Gulf Coast Equine Veterinary Services, Inc.

01/09/2025

The answer to our anatomy question from yesterday…what vessel can you see filling in the video? Yes, it’s the jugular vein! This horse was extremely lucky to avoid this vessel as well as the carotid artery which is just behind it. She also lacerated a portion of her brachiocephalicus muscle which was repaired and a drain was placed before the wound was closed. This lucky girl is doing well!

01/07/2025

Is your horse’s nighttime vision better than your daytime vision?

When comparing equine vision to human vision, the horse has a smaller visible spectrum (see image) which means they see a smaller range of colors than we do. However, horses have a structure in the back of their eye—called the tapetum lucidum—that humans do not have. This enhances vision in low light conditions and allows a horse to see better in the dark than a human does. However, reflections from the tapetum lucidum can also blur images and lead to poor depth perception at night.

Dilation of the pupil allows all species to see better in the dark. This process takes longer in a horse (45 minutes) than it does in humans (25 minutes). So, when a horse is asked to do something in a dark environment, it’s important to allow their vision proper time to fully accommodate.

Overall, the nighttime vision of a horse is better than the nighttime vision of a human. However, the horse’s nighttime vision is NOT better than the daytime vision of a human. Anytime you are asking your horse to function in a dim light situation, give them time to adjust. And if they are fearful, be patient and try to understand how things look from their perspective!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/05/2025

Make sure you’re ready and that you have a plan if you have a problem - foaling can go bad fast. Always talk to your vet if you have any concerns about your mare.

Foaling season is right around the corner! Is your foaling kit stocked and ready to go?

If this is your first foaling or you don’t know where to start, the graphic lists a few essentials for you to include. Having these items ready several weeks before your mare’s due date will mean less stress and scrambling at the last minute trying to acquire what you need.

As always, your veterinarian is your best source of information. Consult your horse doctor for additional recommendations and for training on how to properly use these tools to assist your mare during and after delivery!

01/04/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

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

01/01/2025

Well, we made it to 2025! All the horses made it through the fireworks last night in one piece. How are you and your horses kicking off the new year? Have you made any horse related resolutions? Share your pictures and tell us about it.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to all the Thoroughbreds out there…and other breeds who use January 1st as a default. 🥳

12/31/2024

As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, we’d like to say thank you to all of our clients who have been so supportive and stuck with us through the years, especially these rough last couple of months. Here’s to an amazing year to come filled with blue ribbons, barn time and trail rides with good friends.

Don’t let your horses party too hard tonight 😉

👋 🎉🥂🍾

12/30/2024

There is a rumor going around that we are going to have some super cold (for Florida) weather on the way in the next week or two. While the forecast can always change, we definitely want our clients to be prepared. Make sure you have extra hay on hand for the super cold nights and days and make sure you start adding some electrolytes to your horses’ feed to encourage drinking and prevent impaction. We don’t want your first visit of the New Year to be for a colic.

if you have any questions on how to prepare for the “Arctic blast” give us a call.

12/29/2024

If you own horses long enough, it’s only a matter of time until you have to deal with an emergency. 🚨 Are you prepared? If not, make it part of your New Year’s resolution to be ready. You can always talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions. If you do not have a relationship with an equine veterinarian, now is a great time to start. With the shortage of vets, you will find it difficult to get emergency services without that relationship.

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to be confronted with a medical emergency—even during the holidays. Are you prepared to act?

Having a clear emergency action plan will help you stay focused and effective if a crisis strikes. Below are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours. Ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available for emergencies.

2. Have a plan for transporting the horse if necessary and know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center.

3. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle as well and be sure to check your supplies periodically and restock as needed. First-aid kits can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like; seek your horse doctor's advice on what to add, especially regarding any drugs that could be included and how they should be administered.

12/22/2024

Water is a vital resource for horses year-round, but its importance becomes even greater during the winter months. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for horses to support digestion, overall health, and especially for preventing colic, a potentially life-threatening condition.

