Rhodes Mobile Veterinarian

09/05/2024

I have a few changes to the September schedule. Next week, I’m learning how to inject SIs, shoulders, and other joints. Thanks for your continued support!

08/25/2024

The Bowie horse was a false positive for their coggins test!

That means they tested negative with advanced testing and that we are not at risk of spreading this terrible disease from their sale barn.

Although the Bowie horse was negative, I still recommend coggins tests annually for travel and biosecurity.

We still had 61 horses test positive all over the country for 2023 and disease prevention is key to stopping EIA. The most common mode of transmission is by sharing needles.

08/22/2024

These pups need new homes! They’ve been over-looked for 18 months and just want to find their family. 30 lbs, all vetted, heartworm negative, with 6 months of heartworm prevention included.

08/19/2024

It’s fair time! Don’t forget to call or text us to schedule an appointment for blood testing and health certificates!

08/17/2024

If your horse has come from the kill pen in Bowie or if your horse(s) have stopped in or near Montague County, Tx, please quarantined your horse(s) at least 100 feet from others and contact a veterinarian immediately.

EIA (what coggins test for) is 100% fatal with no prevention available.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

Any horse that has been to the Bowie Livestock barn or has been in contact with horses from Bowie Livestock Barn is NOT ALLOWED on the property for the next 30 days.

*Edit to add*

As with anything there will be a million different people saying a million different things. We can all hope that the original information that was shared wasn’t completely accurate, however we are still going to be proactive in protecting our facility and our animals from any possible threats. When more information is released we may change plans going forward, but for now we are going to stand by not allowing any horses from Bowie or in contact with horses from Bowie from coming to our facility.

*Edit 8/19*

Pease see the post we shared from Bowie. They confirmed a horse tested positive on Friday and are awaiting further test results from the state which will be back Friday to confirm whether the horse actually is positive or if it was a false positive. As such we are also awaiting those results before we open back up as normal. Here is a link to their post as well.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Vr72WVX7oJcaekc4/?mibextid=WC7FNe

08/08/2024

We will be at the MAC this Friday! Call or text to schedule an appointment. 318-478-0394

07/28/2024

Happy Summer! Hopefully y'all enjoyed the brief break in the heat with a little rain to help the grass grow!

The August calendar is here! I will be out of town Wednesday night through Sunday this week for continuing education. I will not be available through text or calls during that time.

07/19/2024

I saw my first confirmed case of eastern equine encephalitis, aka sleeping sickness, this year. This is a preventable disease caused by a mosquito bite and is 90% fatal. The annual core vaccines that Rhodes Vet provides include a booster to EEE. If your horse(s) are not up to date on their vaccines (which they need every year), please call or text to schedule an appointment

07/16/2024

We’re excited to see y’all at that MAC this Friday! We will be there from 9 AM until 3 PM

07/10/2024

Change of locations this week! Tomorrow will be Crossett/Fountain Hill/Hamburg. Friday will be Downsville/Calhoun/West Monroe!

07/05/2024

I’m not available for emergencies through the rest of this weekend. I need to be a regular human and not a doctor for a few days. Work phone will be turned off. Have a safe holiday weekend!

06/24/2024

This is just one list of the shelter animals that we spayed and neutered today with volunteers from Southern Paws Animal Rescue. All said, we had 23 surgery patients and 11 check ups. Shelters are overflowing- any help you can give makes a huge difference. For example, spay/neuter your dogs and cats and donating supplies to your shelter of choice.

05/21/2024

We’re so proud of our 2024 EHS grads! They had a beautiful ceremony tonight.

I’m especially proud of Alexis, my step daughter and assistant, who many of y’all have met. She’s going to Miss State as a pre-veterinary student this fall!

05/19/2024

Our schedule is up for June! I'll be off for a week to refine my equine breeding skills, including embryo transfer and artificial insemination.

I'll catch up with any missed texts or calls from this weekend tomorrow, Monday the 20th.

05/14/2024

Reminder that I am out of town this Friday through Sunday and will not be available for calls. Business hours will resume on Monday!

05/08/2024

Happy hump day! I can’t wait to see yall at the MAC this weekend. Our hours will be 9 am-4 pm on Saturday and 10 am-2 pm on Sunday. Come stop by and say hey!

04/12/2024

Happy spring! The schedules are up for April and May. May is an eventful month, so contact us early to book your appointment if needed.

03/27/2024

Happy almost hump day! Our schedule has been revised to reflect Good Friday and the weekend. We will be closed for Good Friday and will only see folks who we have previously booked with. We also will only be taking emergency calls for established clients only this weekend to give our staff more time with their families. Thank yall for understanding!

03/08/2024

Happy Friday!

Don’t forget to stop by and say hey at the MAC this weekend!

We will be there from 9-6 on Saturday
And 10-3 on Sunday

03/01/2024

Happy spring! Here’s our March schedule! See y’all at The MAC next weekend!

02/21/2024

Friendly reminder! Y’all have seen us tagged a good bit with dogs and cats with shelter work at Southern Paws Animal Rescue. Rescue is dear to me, so I do what I can for them. That doesn’t mean that I’m seeing dogs and cats. We see large animal only- there are a ton of dog/cat clinics that want to see y’all’s pets!

02/07/2024

Spring is just around the corner! It’s been nice to have some rain and warmer days this month. A little late, but here’s the calendar for February!

01/18/2024

Happy Thursday y’all! I’m back on the road making farm calls locally in the Eldo/Spearsville area while we wait on this ice to melt.

01/16/2024

We’re closed again today. I’ll be in touch with everyone that needs to be rescheduled in the next couple days and will plan a make up day for y’all. Be safe and stay warm!

01/15/2024

As a storm threat of freezing rain and snow marches across the U.S. and Canada ❄️🌨🫧🌬, below are some tips for keeping your horses safe during extreme winter weather events:

1. While lots of hay is ideal for horses to eat to keep warm, now is NOT the time to introduce a round bale if they’ve never had access to one before. It may be more work, but keep throwing them their normal hay source—just more frequently.

2. Similarly, if your horse is not used to being locked up in a stall now is NOT the time. The stress of a major change and the decreased activity can be risk factors for colic. Be sure your animals have access to shelter, hay, and drinkable water but let them move around if they choose to do so.

3. Horses that are thin, older, or fully body clipped are those most at risk in extreme weather.

4. Well fitting blankets are great but be sure horses do not get sweaty under them or that the blankets don’t soak through if snow or rain covered. Wet, cold, and covered is worse that dry, cold, and naked.

5. Some of the highest risk times are when the temperatures hover right around freezing, as that can result in sleet/freezing rain/ice that can make horses wet and therefore colder. Slippery footing is a concern, too.

6. If using electric water heaters, be sure they are functioning and not shocking horses. Take your gloves off and stick your hand in the water (briefly!) to double check.

7. “Trick” your horses into consuming extra water by flavoring a bucket, adding electrolytes to their meals, or soaking their meals in warm water. If you’ve never fed beet pulp before, be sure to add LOTS of warm water. Dry beet pulp is a common source of choke.

8. Tips of ears can be at risk for frostbite. Putting a jumper-style ear bonnet or other ear cover can protect them from wind chills.

Stay safe, friends!