tomorrow, Tuesday March 11th, our office will be closing early for the day at 3:30PM for a staff meeting . Please ensure all calls and/or medication pickups in office for the day are taken care of by that time. As always, we will have a vet on call should you have any emergencies. Thank you!

03/10/2025

Dr. Sparky Patteson Wornom is ready to go draw some Coggins!

03/05/2025

Some horses look forward to a visit from their favorite vet! This gelding wanted to show Dr. Devaney some love before his routine dental float yesterday.

02/25/2025

This morning in Tampa Dr. Daniels took the stage to open the 2025 National HBPA Conference as President and Board Chair, and we couldn’t be more proud of him!

02/20/2025

Our office will be open with limited hours today, closing at 3PM. As always, vets will be on call for emergencies.

02/19/2025

We will be closing the office at 12:00PM today. Veterinarians will be on call for emergencies and we will be reaching out to routine appointments to reschedule.

02/18/2025

With more snow likely heading our way, we’re keeping a close eye on the weather conditions and projected forecasts for tomorrow and Thursday. If any schedule changes need to be made due to worsening weather conditions we will notify everyone in the morning.

02/11/2025

Due to weather conditions we will be closing the office at 12:00PM today, and will be reopening at 9:00AM tomorrow.

02/10/2025

We are watching the incoming weather and pending what happens our office may close. As always, we will have a vet on call for emergencies.

01/17/2025

And the answer is…..

This week's Diagnose-a-case answer is...

C) INGUINAL HERNIA

Minutes after arrival the foal started to roll and not willing to stand. These are signs characteristic of colic. An ultrasound was placed on the swelling and noted small intestine under the skin, which is abnormal. This case involves a direct inguinal hernia, in which the small intestine becomes positioned under the skin through a tear in the vaginal tunic. A diagnosis was made by palpating the swollen area and using an ultrasound.

Inguinal-scrotal hernias are typically soft tissue swellings on one side of the scrotal area; they are rarely bilateral. Most inguinal-scrotal hernias are indirect, that is the intestine passes through the vaginal ring into the vaginal tunic Initial management is directed at repeated manual reduction of the scrotal contents . Successful manual reduction is typically achieved in the first month. Foals with a irreducible, direct inguinal hernia will present with signs of colic several hours after birth (4 to 48 hours). This is caused by rupture of the common vaginal tunic, such that the jejunum migrates into the subcutaneous space associated with the sc***um and prepuce. This condition is life-threatening and is considered a surgical emergency. Our surgery department performed surgery to correct the hernia, and the foal was discharged without complications. Surgical correction of a direct inguinal hernia involves making an incision into the abdomen and sc***um region. Once the intestine is back in the abdomen, it will be thoroughly assessed. Sometimes, resections are necessary due to extensive injury to the small intestine’s blood supply. A unilateral castration is usually performed, and the inguinal ring is closed.

The schematic image provided is from the "Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Foal" (Saunders), edited by Dr. Siobhan McAuliffe, a graduate from Hagyard's Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Dr. Nathan Slovis, one of the Internal Medicine doctors at Hagyard. Note the tear in the vaginal tunic.

Did you guess correctly? Stay tuned for the next case!