In winter, horses may drink less water due to cold temperatures, or water sources might freeze, limiting access. Reduced water intake increases the risk of impaction colic, a condition that occurs when food material becomes lodged in the horse’s digestive tract. This is exacerbated by the dry, fibrous nature of winter forage like hay, which contains less moisture compared to fresh pasture grass. Without sufficient water, the digestive system slows and cannot properly break down this material, potentially leading to blockages.

Encouraging adequate water consumption is critical. Horses should normally drink 5-12 gallons of water daily, and ensuring the water is warm enough—between 45-65°F—can help encourage drinking. Studies show that horses are more likely to consume warm water during cold weather. Using heated water buckets or tank deicers can prevent freezing and make water more appealing.

Fun Fact: Research shows that horses drink almost 40% more water per day if given warm water (45-65 °F) instead of near-freezing water. (Kristula and McDonnell, 1994)

Electrolytes or salt supplements can also stimulate thirst, prompting horses to drink more. Offering soaked hay or adding water to feed can provide additional hydration. However, soaking hay or feed isn’t recommended in environments where these items would freeze solid before being consumed by the horse.

Preventing dehydration in winter is a proactive measure to safeguard against colic. Regularly monitoring water intake and ensuring clean, accessible, and palatable water is essential. By addressing these needs, horse owners can help maintain their horses’ health and comfort throughout the colder months.

If you have questions or concerns about your horses' winter water intake, contact your veterinarian.

12/20/2024

Wanting to decorate your barn for Christmas? 🎄 Maybe skip the mistletoe, but there are other plants that are ok.

Find out what might happen if your horse eats that wreath hanging on his stall door.

12/19/2024

Yes, you all guessed it…those little spots are bot fly eggs.

The bot fly lays eggs on your horses’ legs, chest, and flanks. The eggs hatch into larvae when the horse licks or bites the area and ingests them. The larvae typically travel to the stomach, but can sometimes burrow into your horses’ gums, and will occasionally be found on a dental exam. The larvae then grow for several months and are passed out in the manure to mature into adult flies and start all over.

Bot fly larvae can cause GI symptoms like colic and gastric ulcers.

As always, prevention is better than cure. If you notice these little eggs on your horse, remove them with a bot knife or a grooming block. If possible, clean manure from pastures as this is where the larvae pupate and grow. Night time turn out is also helpful as bot flies are out during the day.

Treatment is possible with ivermectin.

12/18/2024

What are these little spots all over this horse’s legs and belly? What should we do about it, if anything?

Come back tomorrow for the answer.

12/15/2024

Chronic diarrhea can be very frustrating for horse owners and veterinarians to treat. An equine nutritionist offers advice.

12/14/2024

In this roundtable discussion led by Dr. Julia Miller, three experts cover common types of wounds seen in horses, complications with wound healing, and the most effective treatment options.

12/13/2024

Today is 🐴 which is every day for us. Big and small - we love and hug them all! Give your horse some extra hugs, kisses, and treats today.

12/13/2024

Learn why dental and digestive problems in geriatric horses often go hand in hand and what you can do to help your horse thrive in his golden years.

12/06/2024

DID YOU KNOW?

Strangles was one of the first equine diseases to be described by the early writers of veterinary science (was first reported in 1215) and is one of the most commonly diagnosed contagious diseases of the horse, worldwide. Though strangles is highly contagious and can affect many horses on a farm, particularly young animals, most horses with infection recover without complication.

It is not uncommon for strangles infections to recur on a farm with previous outbreaks of the disease. The bacteria can survive in water sources for over a month, but the primary source of recurrent infections is most likely asymptomatic carrier horses. Anywhere from 4-50% of the horses on farms with recurring strangles are asymptomatic carriers of the infection, and they may continue to shed the bacteria for months to even years, serving as a continual source of new infections.

If you suspect a strangles outbreak, be sure to involve your veterinarian right away to determine the diagnosis and the best control practices for your particular farm. Strangles is a reportable disease in some states. Movement of any horses on or off the farm should be stopped, and new horses should not be introduced. Monitoring the temperature of all horses daily and isolating horses at the first sign of fever is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of infection. Infected horses can transmit the bacteria to healthy horses one to two days after they develop a fever.

To learn more about strangles, visit our website at https://aaep.org/resource/client-education-presentation-understanding-equine-strangles/

As always, your veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice!