Animal Wellness Center

12/31/2025

AWC will be closing at 11:30AM today Dec 31 2025. We wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!

12/09/2025

THE COLD WEATHER IS UPON US! ❄️

Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/03/2025

📣 We’re Hiring: Veterinary Assistant / Veterinary Technician

Animal Wellness Center is looking for a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician to join our team in Pikeville KY.

We are a busy, modern practice that values excellent patient care, teamwork, and a positive work environment. You must be self-motivated, dependable, and have both mental and physical resilience.

Experience is not required for either position — we provide full, on-the-job training.

What We Offer:
• Competitive pay (based on experience/qualifications)
• Full time (part-time is NOT an option)
• Supportive, collaborative team
• Training and growth opportunities
• Hands-on experience in a high-quality medical environment

If you’re passionate about veterinary care and want to be part of a practice that truly values its team, please apply IN PERSON at the clinic.
We look forward to meeting the right candidate!

11/26/2025

AWC will be closing at 11:30 AM today, 11-26-2025, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen normal hours on Friday, 11-28-2025.

10/31/2025

AWC will be opeing at 10:00 AM today October 31 2025.

10/07/2025

A recent study published in Nature found harmful, antibiotic-resistant pathogens like Salmonella, Cronobacter, and E. coli in commercial raw cat foods, posing health risks to pets and humans, especially vulnerable groups. Many products lack warnings about the dangers of undercooked ingredients, according to author and researcher Dr. Laura Goodman, Ph.D. ’07, assistant professor in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health and in The Baker Institute for Animal Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Learn more here: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/09/deadly-pathogens-found-commercial-raw-cat-foods

09/26/2025

AWC will be opening at 10:00AM on Friday September 26 2025.

09/24/2025

Unlike dogs dental disease is very difficult to see is cats and is one of the top diseases that goes undiagnosed. Long term dental disease can casue kidney disease, heart disease and liver disease in pets. Here are some tips to help you care for your cat.

Ever wondered how to best care for your cat’s teeth? Check out our Feline Dental Health infographic for helpful tips to give your cat a purr-fect smile, how often to schedule dental exams, and symptoms that may cause concern. View the full infographic at https://bit.ly/2TZ68JR.

08/29/2025

AWC will be opening at 10:00 AM Friday August 29th 2025.

08/22/2025

Lyme Disease is on the Rise – Protect Your Dog, Protect Your Family 🐾🦠

This year, our clinic has already diagnosed 34 cases of Lyme disease in unvaccinated dogs—and we continue to see more positive cases every year.

Lyme disease isn’t just dangerous for pets. It’s a zoonotic disease, which means it also threatens people—including children. Infected ticks carried into the home on a pet can put the entire family at risk.

🐕 In dogs, Lyme disease can cause lasting joint pain, kidney damage, and serious illness.
👨‍👩‍👧 In people, especially children, it can lead to fever, fatigue, painful arthritis, and long-term complications if left untreated.

The good news? Lyme vaccination and year-round tick prevention are highly effective at protecting your pet and reducing the risk for your household.

✅ Safeguard your dog’s health.
✅ Reduce tick exposure in your home.
✅ Protect your family and children from this growing threat.

📅 Call us today to schedule your dog’s Lyme vaccination appointment—and help stop Lyme disease in its tracks.

08/11/2025

The "dog days" are here!

08/05/2025

Routine checkups are vital to your cat’s health, especially because they age much more rapidly than we do. A cat reaches the approximate human age of 15 by their first birthday. Checkups are crucial because a lot can happen in a “cat year.” For more reasons why you should take your cat for regular checkups, visit https://bit.ly/3oGEB1w.