Rural Equine Veterinary Services

01/04/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/03/2025

Ollie the pony is feeling much better after a few months of dietary mangment for his Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Laminitis!

At only 4 years old, Ollie is the youngest patient I have diagnosed with EMS and a laminitic event. Dietary management in miniature horses, ponies, and donkeys is very often overlooked with devastating consequences. Obesity and overfeeding along with a genetic propensity toward insulin resistance will have lasting effects.

Ollie is doing great with mangment, weight loss, and a new diet plan. And with the right care he should be able to keep up with his goat friends for many many years to come.

If you have a chubby (or suspect Chub) case.....reach out. Let's talk diets. Let's talk body condition scores. Let's talk Metabolic testing. Let's talk weight loss medications. Let's do something BEFORE your chubby friend is in pain.

12/30/2024

A common myth among horse folks! A well balanced diet with adequate fiber and fat should be your nutritional foundation for a healthy horse.

Although protein is normally listed as a nutrient, horses actually have a requirement for amino acids, the building blocks of protein, rather than for protein itself.

Protein is the least efficient energy source for your horse, so high protein does not automatically equal high energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and fiber are more readily digestible energy sources, so chances are a horse with too much energy is being fed more calories than the animal truly needs.

As always, remember that all horses have different nutritional needs based on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine the correct protein and energy requirements for your equine friend based on your horse’s individual situation!
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from our Herd to yours!

12/20/2024

Water is a vital resource for horses year-round, but its importance becomes even greater during the winter months. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for horses to support digestion, overall health, and especially for preventing colic, a potentially life-threatening condition.

In winter, horses may drink less water due to cold temperatures, or water sources might freeze, limiting access. Reduced water intake increases the risk of impaction colic, a condition that occurs when food material becomes lodged in the horse’s digestive tract. This is exacerbated by the dry, fibrous nature of winter forage like hay, which contains less moisture compared to fresh pasture grass. Without sufficient water, the digestive system slows and cannot properly break down this material, potentially leading to blockages.

Encouraging adequate water consumption is critical. Horses should normally drink 5-12 gallons of water daily, and ensuring the water is warm enough—between 45-65°F—can help encourage drinking. Studies show that horses are more likely to consume warm water during cold weather. Using heated water buckets or tank deicers can prevent freezing and make water more appealing.

Fun Fact: Research shows that horses drink almost 40% more water per day if given warm water (45-65 °F) instead of near-freezing water. (Kristula and McDonnell, 1994)

Electrolytes or salt supplements can also stimulate thirst, prompting horses to drink more. Offering soaked hay or adding water to feed can provide additional hydration. However, soaking hay or feed isn’t recommended in environments where these items would freeze solid before being consumed by the horse.

Preventing dehydration in winter is a proactive measure to safeguard against colic. Regularly monitoring water intake and ensuring clean, accessible, and palatable water is essential. By addressing these needs, horse owners can help maintain their horses’ health and comfort throughout the colder months.

If you have questions or concerns about your horses' winter water intake, contact your veterinarian.

12/18/2024

12/16/2024

Horses actually do amazingly well in the cold weather! The most common cold weather complications I see are often due to inadequate water access. This can happen due to frozen tanks or even electrical shorts in tank heaters (in which case horses will refuse to drink from it). Save yourself that ER colic or choke episode and check those tanks often!

And please please DO NOT rely on natural or pond water sources in the winter (for so many reasons).

As the cold winter weather trudges on, Dr. Sarah Reuss, AAEP Vice President and a horse owner herself, shares the following advice to keep your horse safe during extreme weather.

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source, just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being in a stall, now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure they have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well-fitting blankets are great but be sure that horses do not get sweaty under them, or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold and covered is worse that dry, cold and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!!!) to double check.

7. Entice your horses to consume extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. The tips of your horses' ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting on a waterproof, jumper-style ear bonnet or other waterproof ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

If you have any questions or concerns about keeping your horses safe this winter, contact your veterinarian for advice.

12/11/2024

It's been a great week at the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention in Orlando. Like always, we made it a family event and Jack got to enjoy some therapy ponies here for moral support! Events like these provide continuing education as well as promote support of the horse industry and help to rally support for several nonprofit groups who are invaluable in support of equines around the world. If your not already familiar check them out!

https://www.foundationforthehorse.org/
https://horseplus.org/

I am very excited to return with more knowledge to help horses and their owners stay healthy, happy, and in the saddle!

12/06/2024

This little horse is a great example of asymmetrical muscle loss associated with EPM. I will be excited to share his recovery with treatment!

11/24/2024

As the year comes to an end, let this be your reminder of why equine vaccinations are so important. In 2024, I have seen 4 cases of equine herpes virus, 1 case of strangles, and a tetanus case. Of these horses, one is no longer alive and another is currently fighting for her life. I am very lucky not to have seen a rabies case as other veterinarians in our state have.

My goal for 2025 is to have >90% of equine patients up to date on their core vaccines. Vaccination is the "cheapest insurance" for your horse!

11/19/2024

Nothing better than a handsome old TB for his bi-yearly maintenance 😉

11/18/2024

I recently diagnosed one of my favorite senior patients with DSLD (Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis). This is a chronic condition which causes breakdown of the suspensory ligament and chronic pain. The most obvious characteristic is thickening of the ligaments associated with the fetlock and the associated "dropped" appearance of the hindlimb. Since this condition is incurable and progressive, long term pain managment and routine hoof care is very important!

Tuff is lucky to have a very attentive Horse Mom who will make sure he gets the care and comfort he deserves going into retirement!

11/14/2024

Brandon got to visit his favorite 🫏 Ass today. It's nice to see Jimmy and Brandon getting along!

11/12/2024

To our veterans and active-duty military: For your bravery, service and dedication to this country, thank you. We honor you this .

10/30/2024

EIA Outbreaks like this are more common than you think! There is no vaccine against EIA, which is why yearly coggins testing is so important to reduce disease outbreaks. Please Please Please get your horses tested yearly and ALWAYS have those papers on hand prior to travel to prevent spread of this disease!

10/25/2024

Rural Equine has *OFFICIALLY* relocated!!!!

I am very happy to announce that our home base for Rural Equine is now Camdenton, MO. This move has been a long time in the making in order to be more readily available for our lake area clients and to expand Equine services to the entire lake area.

This also means REDUCED FARM CALL FEES for our local lake area clients due to closer proximity! 💸

10/20/2024

Great example of a nice pressure bandage from a client!

Rosie recieved care quickly and is already on the road to recovery. These types of injuries may seem easy to manage without veterinary care but the opposite is generally true!

Get well soon Rosie!

10/16/2024

Happy National Tech week to all the amazing veterinary staff out there!!!!! Without you, we would all be lost out on the farm somewhere!