Valerie J. Linse, DVM

02/22/2024

Hey folks, my phone is one of the many nationwide hit by the ATT outage. I can't receive calls or texts or any messages unless I have a WIFI connection.
I will attempt to stop every few hours to check for texts. If you have an emergency, I would suggest taking your horse to Hagyard or Rood and Riddle.

07/27/2023

Kentucky folks, with all the rain we have had recently, we have seen an uptick in the number of Potomac Horse Fever cases. I have treated 3 in the last 2 weeks and the grapevine says there are a number of other cases out there. Please keep an eye out for any of the following symptoms in your horses: not eating, not drinking, fever, diarrhea, or colic. If your horse is experiencing any of these signs, please contact your vet immediately. In the past, I have recommended vaccination for PHF only on properties where it has occurred in the previously. However, given the current cases I’m seeing, I might rethink that advice. The vaccine is not 100% protective (few are) but it does reduce the severity of the symptoms.

12/20/2022

Botulism can infect horses even when they are consuming bagged feeds. Several show horses have died from the following incident. Please make sure your horses are vaccinated! The vaccine is not 100% against all strains, but it is way better than not vaccinating!

The FDA has announced a recall on alfalfa cubes from Manzanola feeds in Colorado. “Manzanola Feeds is Recalling Certain Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes due to Possible Clostridium botulinum Health Risk”

Out of an abundance of caution Manzanola Feeds is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum

07/24/2020

Ticks are always a concern for those of us who like to go outside to hike or hunt and for those of us who work in outdoor settings. Ticks are annoying blood thieves and they are also potent disease…

03/23/2020

Dr. Tim Hackett is one of the best small animal emergency veterinarians in the world!

02/27/2020

Baby Opossum fact... opossums do not “nurse” from their mom. Mom has what is like feeding tubes instead of teats, 13 of them, 12 of them in a circle and 1 in the center within her pouch. THEREFORE, when infant opossums are rescued we rehabbers have been trained on how to tube feed them because they don’t nurse or suck a bottle/nipple. It is a very intricate type of feeding using special tubes.
So if you find baby opossums your job is to keep them warm and find a rehabber asap.
Opossums are not rodents, they are marsupials. Babies are born at only 12 days after their parents mate! The babies had no placenta and finish physical development in the pouch. Therefore they are super small, about the size of a small honeybee. Moms can have up to 25 babies in one litter, however the first 13 to crawl to her pouch and swallow her feeding tubes (which then swell up in their mouth so they will stay latched) will be able to survive. They do not have umbilical cords, therefore they need their mom's milk for all of their immunities. Never feed any wildlife cow milk.

So if you find a severely hurt mom and babies, please try to bring mama with the babies because she can be treated too. As long as we can keep her alive it gives her babies a better chance, that is what she would want too.

If you have any questions about these amazing animals, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are not in Texas we can help locate your rehabber near you as well

12/10/2019

Very important public service message below. Multi-talented Equine Veterinarians: making your life special. Every. Single. Day.
And now the song is stuck in your head too. You are very welcome. 🤣🤣 🎄🦌

The horse is Needles, the first Florida born Kentucky Derby winner. The rider is Elmo Shropshire - 40 yrs later he would record the song you hear this time of year, “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer”. The story: Elmo's father was the manager of the first race horse farm in Ocala. Elmo graduated from Ocala High School, the University of Florida, and Auburn Veterinary School, becoming a race track vet. In California he had a good practice, dabbled with his guitar and had an infectious grin. In 1979 he recorded “Grandma” on a lark and you know the rest. After Needles won the Derby and the Belmont in 1956, other breeders flocked to Florida. It is said “Needles sold more land than all the real estate agents in Marion County.” Today there are over a thousand horse farms in the area. Doctor Elmo has recorded 12 albums, 17 videos and is a champion marathoner at the age of 83. Thank you for this story! Ocala, Florida

11/21/2019

A vignette with an extraordinary woman quietly doing extraordinary things for her entire life.

Debbie Shehadi was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in New Jersey. But through determination, perseverance and guts, she achieved her dream of owning a Kentucky…

11/09/2019

"I just imagine how much deeper the bond will be."

09/08/2019

Su***de prevention week is coming up and this week we lost another veterinarian to su***de. She was a mother, wife, friend, and amazing veterinarian. This story is too common and one that is growing. A study was released from the Journal of American Veterinary Association stating that Veterinarians....

08/23/2019

CHINCOTEAGUE—Every summer, tourists visit the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to see the famous wild ponies and spend the day at the beach. Some fish and crab the marshes and canals.

08/13/2019

“Toxic algae can look like foam, scum or mats on the surface of water, said Schmale. Harmful algae blooms, which can be blue, vibrant green, brown or red, are sometimes mistaken for paint floating on the water.”

Dog owners in the Southeast are spreading the word about the dangers of contaminated water following the deaths of their beloved pets.

07/24/2019

Keep yourself and your horses cool during this heat wave! Remember to keep an eye on the heat index (which factors in both the temperature and humidity level) and be safe this weekend. Follow the steps from the American Association of Equine Practitioners if your horse overheats.

07/21/2019

07/12/2019

Multi-drug resistant Salmonella linked to pig ear dog treats, leading to hospitalization for humans in contact with the dogs and treats. Please be careful what you feed your 4-legged kids, because it can infect your 2-legged kids!

And if you’ve been gnawing on them (they’re a human delicacy in some countries), you might want to spit ‘em out. The FDA and the CDC are...

06/26/2019

USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Rules prohibit cannabidiol (CBD) and their metabolites. While h**p does not contain more than 0.3% THC, it does contain CBD. CBD, both natural and synthetic forms, are likely to effect the performance of a horse due to its reported anxiolytic effects.

05/30/2019

Legends horse feed has been added to the recall. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR BAGS ARE NOT ON THE LIST!

Cargill is voluntarily expanding its livestock and horse feed recall due to elevated aflatoxin levels. The original recall was initiated May 6.

03/24/2019