East Coast Equine Veterinary Service

09/17/2024

If you attended the Allaquest Classic this past weekend, you may have spotted a familiar face out on the polo field!

Outside of work, Dr. Tracy has been enjoying learning how to play polo, and got to play in her first game this past weekend!

Way to go, Tracy!!!

08/28/2024

With recent positive cases of EEE being close to home in NY and NJ, we want to answer any questions and concerns you may have regarding this deadly disease. The health and well-being of you and your horses are most important to us here at East Coast Equine!

There have been 9 recent cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in New York with all of these resulting in the death of the horse. The cases were located in Madison, Oneida, Orange, Wayne. Washington, Ulster, Cayuga and St. Lawrence counties. All of these cases were in unvaccinated horses. Some of these horses were vaccinated in prior years, but not in 2024.

The first case of EEE in New Jersey was reported in the first week of August in Atlantic County. Fever, ataxia, and inability to stand were some of the reported clinical signs. This horse unfortunately passed away as a result of the disease.

If your horse has received a CoreEQ, EWT, or EWT/WNV vaccine this year, they have been vaccinated against EEE. Since this is a mosquito-borne disease, it does not matter if your horses do not leave your farm. If you have any horses that have not been vaccinated at all this year, we strongly recommend doing so, ASAP.

With the rise in recent positive cases, we are recommending and offering boosters of the Eastern & Western Encephalitis vaccine this fall. The usual standard fall vaccines are: Flu/Rhino, WNV, and PHF. If you would like your horse to receive a 6-month booster for Eastern & Western Encephalitis with their fall vaccinations, please call the office and let us know. The booster vaccine will be called "West Nile Innovator + EW" and this will be in place of the standard West Nile Vaccine (WNV).

Please call the office and specify if you would like to include an EW booster with your fall vaccines!

08/16/2024

Congratulations to the 2024 Sussex County Horse Show Scholarship Winners!!

East Coast Equine is proud to sponsor the Sussex County Horse Show scholarship program every year!

Here’s some information on our 2024 recipients!

Brooke Heffner:
Brooke is from Warwick, New York and just finished her senior year at Warwick Valley High School. She graduated with an “A” average while perusing her equine passions. Brooke is a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, USEF, and USHJA. But riding is so much more than just community for Brooke. It has been instrumental in making her life her own. It helped her to find not just her passion, but her voice. Brooke also lends her time to others. She volunteers her time and talents at both the Pine Bush Equine Veterinary Services and the Warwick Valley Humane Society. Brooke is a horse exerciser and equestrian camp counselor. And next year she’ll be attending Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Brooke is a two-time triple “C” award winner from the New York State Attorney General’s Office. She’s also a two-time USHJA Gold Level Rider and one-time USHJA Silver Level Rider Award winner. She’s held a leadership position with the Future Farmers of America and been a Varsity member of the Intercollegiate Equestrian Association Team. Brooke is an empathetic and understanding young woman who has taken great strides toward personal growth. And we are very pleased today to award her with the East Coast Equine Veterinary Service and Sussex County Horse Show 2024 Scholarship.

Caroline Johnston:
Caroline Johnston hails from Saddle River, New Jersey and is in her fourth year of college. She is currently enrolled at Centenary University where she has been named to the Dean’s List and maintains a 3.9 GPA. She has been riding since she was five years old- a horse name Tinkerbelle captivated her, and she’s been hooked on horses ever since. Caroline credits her lessons in the saddle with making her a more patient and empathetic person. She’s grateful for the imperfections in riding for they’ve allowed her more growth.
Caroline is currently the Captain of the Centenary University Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association. She’s the recipient of both the 2024 Centenary University Equine Studies Merit Award and the 2024 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Academic Merit Award. She’s a dedicated and diligent young woman whose passion shines through her hard work. And we’re very pleased today to award her with the East Coast Equine Veterinary Service and Sussex County Horse Show 2024 Scholarship.

08/06/2024

You know it’s fair week when Bertha makes her appearance!!

East Coast Equine Veterinary Service is proud to be the on call veterinarians at the Sussex County Horse Show again this year. You will find a rotation of our veterinarian’s available on-site for any emergencies throughout the remainder of the week!

Dr. Tracy will be available on-site on Thursday, August 8th for any chiropractic services you may need as well!

07/22/2024

Ever been curious about complementary therapies for your horse? Whether it be for a specific issue or supporting their performance?

