Highland Hill Veterinary Service

09/17/2024

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection of "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses.

Transmission from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS!
It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease. The primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.

If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.

**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/strangles

And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

08/31/2024

As cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are on the rise, it remains critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/

08/26/2024

Summer and fall are the peak time for arbovirus infection as these diseases (which include Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE], West Nile Virus [WNV], Western Equine Encephalitis [WEE] and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis [VEE]) are transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes and biting insects.

With more states reporting cases of West Nile Virus (28 cases have been reported in August as of today), this is your reminder to keep your horses up to date on vaccinations with the guidance of your veterinarian to best protect your equine friends from infection.

Learn more about West Nile Virus and find downloadable resources on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/west-nile-virus

08/20/2024

Most equine owners know that a negative Coggins test is a document required to be able to transport their animal across state lines, enter them in a competitive event, or board at someone's barn. But what does the phrase "negative Coggins test" actually mean?

A "Coggins" is a blood test that can only be performed by USDA-approved laboratories and checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the blood. EIA is a potentially fatal blood-borne infectious viral disease that is primarily transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies—which means that your animals are at risk even if they never travel or live in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of disease can vary dramatically from an acute infection to an inapparent form, but what is important to know is that it produces a persistent infection. Once an animal tests positive for EIA it becomes a lifelong source of disease transmission, so the owner can only choose between quarantine for life or humane euthanasia to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t occur. There is no vaccine and no treatment for EIA.

Take-home message: While a Coggins test is a necessary travel document, don’t forget that it's also first and foremost a way to identify and remove EIA carriers to keep the disease under control.

To learn more about EIA, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/guidelines-resources/resource-library/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwR-1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZp1fQwBC7LYpAzA3W2a5XUaYAd6gDO2mEtuHOjAAGJ_f4rvTxFRfg2_Lg_aem_Hacd9FBStUOI0FJdJHLmXA&_search=EIA

08/08/2024

🦟Mosquito Season! 🦟

*If your horse has not been vaccinated for EWT/WN (eastern/western equine encephalitis, tetanus, west nile) at all this year or is overdue you should get an appointment with your vet asap!
*This year Dr Kendyl is recommending that horses receive an EWT/WNV booster if they were vaccinated this spring before May 1, 2024. If your horse was vaccinated for EWT/WN after May 1, 2024, a booster is not necessary but clients are welcome to booster if they would like. The vaccine is very safe and can be given at 3-6 month intervals.
*Please note that the “Core” vaccine we administer to most horses seen by us at Highland Hill includes rabies and EWT/WNV (eastern/western equine encephalitis, tetanus, west nile).
*The AAEP recommends boostering for EWT/WN annually unless your horse is in a high risk area. (www.aaep.org)

Contact us if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment!
Call/Text the Office: 508-923-3422 Email: [email protected]

07/11/2024

01/09/2024

Ready or not, foaling season is upon us! Is your foaling kit stocked and ready to go?

If this is your first foaling or you don’t know where to start, the graphic below lists a few essentials for you to include. Having these items ready in advance will mean less stress and scrambling at the last minute trying to acquire what you need.

As always, your veterinarian is your best source of information. Consult your horse doctor for additional recommendations and for training on how to properly use these tools to assist your mare during and after delivery!

01/01/2024

Happy New Year! Do you have any horse related New Year’s resolutions? We would love to know! 🐴🎉🥂
Please note that the office will be closed on 1/1/24 and 1/2/24. If you are a current client and have an emergency or urgent situation please call the emergency line at 508-923-3422 and press 0 to leave and emergency message for Dr Foristall.

12/22/2023

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅☃️🐴 Our office will be closed 12/25 and 12/26. If you are a current client and have an emergency or urgent situation please call the emergency line - 508-923-3422, press 0.

12/21/2023

Water remains as important for your horse in cold weather as it is in the summer. As a matter of fact, decreased water consumption in the winter is thought to be the primary inducing factor for impaction colic — although there are other predisposing factors such as poor hay quality, lack of exercise, internal parasites and dental problems.

Impaction colic is essentially constipation and most often includes the accumulation of hard, dry f***l material in the colon. The usual signs of impending impaction colic are depression, a decreased appetite, and decreased production and dryness of manure.

Studies demonstrate that you can increase your horse's winter water consumption if you provide access to heated water, but ONLY if that is the only source of water available. As always, if you have any questions about preventing colic in your horse, your local veterinarian remains your best source of information!

12/01/2023

12/1/23 12:05 pm: PHONES ARE WORKING AGAIN!

12/1/23 10:30 am: Our phones are having issues at the moment (no incoming or outgoing calls). We are still able to get texts. We will update this post as we get more information!

11/22/2023

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

11/22/2023

CYBER WEEK in our online pharmacy! Shop the season’s best discounts at our Covetrus online pharmacy until November 27th. Save on preventatives, medications, supplements, and more. See website for more details! Pharmacy direct link: https://highlandhillvet.vetsfirstchoice.com

11/15/2023

DID YOU KNOW?

Strangles is one of the most commonly contagious diseases of the horse (worldwide) and in 2017 it became a nationally monitored disease. This condition is caused by bacterial infection with "Streptococcus equi subspecies equi" (referred to as "S. equi”), which typically infects the upper airway and lymph nodes of the head and neck, and is highly contagious in horse populations—particularly affecting young horses.

Transfer from horse to horse usually involves direct face-to-face contact, or exposure to things such as contaminated feed, water, hands, veterinary instruments or grooming tools. A stall or van recently used to house or transport a horse that is shedding the organism may also be a source of infection.

WATCH OUT FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS!
It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease, and the primary source of recurrent infections are most likely asymptomatic carrier horses—animals who display no clinical signs but may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.

If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Without control and biosecurity measures, a strangles outbreak will ultimately affect all susceptible horses, last longer, and have a greater chance of leading to complications.

**Please note that strangles is a reportable disease in some states.**

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/issue/understanding-equine-strangles
And as always, contact your veterinarian for more information as they remain the best source of advice!

11/10/2023

Don’t forget that your horse needs dental care too! 🐴🦷🪥❄️ Take advantage of our Winter Dental Discount - get 20% off dental services performed 11/1/23 —> 2/29/24. Call or text or email to book your dental appointment today! Call/text: 508-923-3422 Email: [email protected]

10/05/2023

While it’s a common equine emergency, espophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occur when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

09/18/2023

Now booking fall vaccine appointments! 🐴🥕 Call/text: 508-923-3422 or Email: [email protected]