Orlando Equine Veterinary Care, Inc.

11/21/2024

Some clarification in case you take medical advice from television 🤭😉

With the hit TV show airing on Sunday, we have to address some mis-information during an early scene in the most recent episode.
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Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) should NEVER be administered via Intra-muscular (IM) injection in a horse! Always administer Intravenously (IV) or Orally.
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Given IM, Banamine can cause Clostridial Myositis, a severe bacterial infection at the injection site that can cause pain, heat, swelling and crepitus on palpation. These horses often have a fever, are depressed and very sick.
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Treatment should include aggressive antibiotics and debridement of the abscesses. These horses often require hospitalization with intensive care.
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If your horse becomes ill for any reason and could possibly need treatment with banamine, please seek help from your veterinarian for proper administration!

11/07/2024

If you know a middle schooler in Orlando that would love to learn about what it is to be a horse vet,
please let them know to sign up for Dec 7th!!!
We will be hosting our first annual horse vet for a day!

When: December 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location: Stable Foundations Equine-Assisted Therapy Center, 1900 Center Dr., Casselberry, FL 32707 Who Can Attend: Students ages 12-16 Explore the Veterinary Care of Horses Students will be introduced to the basics of veterinary treatment and horse saf...

11/04/2024

IS RAIN ROT A FUNGAL OR A BACTERIAL DISEASE?

Rain rot (or rain scald) is the common name for a contagious BACTERIAL skin disease called dermatophilosis. It's caused by the bacterium "Dermatophilus congolensis," which thrives during wet seasons and in geographical locations with high precipitation and humidity. It can also develop after horses have sweat under blankets or tack, and equines with compromised immune systems are more susceptible.

Why should you not mistake rain rot for a fungal disease?
Antifungal medications and topicals have no effect on the bacteria responsible for rain rot, therefore diagnosing the condition correctly is very important!

How does rain rot happen?
The bacteria infects the hair follicles and damages the hair follicle and shaft; the hair will then pull out in small clumps leaving pink skin or purulent scabs behind (pro tip: your horse will NOT thank you for picking at them!) If you do not address the factors that promote the right bacterial environment (for example, you always leave your horse to stand outside in the rain without shelter or the protection of a waterproof rug), rain rot can keep recurring. If left untreated, the condition can even progress to a point where it opens the door for more serious, secondary skin infections.

If you suspect your horse has rain rot, be sure to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment plan based on the severity of your horse's case. While there are a million products that can be found in your local tack store, your horse doctor may have cause to prescribe a specific course of action.

10/30/2024

Dr. Womble, Tech Dani, UF student Maria, client Jill, and patient Porschia 💙 enjoying the visit today!!

10/17/2024

A huge thank you to our wonderful veterinary technicians this week and every week!!
They not only handle your precious horses, they keep us organized and efficient!! Thank you to Nathalie, Heather, Briana, Olivia, Dani and Tanya!!

10/16/2024

10/09/2024

OEVC clients: we are currently getting everybody off the road, but we will be available by phone to help as much as possible until it’s safe enough to drive again!!

09/23/2024

This is a friendly reminder to get your paperwork organized now! if we did your Coggins test you can log into globalVetlink.com using your email to get a copy and your vaccine records are located on your invoices so check your email!!

UPDATE: World Equestrian Center - Ocala has reached capacity and is no longer accepting equine evacuees for Tropical Storm Helene. Please find alternative accommodations and stay safe.

For evacuees staying at WEC - Ocala, please email
[email protected] with questions.

Required health documents can be found here: bit.ly/3Bo7nfU

09/01/2024

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/

08/13/2024

Dear clients, please reserve non emergent communications for between 7am and 6pm. Please be respectful overnight as we are often managing sick cases overnight and have our volume and alerts on high. To be woken up for something non urgent after finally tucking the sickies in bed just makes us tired!! 😴. Thank you for your continued support!!

07/31/2024

***UPDATE!!**** Hay has been sent out for analysis and no new cases called into the office for the past 2 days. The reason this was important to post is because hives can be caused by a lot of things and most people are used to seeing them, but in this case many of the reactions progressed and turned into anaphylactic shock. There was a death and there were a few horses that had to be treated for shock that would have otherwise died. The commonality (after a lot of investigation) was the 3 string alfalfa. The colors of the strings are codes that the growers use to track their hay. The supplier of this hay has reached out to the feed stores that carry it, so you can check with your individual feed store to see if your batch should be thrown out. ****

Hello Orlando area Horse Owners! We’ve seen some allergic reactions that we’ve traced back to three string alfalfa hay. It’s under investigation so we don’t have anything definitive yet, but out of an abundance of caution, I would recommend to stop feeding three string alfalfa hay until the cause is determined. Symptoms are hives starting on the face that coalesce (blend together) and then spread through the body, and anaphylactic reactions, which are more extreme allergic signs that come on quickly. The hay looks normal visually so that’s not an adequate sign that it’s safe. We will release more information as it becomes available. If your horse develops hives or a swollen face, please call right away.
And so far the Timothy isn’t implicated as the cause and neither are 2 string alfalfa bales.

06/27/2024

This is a friendly reminder to prepare ahead for the July 4th holiday and weekend. We recommend ear plugs, background music, loud fans, sedatives, and lots of hay for sensitive horses 🐴 🎆🎆🎇🎇🎇🎇

06/22/2024

Walking a hot horse prolongs cooling. Get them to a hose or stop and stand in the shade!!

A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses after exercise in hot and humid conditions. Thoroughbreds were exercised until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to

06/22/2024

A Dutch Harness Horse mare in Orange County, Florida, recently tested positive for strangles, and eight horses are exposed.

06/10/2024

We are cleaning up our inactive client list. If we haven’t seen you this year, please send a message to [email protected] if you still want to be considered a client. Only current clients in good standing will be eligible for emergency service! Thank you!