Acupuncture is a popular modality used to modulate the body’s nervous and vascular systems to help improve a host of issues. Most often used for musculoskeletal ailments or to help improve performance and comfort, acupuncture can help your horse perform at their best or provide relief from arthritis, muscle pain, and stiffness. Acupuncture can also be very beneficial for horses who suffer from various neurologic issues such as EPM, CVSM (“Wobbler’s”), etc. or anhidrosis. It can also be used in conjunction with other therapies to assist in relieving respiratory conditions, allergies, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

If you have any questions regarding acupuncture or would like to set up an appointment with Dr. Alex Ciuffitelli for an evaluation and session, please don’t hesitate to contact the office at 908-852-1300.

07/04/2024

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day! The office is closed today and will reopen tomorrow at 8 am. As always we are available for emergencies.

How do you deal with your horse’s nerves around fireworks? Let’s talk about how to keep your horses safe this 4th of July!

Planning ahead is always beneficial!
If you know your horse is sensitive to the loud noises, NOW is a great time to start preparing. Here are some steps to keep your horse calm and safe:

•Create a safe environment:
For horses who live outside, make sure all the fencing is secure and safe. For horses who are stalled at night, make sure there is nothing sharp or dangerous in the stall they may get hurt on if they panic.

•Distraction is key:
There are a few ways to buffer out the sound of the fireworks! Turning on fans inside the barn and playing some music for them can help reduce outside noise. You can also pick up a pair of Poms (ear plugs) from your local tack store which reduce noise and muffle sounds. Keeping the barn lights on can help reduce the flashes of the fireworks.

•Consult a professional
Don’t be hesitant to consult your veterinarian for guidance. They will be able to prescribe you some medications to help them stay calm.

Supply your horses with plenty of hay and access to fresh water. And if it is possible, bring your horses inside for their safety.

Don’t wait!
If you feel that your horse needs a little sedation for the upcoming fireworks, please plan ahead and call the office to pick some up before the 4th!

The office will be closed on Thursday July 4th, but will of course have an on call veterinarian for your emergencies!

This weeks office hours are:
Monday: 8am-4:30pm
Tuesday: 8am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 8am-4:30pm
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 8am-4:30pm

07/02/2024

How do you deal with your horse’s nerves around fireworks? Let’s talk about how to keep your horses safe this 4th of July!

Planning ahead is always beneficial!
If you know your horse is sensitive to the loud noises, NOW is a great time to start preparing. Here are some steps to keep your horse calm and safe:

•Create a safe environment:
For horses who live outside, make sure all the fencing is secure and safe. For horses who are stalled at night, make sure there is nothing sharp or dangerous in the stall they may get hurt on if they panic.

•Distraction is key:
There are a few ways to buffer out the sound of the fireworks! Turning on fans inside the barn and playing some music for them can help reduce outside noise. You can also pick up a pair of Poms (ear plugs) from your local tack store which reduce noise and muffle sounds. Keeping the barn lights on can help reduce the flashes of the fireworks.

•Consult a professional
Don’t be hesitant to consult your veterinarian for guidance. They will be able to prescribe you some medications to help them stay calm.

Supply your horses with plenty of hay and access to fresh water. And if it is possible, bring your horses inside for their safety.

Don’t wait!
If you feel that your horse needs a little sedation for the upcoming fireworks, please plan ahead and call the office to pick some up before the 4th!

The office will be closed on Thursday July 4th, but will of course have an on call veterinarian for your emergencies!

This weeks office hours are:
Monday: 8am-4:30pm
Tuesday: 8am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 8am-4:30pm
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 8am-4:30pm

05/27/2024

Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The office is closed and will reopen Tuesday at 8 am. As always we are available for equine emergencies. In the event of an emergency please call 908-852-1300 option 1 will connect you with the on call veterinarian.

05/21/2024

ECEVS would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Amy, Emily, Lori, Gretchen and the well-behaved horses of Amy Wunderlich Performance Horses for hosting the Fredon Volunteer Fire Company, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company, and Hampton Township Fire & Rescue yesterday evening! As well as all of our staff for their help!

This Tripod of emergency responders gained hands on horse handling experience. They learned equine anatomy, some of the different types of tack and how to tack and untack a horse. They learned how to use a standard halter and leadrope as well as a tie a rope halter, and how to also make a halter out of just a lead rope! By the end of this training, they were able to lead a horse in and out of the barn, load and unload a horse on the trailer, apply a blindfold, the correct application of hobbles and how to insert ear poms. We even practiced a fire drill of getting horses out of a barn safely and efficiently.

