Lake Erie Equine

12/02/2025

The hardest part of being a vet?

It’s not the long days, the emergencies, the naughty horses, or even the euthanasias.

It’s the suffering.

Nothing is harder than watching a horse hurt when there’s nothing left that can bring them comfort, especially when love makes letting go so hard for their people.

Today, I had to practice what I so often ask of others. I had to put Red’s well being above my own heartbreak and let him go.

For 10 months, we tried every procedure, medication, and shoeing option we had to give him a chance at comfort. And for a moment this summer, we made it. Red was sound and he felt good. But shortly after, he reinjured himself and began to slip backward. After two more months of doing everything possible to control his pain, it became clear that we couldn’t.

So today, I made the impossible choice, the kind that puts their needs above our own and I ended Red’s suffering.

Run free, Redford. You were so loved by so many people. ❤️

11/27/2025

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday, and every year I’m reminded why. Gratitude is a virtue near and dear to my heart, and this season gives us the perfect moment to pause and appreciate the people (and horses) who make our days meaningful.

To our clients, thank you for trusting us with the care of your equine partners. To the horses, thank you for the patience, the quirks, the challenges, and the joy you bring to this work. And to our community, thank you for the kindness, support, and connection that make long days feel lighter. I’m deeply grateful for each of you, today and every day.

Wishing you a peaceful, delicious, joy filled Thanksgiving. 🦃🍂🧡

11/24/2025

We hope your week is filled with family, friends, gratitude, and plenty of delicious treats. 🍪🐴

Our schedule for this week is officially full, but we do still have a few openings next week. December is already looking a bit spotty, so if you know you’ll need an appointment, and have specific scheduling needs, please reach out soon. We’d love to get you on the books while we still can (especially if your horse hasn’t had their fall Flu/Rhino vaccine)!

11/23/2025

A positive respiratory EHV-1 case has been reported in Ohio. To be clear, this is NOT the neurologic form (EHM).

EHV-1 is one of the most common respiratory viruses in horses, and this is exactly why we recommend vaccinating for Flu/Rhino twice a year.

This type of case is not unusual and not a cause for alarm. In fact, many barns experience mild respiratory signs and never test, so cases are often under reported.

Please do not panic!

Equine herpesvirus (EHV) is a family of equine viruses named by numbers including EHV-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with EHV-1,3,4 posing the most risk for domestic horses. EHV is a common DNA virus that occurs in horse populations worldwide. The two most common species are EHV-1 and EHV-4.

11/20/2025

We will be closed this Saturday from 5:30 pm–7:30 pm to celebrate the holidays as a practice. If you are a full service client and believe you may be experiencing an emergency, please give us a heads up as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding!

11/19/2025

EHV-1 outbreaks in Texas are a reminder of how quickly this virus can move through horse populations. We don’t have a vaccine for the neurologic form, but we can reduce risk with the Flu/Rhino vaccine, which protects against respiratory EHV 1 and 4.

If your horse travels, shows, or lives in a boarding/training barn, please don’t skip your fall boosters.

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

11/18/2025

October and early November kept us on our toes, but today we finally have some dedicated office hours from 10–1. Goose and Charlie, the very strict feline supervisors pictured, will be keeping us on task.
Holiday season approaching means fewer appointment slots, so if you’re hoping to get on the schedule before the new year, now’s the time to reach out!

11/14/2025

People are often curious about what being on call 24/7 actually looks like. In short - no, I don’t just sit around waiting for the phone to ring. I do my best to live life in between the emergencies, and thanks to my awesome clients who keep me in the loop on their horses, it usually works out pretty well.

Here are a few ways I balance real life with being on call:

🚑 I drive my vet truck almost everywhere. My friends and family know that if they get in the truck, they may be held hostage for an unknown amount of time. Most people find this fun and exciting. Even Bart, who is dragged along the most, rarely complains about being taken on an impromptu emergency adventure.

🎒 When I can’t take the vet truck (because I’m hauling hay, a trailer, or my kayak), I pack a go bag. It includes the essentials for an urgent emergency: euthanasia supplies, a colic kit, enough drugs to stabilize most situations, and sometimes a small laceration kit.

🐕 In warmer months, I love to hike. I try to pick loop trails within my practice range, so no matter where I am, I can hustle out quickly using whichever direction is closest to the truck. Pictured is one of my favorite hikes in Connecticut with my hiking partner, Bindi.

🩺 And when I do take real time off, I’m lucky to have a fantastic group of colleagues willing to cover emergencies for me so I can truly unplug.

11/13/2025

I meant to post this this morning, but the day ran away from us. We used just about every piece of equipment we own, and the truck was packed to the roof, but we loved every minute of the variety. Grateful for another warm(ish) day on the road.

11/08/2025

The full moon this week certainly kept us busy with plenty of after hours visits. Hopefully we’ve put all the colics behind us for a while!

Rose and I had a fantastic time at our continuing education learning lots of new tips and reconnecting with colleagues we rarely get to see in person.

As we roll into November, our schedule should return to a more typical fall pace with a little wiggle room. A quick reminder that once the colder weather hits, we limit elective procedures that require sedation and/or water (such as joint injections, microchipping, mass removals, and dentals).

Now is a great time to get those on the calendar before winter weather forces us to reschedule.

11/06/2025

We’ve had an emergency come up this morning that has put us significantly behind schedule. If you have an appointment, please check your messages for updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

11/04/2025

📚 Continuing Education Day!

Dr. Kate and Rose will be attending Continuing Education locally on Friday. We’ll only be available for urgent client emergencies during that time.

While we hate missing a day in the barns, we love connecting with our local colleagues and learning something new to better serve our patients. 🐴💙