Treasure Coast Equine Emergency Services

07/09/2025

Do you see this tube of ivermectin paste? Looks pretty normal - legit - right?

Well, it’s not. Look closer.

This is a counterfeit tube of ivermectin.

This was purchased from Temu because it was an amazingly low price. But unfortunately, it’s fake. We have no idea what is inside this tube.

Please be aware of these scams. Durvet does not sell through third party entities like Temu or Amazon. I have even seen counterfiet through Chewy.

Get your dewormers ideally through your vet or through a local authorized source such as Tractor Supply etc. And pay attention to the box labels. They should be grammatically correct at the very least. If any question, ring the company. Durvet said the lot number does not match their records.

Be safe!

07/08/2025

I recommend acupuncture for non-sweaters like Gaston here. An acupuncture session is cheaper than a vet visit for overheating or heat-induced colic, trust me!

Update: This guy is sweating well one week after his first treatment!🤩 I would recommend acupuncture every 4-6 weeks through the heat of the summer.💥🐴🙏

06/23/2025

📣 Important Update for Local Horse and Small Animal Owners – July 4th Fireworks at Newfield Farm 🎆🐴

I spoke today with a member of management at Metany Homes, the company overseeing Newfield Farm. They confirmed that a 15-minute fireworks display is scheduled for July 4th, produced by the same team that handled the airshow opening ceremony.

The intent behind the display is to encourage residents to attend the centralized event rather than setting off unpredictable backyard fireworks across the community. However, they also stated that plans are already in motion and the show will not be canceled. I mentioned considering a drone show for next year and he agreed that would be a nice alternative and would investigate.

That means it’s 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬, as horse, livestock, and pet owners, to take the usual precautions to keep our animals safe during the celebration.

💡 Tips 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬:

🔊 Use fans, radios, or earplugs to help muffle the sound
🎇 Try to desensitize your horse ahead of time with loud noises
🏠 Keep horses safely confined in shelters or barns
🚫 Avoid turnout in open fields during fireworks
🧱 Double-check that your fencing is secure
💊 Talk to your veterinarian today about calming agents or sedatives
🧠 Reflect on your horse’s past behavior during fireworks—know their triggers

🐶🐱 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬:

🏠 Keep pets secured inside your home – Even dogs in fenced yards may panic and escape. Don’t rely on outdoor barriers.
🛏️ Create a safe, quiet space – Set up a cozy room or crate where your pet can retreat. Add blankets, toys, or items with your scent.
🔊 Use background noise – Fans, TVs, or calming music can help mask the sound of fireworks.
🧘 Try calming aids – Consider using anxiety vests, pheromone diffusers, or veterinarian-recommended calming treats or medications. Call your vet today - don't delay!
📍 Double-check ID tags and microchips – In case your pet does get out, make sure they can be identified and returned quickly.
🧠 Know your pet’s signs of stress – Pacing, hiding, whining, or excessive grooming may mean they need extra support.

Whether you're attending a show or staying home, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲. 🇺🇸❤️

06/21/2025

📣 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

As an equine emergency veterinarian, my top priority is ensuring horses receive timely, expert care when it’s needed most. To continue offering sustainable and reliable emergency services, I’ve recently partnered with several local veterinarians through a monthly retainer agreement.

🔹 What this means for you as a horse owner:

🐎 If your primary veterinarian participates in the emergency coverage agreement, you will receive priority access to emergency services and a discounted emergency fee.
- Clients of Harbour Ridge Equine, Dr Bryant, Dr McCreary, Dr Biehl, Dr Compton, Dr Ciciarelli, Dr Nate Lea, Dr Alderman

🐎 If your veterinarian does not participate, I will still do my best to provide emergency care to your horse—because their well-being always comes first. However, please understand that:

- Response time may be longer during peak demand.

- Standard emergency fees will apply.

This model allows me to remain available and responsive, while recognizing the commitment made by participating veterinarians and their clients.

If you’re unsure whether your vet is part of the agreement or have questions about how this affects you, feel free to reach out directly.

Thank you for trusting me with your horses’ emergency care. 💙

06/04/2025

Attention horse owners, this is a PSA!

FOURTH OF JULY is coming near!

Things you can do:
• Ask your local neighborhood to consider pets, horses, and military personnel in their plans for fireworks displays. Be aware of who will be setting off fireworks.
• Plan ahead. If your horse is normally stalled at night, bring them in a little early, get them settled with plenty of hay. Consider cotton in the ears to dampen the noise. Play a radio. Keep the routine as much the same as possible.
• If your horse is normally outside - ensure all sharp edges are covered/taken care of. Debris in the paddock that normally lives there (mowers, vehicles, various barn debris) should be removed as horses that are running at night may not care where they go. Consider cotton in the ears to dampen the noise.
• REMEMBER TO REMOVE THE COTTON AFTER. 😊
• Have a look at this article: https://thehorse.com/112440/how-to-keep-your-horse-safe-during-the-4th-of-july/
• And this article: https://thehorse.com/110527/tips-for-keeping-horses-safe-during-july-4th-festivities/

• Contact your veterinarian TOMORROW if you need prescription sedatives/anti-anxiety drugs. Remember, you and everyone else is calling your vet too. Get in line EARLY.
• Let's work to make this a safe holiday for everyone involved!

