Orlando Equine Veterinary Care, Inc.

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!

06/05/2024

Morning meeting of the minds 😉. With breakfast 🥞

05/22/2024

05/21/2024

Now providing horse trailering in the Central Florida area! Reach out to request a quote and secure your spot today.

05/20/2024

Out of 82,104 vets in clinical practice, 4.1% are equine veterinarians. That means 3366 equine vets in this country. That’s not many!! Stay tuned for updates on our coverage area and our “haul in” options for emergencies as well as regular appointments.

05/16/2024

This!!!

If you believe that horses need grain in their diet to meet their nutritional needs, you are not alone. However, horses should get most of their nutrients from a good quality forage source such as grass, hay, hay pellets, or a complete feed.

Horses generally eat between 1.5-2% of their body weight each day, so an average size 1,000 lbs horse should eat 15- 20 lbs of hay daily. To help fill any nutrient gaps such as essential vitamins or minerals, a ration balancer may be beneficial. Depending on breed, body condition, and exercise level, concentrates may be added in to provide additional energy but are often not needed.

When deciding on what to feed your horse, it is best to invest in high quality forages as the foundation of your feeding plan. You can even have your hay tested to see exactly what nutrients it is providing. Please consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist about your horse's diet before making any major changes, and remember that any changes should be made gradually over time to avoid GI upset.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

05/10/2024

💙💙💙OEVC Vet Techs: skilled and compassionate care for our patients!💙💙💙

05/04/2024

Anyone need a sweet companion horse??

Our wonderful Justice is retiring from Freedom Ride and is looking for his forever home!

Justice is a 19 year old quarter horse gelding. He has served his clients well in our riding program as well as our veterans and mental wellness programs. It is recommended that he be retired as a non riding companion, pasture pet or for groundwork only.

If you have more questions or you’d be interested in giving Justice the retirement home he deserves to live out the rest of his years please contact Karen at [email protected].

All homes will be vetted and inspected. Will go to approved home only.

04/27/2024

Join us as we celebrate and all the incredible individuals who dedicate their lives to animal health, especially those who care for our equine companions!

From the racetrack to the show grounds, and all the way to your own backyard—equine veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and support staff ensure the well-being of our beloved horses at every stage of life. THANK YOU, horse doctors, for your passion, expertise, and tireless work!

Do you have a favorite thing about your equine veterinarian? Please share in the comments!

04/27/2024

Happy World Veterinary Day!!

04/20/2024

Remember these pictures when you see those little yellow eggs on your horse’s legs!!

04/07/2024

A look at the behavior of zoo and companion species and how veterinary professionals and their clients can keep pets safe and calm during this rare meteorological event

04/05/2024

Hitting the road with your horse, either for pleasure or for business/competition?

Most horse owners know that a negative Coggins test is a must-have for crossing state lines or entering competitions (or even boarding at someone's barn). But let’s not forget that even homebodies need it!

A "Coggins" is a blood test that checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), a serious blood-borne disease. EIA is transmitted by biting flies, particularly horseflies, so your horse is at risk even it never leaves the property or lives in a closed herd.

The clinical signs of the disease can vary dramatically, from an acute infection to an inapparent form that presents mild to no symptoms. No treatment or vaccine exist for EIA at the moment, and infected horses become lifelong carriers. Therefore, to ensure that large outbreaks of the disease don’t take place, horses that test positive for EIA must be quarantined and isolated for the rest of their life or humanely euthanized.

Get your horse tested annually, regardless of travel plans. To learn more about EIA, consult your veterinarian or visit our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia

03/20/2024

Next stop 🔜 Longines League of Nations™ Ocala🏆 !

Introducing the U.S Jumping Team for the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 in Ocala 🌴

🇺🇸 Kent Farrington
🇺🇸 Aaron Vale 
🇺🇸 Laura Kraut 
🇺🇸 McLain Ward  .official

Tune in on Saturday to cheer on our US Athletes as they fight for a win and a spot in the final ! Catch all the action on FEI.TV ✨

   

03/19/2024

Exciting week at WEC!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

03/13/2024

A share from former OEVC vet, Dr. Hennessy 😊

If your horse has choked more than once or you just want to slow down their grain eating, this Horse Slow Feeder is a great option.

02/16/2024

A new service from our colleague Dr. Erin Newkirk!!!

01/08/2024

During these cold winter days you may be thinking about offering bran mashes to your horse as a warm, comforting treat and also as a way to help prevent colic due to the higher fiber content of bran. This, however, is an outdated concept and nutritionists point out several potential problems associated with feeding bran mash too often—namely, an imbalance of the dietary calcium-phosphorus ratio that could lead to bone disorders, and a disruption of the healthy fermentation patterns in the horse’s intestinal tract.

The best way to help your horse stay warm this winter is by increasing forage 🌾 and providing shelter 🏠 during a cold snap. And as far as the risk of colic, your first line of defense is to provide plenty of water to keep your horse hydrated. 💦

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information; contact them to learn more about feeding mashes (they are typically not an issue if fed as the occasional treat) and colic prevention this winter.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/29/2023

2024 WEC health requirements

To ensure the safety of all equine exhibitors showing at World Equestrian Center (WEC) in 2024, management has placed the following health and safety protocols for all horses.   To facilitate the inspection process by World Equestrian Center personnel, all paperwork including negative Coggins, vac...

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas!!! 🎄🎄🎄🎄

11/30/2023

Excellent advice from our colleagues in Wellington ☺️

Dr. Jacquleline Giles discusses how putting your mare "Under the Lights" helps breed at the optimal time.