Acorn Equine Veterinary Service

23/01/2026

08/12/2025

Hello from sunny (but still chilly) Denver! Dr. Sophie is here attending the AAEP Annual Convention- the largest continuing education program in the country for horse veterinarians. Our little ER co-op with Miamitown Equine got a nice shout out in the opening session yesterday 🥰 Working with our colleagues is central to how we all get to sneak away to these events and come back with fresh ideas to better serve our clients and patients.

21/11/2025

So far, there have been no reported cases in our area. Make sure to follow the Equine Disease Communication Center for continued updates!

The Equine Disease Communication Center is monitoring an outbreak of EHM that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event Nov 5-9. To date, officially confirmed cases have been reported in the following states-

21/11/2025

Two positive cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of EHV-1, have led to the cancellation of the remaining Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) World Championship events scheduled for Nov. 17–22 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, OK. Both affected horses had previously competed at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) event in Waco, Texas (Nov. 5–9) before traveling to Oklahoma.

Below is what you need to know ⬇️

❓ What is EHV/EHM?
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a common virus in horses.
EHM, its neurologic form, is rare but serious and potentially life-threatening. Horses may shed the virus for 2–10 days before showing signs.

📍Why was the event canceled?
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry confirmed two EHM cases in horses that attended both the WPRA event and traveled to Oklahoma. Officials are concerned other horses may have moved between the WPRA and the BFA events, increasing exposure risk.

🦠 How Does EHV-1 Spread?
EHV-1 can spread through nose-to-nose contact or inhalation of respiratory droplets, via contaminated surfaces (stalls, water/feed buckets, tack, trailers), or humans can also spread the virus through contaminated hands, clothing, and equipment.

🛡️ Recommended Actions for Horse Owners
If your horse attended the event, you should isolate your horse for 14 days after returning home. Take and record twice-daily temperatures (monitor for 101.5°F or higher) and consider increasing biosecurity and disinfection measures on your farm.

You should contact your veterinarian if your horse may have been exposed or shows any concerning signs.

For detailed information on signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of EHM, visit: https://equinediseasecc.org/equine-herpesvirus

If you have questions beyond what we've shared in this post, please give our office a call at (614) 292-6661.

12/02/2025

If you've had a horse diagnosed with stomach ulcers, you know how 🤑expensive🤑 it can be to treat and how 🤯frustrating🤬 recurrent episodes are. A supplement (ReLyne GI) developed by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is showing great promise for treating and preventing both glandular and squamous gastric ulcers. Check out this summary article and talk to your horse's vet about diet and management changes and if this supplement may be helpful for your horse!

Researchers found that a schizophyllan and hyaluronan supplement might help manage EGUS and improve equine gastric ulcer scores.

23/01/2025

Exciting changes are on the horizon in 2025!
We will be joining forces with Miamitown Equine to provide shared weekend and emergency coverage for our current clients and patients. This emergency cooperative will still provide around the clock access to emergency care for our valued clients while allowing the doctors from each practice to have some much needed "unplugged" time. More details will be provided via email later this week, but feel free to post your questions below!

07/01/2025

Hope to see you this Thursday!

13/09/2024

🍁🍂Just a heads up! 🍂🍁

Dr. Heikkila will be taking some time off at the end of September for some R&R and to attend the Saratoga Equine Practitioners Conference. From September 21st-29th, 2024 our colleagues at Miamitown Equine will be covering for our clients' urgent and emergent issues (THANK YOU!) During this time, incoming voicemails to Acorn Equine will be disabled but we will be checking texts and emails periodically to attend to non-urgent matters.

Make sure to check on your medications and turn in any refill requests by early next week, or take advantage of our online pharmacy and have your prescriptions sent straight to your door.

Thank you and have an uneventful rest of the month!

29/08/2024

This is why we ALWAYS recommend buying only the top end equine feeds. Reputable companies will have specific feed mills that ONLY make equine diets eliminating the chance for cross contamination from production animal diets. It takes shockingly little monensin to cause catastrophic problems in horses. How heartbreaking for these owners. 💔

The website for Beutler and Son proudly displays 'since 1929,' meaning that this year would be 95 years in the business of stock contracting. The year of 2024

21/08/2024

Have you ever wondered if your horse has gastric ulcers? If there’s a reason behind their grumpy and girthy behavior, or colic episodes?
Now is your chance to see the inside of your horse’s stomach firsthand AND at a reduced cost!
Acorn Equine, Cross Creek Equestrian Center, and Boehringer Ingelheim are hosting a gastroscopy clinic one week from today- on August 28th 2024!
Limited haul in appointments are available- contact us ([email protected]) today to have your horse added to the list!

24/04/2024

The spring babies are popping- Joe B***o got some snuggles from Hannah during his newborn checkup 😍