Remember kids, Proper Preparation Prevents Postponed Pool Parties! =D

A veterinarian offers tips on how you can prepare in advance to keep your horse calm despite the noise and sight of festive fireworks.

05/20/2025

Guess what? It’s HOT! 🥵 🥵🥵

ATTENTION TREASURE COAST!

Please, if you don't want to see your vet or me, make plans NOW to keep your horse cool today.

- Body clip your horse if they still have winter coats. We have many people who do this in the area - please ask! AND GET THEM TESTED FOR CUSHINGS!

- Keep overweight, overly hairy, older, or non-/poor-sweating horses inside under fans during the day.

- Increase water intake.
--- Ensure your troughs and buckets are very clean. Empty and scrub with soap and bleach and rinse well. Algae and other muck growing can turn a horse away from a water trough.
--- Ensure the water trough or bucket is not near an electrical source such as a hot wire. Stray voltage can make a horse refuse to go to the trough.
--- Did you get a new horse? The flavor of the water may have changed. Add flavoring to the water to mask the change or get a 5 gallon jug of drinking water from Walmart or other store.
--- Color of the bucket - amazingly, horses have preferences when given options of colors. They prefer turquoise or light blue buckets to drink out of. https://bit.ly/30GPbsv
--- Add salt to feed. Here’s a very basic explanation of why salt increases thirst: https://bit.ly/38yylQX Commercially available electrolytes may or may not have enough salt to increase the thirst in horses. If they are not losing electrolytes through sweat, they do not need electrolytes. Sodium chloride is what increases thirst. Do not use Lite Salt as this is potassium chloride and it will not have the same effect. 1-2 tablespoons on the feed divided over the day on the meals should be sufficient. Salt blocks can help but only if the horse voluntarily goes to them and uses them.
--- Other flavoring: Gatorade water - I have found that they like orange flavored best but others can be tried. Molasses water. Alfalfa tea - soak alfalfa for a while and then remove the stems - leave the leaves.
--- Fake them out: add a handful of grain such as sweet feed or senior to a much larger amount of water. They think they are eating but are mostly drinking. Hydration hay with more water than recommended is also helpful. Handful of hay pellets in a large amount of water can also be used. In general, if you have a large colon impaction that you are trying to gut hydrate, you do not want to add a lot of bulk to the dam that is present in the colon. So using low residue feeds such as senior pellets or hay pellets is better than straight hay or hay cubes.
--- Grazing wet grass. Grass itself contains a lot of water. But we can add more by spraying it down before the horse grazes.

- Watch your horse's manure. If you notice smaller, more well-formed f***l balls, this is an indication that an impaction is imminent. The horse is drawing water out of their gut to hydrate their body. This is the time for action - decrease hay, increase water intake.

- If your horse isn’t sweating and is breathing fast (owners often call and say horse is having trouble breathing but the horse is panting), get the horse in and start hosing off while under a fan. Keep hosing, apply ice packs to jugular (bottom of neck) area until breathing slows. Call your vet or me if red gums, breathing doesn’t slow, or horse doesn’t seem to improve.

Remember, proper prevention prevents poor pooping! Keep your money in YOUR pocket!

If you have additional helpful tips, please comment below.

05/17/2025

As hurricane season approaches in 2 weeks, it's time to start prepping! Don't wait until the last minute. American Association of Equine Practitioners has given us this great guide to help prepare.

In the next weeks, I would identify 3 places you would evacuate to (west, south, or north) and 3 haulers you can have on hand if you don't have a trailer.

NOW is the time to practice trailer loading. We have some excellent trainers in our area if you need help.

If you have questions about hurricane prep, ask here!

05/09/2025

Still seeing quite a few fuzzy horses. And the 🔥 HEAT 🔥 is coming! Ok ok - it’s already here! Temps are going to be BRUTAL next week.

Please for the love of your pocketbook and the comfort of your horse - BODYCLIP YOUR HORSE.

They will thank you for it and you won’t have to call your vet for “labored breathing” (ie, panting) or lethargy or colic when they’re just HOT 🥵 🥵🥵.

We have plenty of great reasonably priced clippers in the area. MUCH cheaper than a vet visit!

Also, if you called your vet last year for a hot horse, your horse may be a non -sweater. Acupuncture is one method that seems to consistently work more than all the other supplements and snake oils. Dr DeRoin with Pioneer Integrative Veterinary Services is available to help - now is the time to get started!

Remember, Proper Primping and Poking Prevents Poor Perspiration. 😂😂😂

05/09/2025

04/26/2025

We recommend vaccinating for EEE and WNV at least twice a year here in FL. EEE is about 95% fatal.

Please get your horse vaccinated!

02/04/2025

Guess we are no longer participating in winter!

It’s hot out there guys - 🥵

Our wooly mammoths are suffering. Let’s get them clipped asap before trouble starts.

If you see your horse with flaring nostrils and breathing fast, get them in and under fans and hosed off. Encourage water intake.

We have tons of people able to clip in the treasure coast area - please post in Treasure Coast Equestrian and you’ll have tons of options. A clip is cheaper than an emergency colic call!

Your horse and your wallet will thank you! 😊

Remember the Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Pooping! 💩