Stafford Equine Veterinary Services

11/13/2025

WHAT IS VESICULAR STOMATITIS?

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a contagious virus that affects horses, cattle, donkeys, mules, as well as some other animals. It causes painful blisters, crusts and ulceration of the lips, muzzle, nose, tongue, ears, sheath, teats, and/or coronary band.

What are the Signs?
• Blisters or sores on the tongue, lips, or around the mouth (the tongue is often the most severely affected)
• Crusty scabs on the muzzle, nostrils, and/or inside the ears
• Drooling or excessive salivation
• Trouble eating or chewing
• Lameness due to painful erosions on the coronary band.

How Does It Spread?
VS is mainly spread by biting insects like black flies and sand flies. It can also spread through direct contact with infected animals, shared water or feed buckets, or contaminated equipment.

Why is VS Important?
• It’s a reportable disease. Veterinarians must notify animal health officials if they suspect it.
• The sores can look like other serious diseases, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis.
• Outbreaks can lead to movement restrictions for horses and other animals.

What Can You Do?
• Watch for signs of sores or blisters, especially during warm months when insects are active.
• Protect your horse from insects by using fly sprays, keeping stables clean, and bringing horses inside during peak insect activity.
• Don’t share equipment, feed buckets, or water buckets between horses, especially if one is showing signs of illness.
• Handle healthy animals before sick animals. Anyone handling infected animals should follow proper biosafety measures to protect themselves and other animals.
• If you see symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away.

Note that VS can also affect people, but it usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms. Wearing gloves and practicing good hygiene when handling affected animals is recommended.

Learn more about VS on our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/vesicular-stomatitis/

Current disease outbreak reports are available on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/vesicular-stomatitis

11/12/2025

11/12/2025

11/11/2025

Navicular Syndrome: What Horse Owners Should Know

What is it?
Navicular syndrome is a common cause of long-term (usually front) foot pain in horses. It affects the structures in the back half of the hoof, including the navicular bone, deep digital flexor tendon, navicular bursa, collateral sesamoidean ligament, and collateral sesamoidean impar ligament).

Who gets it?
It's most often seen in adult horses, especially those used for heavy work or certain breeds like Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Warmbloods. Horses with very steep or very low hoof angles are also more at risk.

What are the signs?
• Lameness, usually in the front feet
• Horse may land toe-first instead of heel-first
• Lameness often gets worse when turning in circles
• Both front feet may be affected

What causes it?
• Repeated stress and strain on the navicular area
• Wear and tear on the bone and soft tissues
• Sometimes, poor hoof shape or conformation

How is it diagnosed?
Veterinarians use nerve blocks, radiographs, ultrasounds, and MRIs to pinpoint the source of pain.

How can it be managed?
Management options include special shoeing, rest, and medications. The right approach depends on the individual horse and the specific problem. Remember, what might help one horse might not help another. Overall, early diagnosis and tailored care can help many horses stay comfortable and active.

If you have questions or concerns about navicular syndrome in regard to your own equine, contact your veterinarian.

📸 Photo credit: Dr. Lori Madsen & University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

11/07/2025

11/04/2025

Did you know your equine can catch the flu, too?

While there isn’t a specific time of the year for “flu season” in the equine world, any time is good to learn more about this highly contagious respiratory condition—particularly because it’s one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract of horses, and recent years have been unusually active for Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) on a global scale.

EIV spreads rapidly through groups of horses in aerosolized droplets dispersed by coughing, and the severity of clinical signs depends on the degree of existing immunity within the affected individual, among other factors (i.e., correctly vaccinated horses are less affected than unvaccinated horses).

Any horse showing signs of respiratory disease (cough, nasal discharge, persistent fever) should be isolated immediately until your veterinarian can determine the exact cause.

To learn more about Equine Influenza Virus (EIV), visit these resources:
https://aaep.org/resource/aaep-infectious-disease-guidelines-equine-influenza-eiv/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN1uklleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwaDY1NFRwbzVaTmdCTFE0AR6TSxMTSrZaaihGWeOQRU8FxN1nMjxT8a4pensUL-VTbU3gGDNXzK7K0GpGNg_aem_SvQrsEksul6n_6EyWcWgnA
&
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/equine-influenza?fbclid=IwY2xjawN1uk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwaDY1NFRwbzVaTmdCTFE0AR4prpxH7lNYI-Q9Y7cq5u2eG2iFlJDWbeElbxtZ0UZeZeQC6SwybCYYN-OD5g_aem_BIZyarOLwfLRAmRREAm8Xg

As always, your horse doctor remains your best source of information. Contact them to learn more about how to prevent this disease through an appropriate vaccination protocol and biosecurity practices.

10/31/2025

Most people know that a long, curly haircoat that doesn’t shed properly is a classic sign of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID; equine Cushing's disease) in horses. But did you know there are other, less obvious symptoms to watch for?

Other signs to watch for (note this is not an exhaustive list):

• Muscle Loss: Horses may lose muscle, especially along their topline (the back and rump), even if they seem to be eating well.

• Fat Pockets: You might notice unusual fat deposits, like above the eyes or along the crest of the neck.

• Frequent Infections: Horses with Cushing’s can get skin infections, hoof abscesses, or other illnesses more often than healthy horses.

• Slow Healing: Wounds or sores may take longer to heal.

• Lethargy: Your horse might seem more tired, less energetic, or just “not themselves.”

• Drinking and Urinating More: Increased thirst and urination can be a subtle sign.

• Abnormal Sweating: Some horses sweat more than usual, even when it’s not hot or they haven’t exercised.

If you notice any of these changes, especially in an older horse, it’s a good idea to talk to your veterinarian. Early detection and management can help your horse stay healthy and comfortable!

In addition, it's important to note that all horses are different, if you have questions specific to your animal, please contact your vet.

10/30/2025

Less than a month away!

🐴 Greenville Foothills Pony Club will be having a tack sale and yard sale in November. As a non-profit, we rely on fundraisers to support our educational programs and activities throughout the year. We are also collecting donations of tack, horse equipment, and riding apparel as well as household items for our sale. Please share the sale announcement and contact Greenville Foothills Pony Club (SC/NC) if you have anything you'd like to donate to our club. Thank you! 🐴

10/30/2025

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF THE MARE'S REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE:

Did you know mares have a unique breeding season? They are “seasonally polyestrous,” meaning they have multiple cycles but are able to get pregnant only during certain months—usually spring and summer, when days are longer. Their reproductive cycle is about 21 days long, with a few days of “heat” (estrus) when they are receptive to a stallion. Signs of heat include tail raising, urinating, and “winking” of the v***a.

During this time, an egg is released from the o***y and can be fertilized by a stallion’s s***m, leading to pregnancy. Good planning, working with your veterinarian, and understanding your mare’s cycle are key to a successful breeding season!

For more details about your mare’s reproductive system and health, always consult your veterinarian.