All of these skills provide first responders with the knowledge of horse handling regardless of the emergency whether it is a barn fire, a trailer accident, or a downed horse. We would like to thank Blair from Midwest Veterinary Supply - Midwest Equine Division for supplying the Tripod unit with a few halters, lead ropes, a blind fold and a set of hobbles and of course the pizza and refreshments. ECEVS was able to acquire a horse glide for the Tripod unit that they will keep at the ready. This Tripod unit is now fully equipped to transport a downed horse that is unable to get up. Thank you to all who participated in last night’s successful event!

05/13/2024

Got Ulcers??
East Coast Equine has the opportunity to team up with Boehringer-Ingelheim to provide 14-days of FREE gastroguard for eligible horses!
Here’s the scoop…

Has your horse demonstrated a slight attitude change or a reluctance to train?
The symptoms to gastric ulcer syndrome are often subtle but can include poor appetite, abdominal pain, decreased performance or even acting ‘girthy’.
Fortunately, East Coast Equine has the opportunity to team up with Boehringer-Ingelheim to provide gastroscopic exams for eligible horses!

Every horse that receives a gastroscope and is officially diagnosed with ulcers, will receive a FREE 14-day supply of Gastrogard ($574 value).

If you are interested in having your horse scoped for ulcers and meet the requirements listed below, please call or email us demonstrating your interest.

This event will be held on Friday May 24th as scheduled 1 hour time slots between the hours of 9am and 3pm.
There will be a $59 sedation fee to all participants plus the gastroscopy fee of $525.

***This is a trailer-in event***
We will be setting up at a local farm in Newton just off of Rt. 206, so please account for transportation for you and your horse to travel to us.
Parking will be available.

We are seeking the following:

1. You and your horse must be a current East Coast Equine client.
2. Horses that are currently without prevention or veterinary prescribed treatment (not on GastroGard or UlcerGard)

05/03/2024

Has your horse demonstrated a slight attitude change or a reluctance to train? The symptoms to gastric ulcer syndrome are often subtle but can include poor appetite, abdominal pain, decreased performance or even acting ‘girthy’. Fortunately, East Coast Equine has the opportunity to team up with Boehringer-Ingelheim to provide gastroscopic exams for eligible horses! Every horse that receives a gastroscope and is diagnosed with ulcers will receive a 14 day supply of free Gastrogard ($574 value). If you are interested in having your horse scoped for ulcers and meet the requirements listed below, please call or email us demonstrating your interest. The event will be held on Friday May 24th in scheduled 1 hour time slots. There will be a $59 sedation fee to all participants plus the gastroscopy fee of $525.
Selection Process:
1. Must be an ECEVS client.
2. We are seeking horses that are currently without prevention or veterinary prescribed treatment (not on GastroGard or UlcerGard)

04/15/2024

East Coast Equine was proud to organize an Equine Emergency Extraction Training held at the Fredon Volunteer Fire Company Fire house yesterday. We had an amazing turnout including EMTs, First Responders and Firefighters. Close to 40 participants from Fredon Volunteer Fire Company, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company, and Hampton Township Fire & Rescue attended the training. Participants learned how to handle and transport down injured horses. It was great to see the teamwork and collaboration of these 3 townships. We are honored to have such a great group of volunteers in our area.

Special thank you to Roger Lauze and Kaycie McCarthy for traveling from Massachusetts to NJ for this training. We couldn't have done it without these amazing trainers and of course their 2 assistants named "Lucky". They are a great team with a wealth of knowledge.

Thank you to Boehringer Ingelheim Equine for sponsoring the event.

04/13/2024

It's not everyday that your patients have a 34th birthday party! Happy Birthday American Tuffy! 🥳

04/05/2024

Solar Eclipse: should my horse wear sunglasses? While horses don't typically look up at the sun there are some precautions horse owner should take during Monday's solar eclipse. First we don't recommend riding during the eclipse. The sudden change in daylight conditions can motivate unsafe and unpredictable behavior in the animals. As most owners know, horses, mules, donkeys and ponies can be unpredictable under some circumstances. Rapid darkness during daylight hours can disrupt animals’ normal behaviors. Horses observed in past eclipse events have been reported to become restless, shaking their heads and tails. Sometimes animals have been reported to stop moving or exhibit extreme behaviors. Horse owners should ensure their animals are in a secure location, such as barn or paddock during the dark period. Even non-working animals may act unpredictably.

04/04/2024

Check out the current Rebates through our med suppliers! Including a new Adequan rebate!

•Current offers on Equioxx, Prascend, and Gastroguard through BI
Rebate link here: https://www.boehringeringelheimequinerebates.com/ #/home


•Current offer on the Adequan 7-vial series
Rebate link:
https://www.adequan.com/rebate

**See the attached photos for rebate dates and more details on your savings!

**These rebates are only valid on medications purchased through your veterinarian.

03/29/2024

A very informative article on music for equine stress!

Help Your Horse Relax with Stress-Free Music brought to you by The Art of Horse Boehringer Ingelheim In collaboration with BI Equine Health, Janet Marlow, animal sound behaviorist at Pet Acoustics, Inc., developed Relax Trax, a music soundtrack arranged specifically to help relieve stress in horses....

03/22/2024

Mesotherapy is an effective modality used to treat pain associated with degenerative back and cervical vertebral diseases in horses. The purpose of mesotherapy is to stop the vicious pain cycle and restricted mobility in an affected area. It helps by medically ‘blocking’ the pain messages from travelling to the spinal cord, thereby interrupting the pain cycle.

This quick and easy procedure is accomplished by injecting small amounts of medication into the ‘mesoderm’ (deeper layer) of the skin via small needles. The mesoderm is where many of these inappropriately firing nerves are found.

03/12/2024

Happy Birthday to our Practice Manager, Jill! Thank you HoneyBee Cake Company for the amazing cake for the biggest Harry Potter fan!

03/01/2024

Wishing our very own Caitlin Scheer a fabulous expo weekend! If you’re in Harrisburg at the Horse Expo be sure to stop by and check out the Poloz R Us booth!

02/13/2024

Snow closing! Our office is closed today due to the snow. We will reopen tomorrow morning at 8am. As always, we are available for emergencies at 201-874-4737.

01/29/2024

It's Equine Veterinary Medical Manipulation Monday!!

Here, Dr. Tracy demonstrates just a few stretches that she recommends between EVMM appointments. Through enhancing flexibility, circulation, and range of motion, stretching can supplement all of your equine companions whether in work, stall rest, or retirement.

More to come soon!

01/25/2024

Today’s helpful tool is another piece of stall side equipment that gives our Veterinarians answers in just 13 seconds!! Yes…. seconds!!!

Lactate Reader

A lactate meter can provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information right on the farm, especially in emergency situations, such as colics. It just takes a few seconds and a drop of blood. The results can give veterinarians insight on hydration status, circulation disturbances, certain colic conditions, and more!

During colics, this reader can tell the veterinarians if there is any cutoff in circulation in the intestines and helps guide them in how to proceed with a treatment plan.

01/24/2024

Did you know that although ECEVS is a fully ambulatory practice that our Office HQ has a fully equipped laboratory? ECEVS has the ability to run CBC, Chemistry, and ACTH Analysis IN-HOUSE, as soon as we return to the office. There is NO waiting for these blood work results. Our ambulatory vehicles are equipped with handheld portable blood analyzers as well. Our portable blood analyzers provide our veterinarians critical information stall side at point of care allowing for prompt treatment.

Over the next week, we will be sharing different pieces of our in-house and stall-side laboratory equipment! Starting with……

SAA Reader (Stall Side)

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is a rapid response protein and is the earliest indicator of systemic inflammation. It can indicate the severity of an infection and how the body is coping with it. The SAA reader identifies cases of infection that even the standard lab tests don’t pick up on. The handheld Reader accurately quantifies Serum Amyloid A between 0-3000 µg/ml. A result of 0 µg/ml signifies no infection is present. If a result is less than 50 μg/ml, we may continue to monitor the patient before initiating therapy OR we may discontinue therapy if the SAA was initially elevated and the patient finished its course of treatments. If the result is between 50-200ug/ml we begin appropriate diagnostics and /or treatments depending on our physical exam findings. A result above 200 μg/ml indicates the animal most likely has some sort of systemic illness that will require more diagnostics and /or treatments. On certain cases we will use SAA to monitor response to treatment.

01/17/2024

Lacerations with flaps should be sutured to prevent pedicle formation. An examination should be performed by a veterinarian as soon as possible to make sure the flap is still viable with adequate blood supply for a successful reattachment.